JEHOVAH is the fountain of life. (Psalm 36:9; Deuteronomy 30: 20; Job 33: 4) He is the great Life-giver, and he alone can rightfully take away life. If life is transmitted by one creature to another it is done only by virtue of the fact that God has delegated such power to the one transmitting life. Life means existence, including the right to exist. The human race has existed for some time but has not had the right to life and therefore has not enjoyed life.
Adam when created had life, because he existed and had the right to exist, which right he received from Jehovah. No one but Jehovah could deprive him of that right. Had he been obedient to Jehovah he would have continued to possess that right to life. God had fairly warned him that the infraction of the divine law would lead to his loss of life. Adam violated the law of God, and the right to life was taken away; and in due course Adam ceased to exist. Only the righteous have a right to life. From the time the judgment was entered against Adam he was unrighteous. Thereafter his offspring came into existence; and since Adam could not transmit the right to life, his children were born without the right to life or to existence.
Man's greatest desire has ever been that he might enjoy life in its fulness. Being burdened with a disability by reason of sin, and having no ability to obtain life by his own efforts, the vital question for man is, How may man get life in the fulness thereof? The question was answered by the beloved Son of God; and
his answer was recorded by the Prophet David, who foreshadowed Jesus: "Thou wilt show me the path of life." (Psalm 16:11) Later Jesus, for the benefit of mankind, said: "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." — John 17: 3.
Without some knowledge of God's provision for everlasting life man could not receive life everlasting. It is written: 'Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' (Romans 6: 23; 5:18) It is impossible to receive a gift at the hand of another without knowledge of the author of that gift. It is impossible to obtain everlasting life without knowing God and his way to life. Why then waste time with the theories of men concerning life put forth by clergymen wise in their own conceits? Such theories are worse than useless. The truly wise man seeks to know God's way and then to obey the rules of that way. For this reason God has made provision for the salvation of men, and provision to bring to man the knowledge of the truth thereof, to the end that man might exercise his privilege of accepting the way that leads to life. When he learns that God has provided a way to give him life, and that he can have it by acceptance and obedience, then when he begins to obey he starts on the way to obtain that which he desires.
All men are imperfect and therefore have difficulty of understanding. (Hebrews 5:11, 12) In addition thereto Satan the Devil has hindered men from understanding the truth, and the first essential to understand is an honest and sincere desire to know God and his way for man. To aid man to understand, God has made pictures foreshadowing coming events. These pictures are not a part of the divine plan, but they are object lessons or lessons showing the outworking of his plan. These pictures are beneficial, because (1)
they instruct the seeker for truth, and (2) they establish faith in God.
"Without faith it is impossible to please him [God]," because in no other way can one learn of the way to life. (Hebrews 11:6) "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) In other words, a man must have knowledge, and this knowledge must come from the right source; and the Word of God is the right source, and there is none other. The man must rely upon that true knowledge in order to have faith. The loving kindness of God has provided the means whereby one who seeks the truth may obtain it and grow in faith.
A ransom for man must be provided because God gave his promise that he would provide it and purchase man. (Hosea 13:14) Ransom means an exact corresponding price; that is to say, that which purchases at the forum or has the purchasing power. A perfect man violated God's law and was put to death therefor. The law of God is his will expressed. Looking to the provision for redemption God's law provided a 'life for a life'. (Deuteronomy 19:21) Strictly construed, that law means that a perfect human life must be given as a substitute or in the place of the perfect human life which God took away from Adam because of Adam's wrong doing.
Sacrificing means the slaughter of a victim, and involves the act of offering or presenting the life of that victim to the one authorized to receive the same. Since a perfect human life must be given to provide a ransom for man, it follows that there must be a sacrifice of a perfect human life. And since the loss of life by Adam was because of sin, it follows that the sacrifice of the perfect human life to provide the ransom or purchase price also involves the act of offering or presenting the value of that perfect life as a sin offering. Jehovah
being the one authorized to receive the sin offering, that sin offering must be presented to Jehovah by one having access to Jehovah.
The life is in the blood. For this reason God commanded that the blood of a creature should not be eaten. (Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:23) "For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off." (Leviticus 17:14) The blood of a creature poured out means that a victim has been sacrificed or slaughtered, and that the life has been poured out. It follows then that the provision for the ransom and sin offering must involve the shedding of blood of a perfect human being.
Pious frauds, called preachers or clergymen, who have no faith in God and no sincere desire to honor his name, hold up their hands in pretended horror at the mention of the slaughter of animals by the Jews in connection with their atonement day ceremonies. If these sanctimonious clergymen believed the Bible, which they claim to teach, they would know that the Jews in sacrificing animals as an offering did so because the law of God commanded the same to be done. (Leviticus 17:11) Being done in obedience to the law of God all men must know that it was right. "As for God, his way is perfect." (Psalm 18:30; 2 Samuel 22:31) All of his works are perfect. (Job 37:16; Deuteronomy 32: 4) "Jehovah's word is right." (Psalm 33: 4) "The law of the Lord is perfect." (Psalm 19: 7) In the face of all these declarations from the Word of Jehovah men stand before a company of people and denounce the sacrifice of animals which God commanded must be done. Surely no one could say that such men represent Jehovah.
Law means rule of action. Whatsoever rule of action or law God has made for the obtaining of everlasting life that way is perfect and right, the opinions of men notwithstanding. God's way is complete and there is no other way. Whatsoever law or rule of action God has made to foreshadow the way to life God had good reason for so making, and such law or rule is just and true. His law or rule commanded the Jews to do certain things which formed living pictures or moving pictures. Note now (1) the picture, (2) what the picture foreshadowed, and (3) the reality in fulfilment thereof. One understanding these in the order named will have his faith in God increased, and will love God more and will have a greater desire to walk in the way which the Lord God has commanded.
Passover
When the Israelites were about to take their departure from Egypt Jehovah prepared to make, and did make, a wonderful picture. The importance of this picture is suggested by the fact that God commanded that the day of the making thereof should mark the beginning of months with the Israelites. The picture began on the tenth day of the first month and reached its climax on the fourteenth day thereof. That month is called Nisan, and corresponds approximately with the present month of April. The Israelites were required to repeat this picture at the same time each year, throughout their generations. — Exodus 12:1-14.
Speaking to the Israelites through Moses God commanded that on the tenth day of the first month each house or family of the Israelites should select a lamb for sacrifice. In obedience to God's command Moses assembled the leaders of Israel and instructed them in detail as to what they should do. The substance of his instructions follows:
"Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. ... And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
"And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial: and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. . . . And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped." — Exodus 12: 5-8, 11-14, 26, 27.
The Picture
There is no proof that indicates that the Jews understood the meaning of what they were about to do. They had the command from Jehovah through Moses,
and that was sufficient. Because of their faith they proceeded. On the tenth day of the month a lamb without blemish was selected by each household. On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month the lamb was killed. The blood of the lamb was then put upon the lintel of the door and the two doorposts at the sides of the door. Then the lamb was roasted whole, without a bone being broken.
All the members of the household assembled within the house, and there together they ate the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and waited for the angel, as the executive officer of Jehovah, to pass through the land. At midnight God's angel, as his executive officer, passed throughout the land of Egypt and slew the first-born of every household of the Egyptians, from the slave to the king. The Jews who had obeyed God had the blood of the lamb sprinkled upon their doorposts, as above indicated; and where this blood appeared in obedience to God's command the angel of the Lord passed by and the first-born of that household was saved. — Exodus 12: 28-30.
Can it be said then that the Israelites were protected and their first-borns saved from death because of the lamb's blood? No; the blood of the animal of itself did not save them. God saved them because of their faith in him, and they exercised their faith in what that blood represented. Their obedience then to God's command showed their faith. The blood of the lamb poured out and sprinkled upon the doorposts foreshadowed much more than any man could then understand. In God's due time he would permit man to understand the full import thereof.
Foreshadowed What?
The ransom sacrifice is the most important thing foreshadowed by this picture. Many other minor things
are foreshadowed, but the ransom is of paramount importance. The picture foreshadowed that some time in the future there must be a victim selected for sacrificing; that the victim must be sacrificed by the pouring out of his blood; and that this would be of the greatest value to others. It would mean, and does mean, that only those who would exercise faith in the life poured out would ever find the way to everlasting life.
The command was that a lamb should be selected, a male of the first year. A lamb is a harmless creature. The victim foreshadowed by the lamb must be harmless. The command further provided that the lamb must be without blemish, which foreshadowed that the victim for sacrifice must be perfect and without blemish or sin. The lamb must be selected four days before it was slain. That foreshadowed that the victim which the lamb represented must be selected four literal days, and also four symbolic days of a thousand years each, before the life was poured out.
The pouring out of the blood of the lamb foreshadowed that the blood of the victim, which the lamb represented, must be poured out; and since "the life is in the blood" it foreshadowed that the life of the victim would be laid down for the benefit of others. All the members of the family must eat the flesh of the lamb roasted. To eat means to receive and to partake of food for the purpose of sustaining life. The eating of the flesh of the lamb foreshadowed that all people must receive that which the flesh of the lamb represented and partake thereof by faith for the purpose of obtaining and sustaining life.
The passover was the beginning of God's law to Israel, (Galatians 3:17) That law was given to foreshadow good things to come. (Hebrews 10:1) That law required the Jews to repeat the ceremony at the same time once each year, which would mean that they must
continue it until that good thing which the law foreshadows should come.
The Reality
Jehovah's beloved Son Jesus was the reality foreshadowed by the passover lamb of Israel. The blood of the lamb in the picture was important because of what it represented. The blood of the beloved Son of God, sacrificially poured out, is of the greatest importance to all men. Clergymen who ignore or minimize the importance of the blood of Jesus as the great ransom price for man do violence to the Word of God and aid Satan to turn the people from the only name and way that lead to everlasting life.
Jehovah's law required the Israelites to make preparation for the passover. The head of each household pictured Jehovah himself. Four days before the sacrificing took place the lamb must be selected. Four literal days before the death of Jesus he offered himself to the nation of Israel. Four thousand-year days prior thereto Jehovah selected him to be the Redeemer of man. Therefore the four days in the picture were both literally and symbolically fulfilled in Christ Jesus.
The passover lamb must be a male and without blemish. The One whom the lamb foreshadowed must be a male without blemish. Why must this victim for sacrifice be a perfect man? Because the perfect man, Adam, had violated God's law, and for that reason his life was taken away. The law of God required a life for a life; therefore the One who must be substituted in death for Adam must be a perfect man. This is the reason why the animal used to represent the Redeemer must be without blemish. The redeemer of Adam and his offspring therefore must be a perfect man, nothing more and nothing less.
In all the earth there was no perfect man. All were condemned because of the imperfection resulting from the sin of Adam. There was none good. (Psalm 14: 3) No man was qualified to ransom his fellow man. (Psalm 49:7) These scriptures show man's extremity. God had made the earth for man to live upon. (Isaiah 45: 12, 18) Man's desire was and ever has been to have life everlasting. God had promised to bless all the families of the earth, which blessing means an opportunity for life. God had promised to redeem man from death. What then could be done?
Jehovah sent his beloved Son, the Logos, to earth. Was it necessary for the Logos to die in order to become a man? No. His right to life and his existence were transferred from the spirit to human nature. The organism determines the nature of the creature. Ha was begotten as a babe in the womb of Mary, and this was accomplished by God's exercising his holy spirit or invisible power; and in due time Jesus was born. Jehovah by direct operation of his power gave the babe Jesus life and the right to life, and for that reason he was born a perfect babe. The fact that Jesus was born of an imperfect woman does not mean that he was in the slightest imperfect. The right to existence and existence being given to him by Jehovah directly, and Jehovah being the only One from whom life emanates directly, it follows that this babe Jesus must be perfect in every respect. Jehovah could not make an imperfect thing, because "his work is perfect". — Deuteronomy 32:4.
The Scriptures identify the Logos and the beloved Son of God as the beginning of creation; and then it is written: "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us [men]," and he was "full of grace and truth". (John 1:14) "When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law." (Galatians 4:4) The fact that he was born of an imperfect woman did not mean that he was imperfect, because his life proceeded from Jehovah. He was born a human being that he might be the Savior of mankind. (Luke 2:11) Thus did Jehovah prepare One who possessed all the qualifications to fulfil that which the picture foreshadowed; to wit, One qualified to provide the price to redeem the human race. — Hebrews 10: 5.
Subsequent authoritative testimony recorded in the Bible proves beyond a doubt that the passover lamb pictured the Son of God; and that Jesus, the beloved Son of God, was the reality. John the Baptist, as the forerunner of Jesus, announced his coming to those who would hear. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. . . . And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" — John 1: 29, 30, 34-36.
The Scriptures further identify Jesus as one without blemish foreordained by Jehovah to be the Redeemer of mankind, and therefore foreshadowed by the passover lamb. "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." — 1 Peter 1:18-20.
The animal in the picture was harmless and without blemish. The reality was "holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners". (Hebrews 7:26) Thus the testimony conclusively shows that the lamb foreshadowed Christ Jesus the Son of God. Jesus began his ministry when he was thirty years of age. Being perfect, because his life was received from Jehovah direct, and therefore being qualified to redeem man, his testimony is that he came for that purpose. "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." — Matthew 20: 28.
Since the law of God required the Jews to observe the passover by killing the lamb on the fourteenth day of Nisan, and since Jesus was born under the law and is the real Lamb foreshadowed, it therefore was necessary for Jesus to be slain on the fourteenth day of Nisan. The beginning of the Jewish day is at six p. m. At the proper and appointed time Jesus with his disciples sat down to eat the passover lamb, as the law required. On that occasion Jesus said to his disciples: "With desire have I desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer." (Luke 22:15) That was the last time the picture was ever properly repeated.
Later, and on the same day, Jesus was crucified. He completely fulfilled the picture of the passover lamb at that time. That which the passover lamb foreshadowed now became a reality in the death of the beloved Son of God. Jehovah does everything exactly on time. Jehovah did not take away the life of his beloved Son, but he permitted others to do it, and he saw to it that it took place exactly at the time to fulfil that which was foreshadowed by the passover lamb.
When the passover lamb used in the picture was slaughtered it could not and did not utter a protest. Through his holy prophet God had described his beloved Son as a Lamb, who without protest went to the cross. "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb
to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." — Isaiah 53:7.
One of the titles given to the beloved Son of God is "The Lamb". By this he is further identified as the One foreshadowed by the passover lamb. Of him it is written: "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13: 8) He is also in the same connection identified as the Mighty One of the tribe of Judah, about whom God caused Jacob to prophesy. (Genesis 49:10) He is shown to be the One foreshadowed by David, and the mighty Executive Officer of Jehovah who received honor as "the Faithful One" of his Father's plan.
It is written: "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain. . . . Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." (Revelation 5:5, 6, 12) The Apostle Paul, as the inspired witness of Jehovah, writing concerning Christ Jesus and his sacrifice, identifies him as the One foreshadowed by the passover lamb: "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." — 1 Corinthians 5: 7.
Redemptive Price
Keep always in mind that life is what Adam lost and life is what man desires, and that the only way to life God has foreshadowed in the sacrifice of the passover lamb, which lamb represented his beloved Son. This explains why the Logos was made a man and called Jesus. He "was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
(Philippians 2: 7, 8) The disability of the human race could be taken away only by the value of a perfect human life sacrificed. The human family is likened unto sheep that have gone astray, because born in sin and shapen in iniquity. (Psalm 51:5) God provided his beloved Son, foreshadowed by the lamb, to take away the great disability upon the human race by virtue of sin. — Isaiah 53: 6.
When he was on earth Jesus spoke of the human race as sheep and himself as the Shepherd, and plainly pointed out that through his sacrifice is God's way that leads to life. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.... I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." — John 10: 7, 9-11.
The Son of God was sent to earth to provide the redemptive price for mankind. He was not compelled to come to earth and die, but he came to do his Father's will; and for this reason his Father loved him. "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. . . . Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." — John 10:15, 17, 18.
The Israelites were required to roast the lamb whole, without breaking a bone, and then to eat the flesh, together with unleavened bread. What was thus shown and foreshadowed in the picture, God, through his prophet, also foretold. (Psalm 34: 20) When Jesus was
slain as the reality foreshadowed by the lamb not a bone of his body was broken. "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: . . . For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken." — John 19: 33, 36.
The bread which the Jews were required to eat with the roast lamb must be without leaven. Leaven is impure and therefore a symbol of sin. The unleavened bread foreshadowed the purity of Jesus. The bread also was a picture representing the humanity of Jesus, given for the life of the world. Giving testimony concerning himself Jesus said: "Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. . . . Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." — John 6: 49-51, 54, 55.
The life is in the blood. The blood of the lamb poured out showed its death. The blood of Jesus poured out showed the pouring out of his life or being as a man. Prophetically it was written of him: "He hath poured out his soul unto death." (Isaiah 53:12) This testimony shows that the great pivotal point of the divine plan for the blessing of mankind was and is the sacrifice of God's beloved Son; that he made a picture of this in advance by the sacrifice of the passover lamb which, under the law, must be repeated each year until the coming of Jesus; that he sent his beloved Son into the world to die and provide the ransom price for mankind; that the shedding of the lamb's blood foreshadowed
the shedding of the blood of Christ Jesus, which was shed for us; and that God made this provision for the human race because of his love for mankind.
Therefore it is written: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17) In the face of this overwhelming Scriptural testimony how can any sane man say that the blood of Jesus is of no value in providing the way to life for humanity? Can any one who honestly thinks he is a preacher, and who pretends to preach the Bible, claim that the blood of Jesus was not essential to give life to the peoples of earth?
Redeem literally means something to loose with; it means a purchase price provided, which is of sufficient value to purchase the thing desired to be purchased. The precious life blood of Jesus poured out in death upon the cross provided the price for the redemption of the human race. His perfect life exactly corresponded with the perfect life that Adam enjoyed when in Eden, and therefore satisfied the requirements of the divine law. It provided the price for the buying of life for the human race. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6: 20) This corresponds with the further testimony, which reads: "Ye were redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ." — 1 Peter 1:18, 19.
Again it is written of Jesus: "For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Revelation 5:9) By the grace of God he tasted death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9) It was the perfect man
Jesus pouring out his life blood that provided the price for the redemption of mankind which, after all, mankind must in God's due time have an opportunity to know. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." — 1 Timothy 2: 5, 6.
The Sin Offering
Jehovah has made the way to life so plain to the honest seeker for truth that there is left no room for doubt. When God's due time comes for all men to see that blessed way, even the fool will have no excuse to err therein. For many centuries Satan, by use of false and fraudulent teachers and teachings, has turned the people away from God and blinded their minds to the truth; and only a small proportion of mankind have ever understood God's plan. (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) Jehovah has not prevented the Devil from so doing, but he has rewarded those who have diligently and humbly sought to know and to do the Lord's way.
The Christian era is that period of time from the first to the second coming of our Lord, during which time the good news has been told to the people. This preaching of the gospel or good news has seemed to be foolishness in the eyes of the wise men of this world, and especially to those who call themselves Modernists, savants and preachers. Hence the apostle wrote: "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." — 1 Corinthians 1:18.
The Modernist, who is wise in his own conceits, posing as a great teacher of the people, says that it is foolish for men to believe that the blood of Jesus has anything to do with the human race getting life. But mark what Jehovah has said: "For it is
written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." — 1 Corinthians 1:19-21.
But now by the grace of God the due time has come when the flood of his truth and light shall sweep away the blinding falsehoods in order that the people may see the right way. Every sane man realizes that he is imperfect. He desires life and happiness. By observation and experience he has seen but sorrow, suffering and death. The great handicap of man is due to sin. Jehovah says to the man who has an honest desire to learn and to know the truth, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." — Isaiah 1:18,19.
A man must be willing to know the Lord's way and be obedient thereto, and not follow the wisdom of some self-constituted savants or pious-speaking clergymen. The Holy Scriptures were given by inspiration of God "for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works". (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) They were not written for selfish men to juggle with, to misrepresent and use for commercial purposes. God nowhere invites a man to reason upon the theories of men, but he asks us to reason upon His Word.
The passover lamb was slain in Egypt, which land pictured the wicked world of which Satan is the invisible ruler. World means the organization of men
into forms of government under the supervision of an invisible ruler. The governing part of humanity, which constitutes the visible world, is made up of the financial, political and ecclesiastical elements. The clergymen, as a general rule, claim to be a part of the world; and they work in conjunction with the financiers and politicians. Jesus Christ, whom the passover lamb foreshadowed, was slain in this wicked world. For this reason he said to Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world"; and again, he said to his disciples: "Ye are not of the world," "even as I am not of the world." (John 18: 36; 15:18, 19; 17:14) When the passover lamb was slain in Egypt, and the Israelites had marched to safety beyond the Red Sea, that picture was complete. Thereafter God made preparations to make, and did make, another picture illustrating or foreshadowing a step to be taken that leads to life everlasting.
The Tabernacle
Jehovah commanded Moses to come up into Mount Sinai. Moses obeyed and remained in the mountain forty days and nights. Jehovah there informed Moses of his purpose to have the tabernacle built. Then the Lord instructed Moses concerning the material which he should receive from the people for the building of the tabernacle.
"And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, and oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet
incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded." — Exodus 35: 4-10.
It is interesting to note that Jehovah did not coerce any one to furnish material or labor to build the tabernacle. All that must be done willingly. The Lord defined wisdom on the part of man when he said: "And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded." Wisdom means the use of the knowledge one has, in harmony with God's will. Jehovah there began to teach the Israelites. The lessons given were not only for their benefit but for all who came after them. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. . . . Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee." — Proverbs 2:6, 11.
Those who had faith in God and who loved him obeyed. "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered, offered an offering of gold unto the Lord." — Ex. 35:21, 22.
God could have obtained all this material some other way, of course; but by permitting the Israelites to bring it as an offering it was a service for them which resulted in their blessing. Nor was the service confined only to the few, because it is written that the women and men brought part and the rulers the other part. Everybody who loved the Lord served. From this, every one who loves the Lord may learn a lesson. "And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be
set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate." — Exodus 35:27.
There was a great deal of work in connection with building the tabernacle. Some who were qualified had to do beautiful wood-carving. Others, expert in the working of gold, silver and brass, did that; while still others wove the curtains, each one to his or her own particular work. It will be observed in the study of God's plan that to every man whom he has enlightened God has offered the opportunity to do some work or service in his name, and the wise-hearted have availed themselves thereof and received a blessing.
After much laborious effort the material for the tabernacle was all brought, the work being done according to God's command; and then he gave Moses direction concerning its erection: "According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." — Exodus 39: 42, 43.
A full year had elapsed from the time the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt until the tabernacle was completed and set up.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congrega-
tion. And thou shalt set the layer between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein. And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.
"And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy. And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up." — Exodus 40:1-17.
The anointing of the tabernacle and all that was therein and used in connection therewith, as above stated, means that the tabernacle and its furnishings and all those who served were there by the direction Of Jehovah, and by him officially designated to serve in their respective places and perform their respective functions. Each and every part must perform its official duty in the picture which the Lord God was preparing to make, for the purpose of foreshadowing the outworking of his plan.
Descriptive
The tabernacle may be properly described as a house constructed of boards set on end, in sockets of silver, and fastened together and then covered or overlaid with gold; and over this house of wood was stretched a tent or covering.
The measurements of the tabernacle are given in cubits, and while there is a difference of opinion as to the length of the cubit used, the Bible is not clear as to which one is here referred to, namely, the measurement from the elbow down to the tip of the little finger or the cubit used in the great pyramid. The weight of the evidence, however, seems to favor the conclusion that the structure was fifteen feet wide, fifteen feet high, and forty-five feet in length.
There were two rooms or compartments of the tabernacle, divided by a heavy curtain or vail. The one farthest from the entrance, and on the west side, is called the "holiest of all", and was fifteen feet long, fifteen feet wide, and fifteen feet high. The other compartment was thirty feet in length, fifteen feet wide, and fifteen feet high, and is called "the holy". The vail that separated the holy from the most holy was hung upon four pillars of shittim wood, which were overlaid with gold. This vail was made of blue, purple and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with figures of the cherubim beautifully and cunningly interwoven therein. — Exodus 26:31, 32.
The way or entrance into the holy is called the door of the tent. This was made of cloth or curtains of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen wrought with needlework, hung over five pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold. — Exodus 26: 36.
The Apostle Paul gives a description of the furnishings of the tabernacle as follows: "For there was a
tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." — Hebrews 9:2-5; Exodus 40:19-29.
The tabernacle was the place of meeting between God and the Israelites; and this was manifested by the supernatural light which appeared in the "holiest of all", between the cherubim, and which represented the divine presence. There was no other light in the most holy. In the holy or first compartment was a candlestick, which was kept lighted; and it was the only light therein. The heavy cloth covering of the tabernacle or tent excluded all light from the outside.
The tabernacle was surrounded by a yard or court. This was seventy-five feet wide by one hundred and fifty feet in length, and was formed by a linen curtain suspended from silver hooks fastened in the tops of wooden posts, which posts were set in sockets of copper. It was braced with cords fastened to pins. The tabernacle tent was braced in the same manner. This court was not a part of the tabernacle, but surrounded it, and was used in connection with the tabernacle. It was called "the court of the tabernacle". The entrance thereto was on the east and was designated "the gate". This was made of white linen interwoven with blue, purple and scarlet. — Exodus 27: 9-18.
Inside the court and before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation was placed the altar upon which was burned the sacrifice. With the altar were the various fire pans, flesh hooks, and other neces-
sary utensils. This altar was made of wood and covered with copper, and was known as the brazen altar.
Between the brazen altar and the door of the tent of the congregation was placed the laver. (Exodus 40: 5-7, 29, 30) The laver was made of copper; and in it was placed water for Moses, Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet thereat. — Exodus 40: 31-33.
The Scriptures frequently use the expression: "Before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." It is quite certain from the Scriptures that the "door" always means the entry way into the tabernacle proper, and never the entrance way into the court. The court was relatively unimportant in the eyes of the Jews; for they had free access to it on all days except the atonement day. (Leviticus 1:3; 12:6; Numbers 6:13-18) They were particularly concerned about the tabernacle, because this was the meeting place between them and Jehovah.
In the scripture which describes the people of Israel as being gathered together "before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation" the reference is evidently to the assemblage of the people to the east of that sacred structure, instead of being scattered about it on all sides as they would be if in their tents regularly occupied by them. It seems also quite evident that the gateway or entrance into the court was lifted or left open on such occasions, so that the tabernacle structure was in full view of the representative men who stood before the entrance.
All the ground within the enclosure of the tent, including of course the ground upon which the tabernacle was situated, was holy ground. This was particularly true at the time of the ceremonies of the atonement day.
The Israelites were encamped about the tabernacle in regular order. This was because of God's command. "And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, say-
ing, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch." — Numbers 2:1, 2.
The camp of Judah had the position of favor on the east side, toward the rising of the sun. Looking toward the tabernacle enclosure, the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar were respectively on the left and the right of Judah on the east side. On the north were the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naphtali; on the west, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh; on the south, Reuben, Gad and Simeon.
The families of the tribe of Levi were given preferential positions near to the tabernacle. The family of Gershon pitched on the west side of the tabernacle enclosure; on the north were the Merarites; while on the south were the sons of Kohath located. Moses and Aaron were grandsons of Kohath; and they were stationed immediately to the east of the tabernacle entrance, because they were separated from their brethren, by special anointing, to do the work of sacrifice, particularly the atonement day sacrifices which constituted the special sin offerings. — Numbers 3: 23-38.
Jehovah caused a priesthood to be selected, anointed and installed in connection with the tabernacle service. A priest is an official servant of Jehovah God. In organizations made by men priests are often appointed by men, or by themselves, and use their office for a selfish purpose, sometimes for commercial purposes. Oftentimes a priesthood of Israel degenerated into that. But such was not the purpose of Jehovah God. No man has authority to take such honor unto himself. (Hebrews 5:4) The priest used in connection with the tabernacle service was the servant of Jehovah God. He performed the duties the Lord assigned unto him. God's law required him to be selected from the tribe
of Levi. Aaron was the first high priest. His sons were priests under him.
"And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." — Exodus 40:12-15.
The anointing of the priesthood and the garments with which they were clothed all symbolically testified that they were officially the designated servants of Jehovah. They were formally inaugurated or installed into office; and on that occasion all of the congregation were gathered together before the door of the tabernacle; and then Moses informed the people what the Lord had commanded him to do with reference to installing the priesthood. (Leviticus 8: 2-5) Then Moses proceeded to consecrate and inaugurate the priests, as described in Leviticus the eighth chapter.
In this ceremony it is important to notice that the anointing oil was poured upon the head of Aaron but not upon his sons. This testifies that Aaron was the head or high priest, and that his sons were under priests. Together they represent or picture the new Creation, Head and body, in the course of development and while on the earth. The priests were not only officially anointed to serve Jehovah in an official capacity, but the service which was performed in connection with the consecration and institution of the priesthood foreshadowed that the ones whom they represented must enter into a covenant with Jehovah, be
wholly and unreservedly devoted to him, and serve him in obedience to his commands.
There are many pictures and details in connection with the building of the tabernacle, the inauguration of the priesthood, and the sacrifice; but the one which is particularly germane to the question now under consideration was that which took place upon the day of atonement.
Atonement Day
Jehovah gave command that the tenth day of the seventh month of each year should be a day of atonement. "For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." (Leviticus 16: 30) On that day the priest who had been anointed and consecrated to serve in the priest's office must be clothed with the linen garments. These may be properly designated as the garments for sacrifice.
Whatever assistance or service the under priests rendered, the command of Jehovah was positive that the high priest alone had access to the holiest of all on the day of atonement. Even the high priest must not enter the holiest of all on that day except in exact compliance with the prescribed law. If he failed to comply with the law the penalty was death. (Leviticus 16:2) The strict observance of God's command in this connection indicates the great importance of the picture about to be made. Jehovah used Moses to instruct Aaron, the high priest, what he should do on this important occasion. — Leviticus 16: 3-5.
The Picture
In obedience to Jehovah's command the high priest now begins to make a wonderful picture fore-
shadowing coining events. Mark him standing in the court when there is brought to him a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, and two goats and a ram for offerings. The priest then kills the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself. The blood of the bullock is taken in a vessel provided for that purpose. The priest takes a censer full of burning coals from off the altar and his hands full of sweet incense. He is now in the court. With the blood and the censer of fire and the incense he starts to the holiest of all.
In this picture there is no occasion for him to halt in the holy, and there is no evidence that he does so. The incense that is burned in the holy was burned only at the morning and evening sacrifices, and not at the time of the atonement day sacrifice. He passes through the vail which is the entrance way into the holiest of all. He puts the incense upon the fire; and as it burns, a cloud of incense rises up and stands above the mercy seat. Failing to do this the priest would die. Then he takes the blood of the bullock and sprinkles it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward and before the mercy seat, seven times. Then the high priest returns to the court.
Foreshadowed What
The foregoing picture, being made in obedience to the command of God, foreshadows good things to come. (Hebrews 10:1) In God's due time the reality must appear.
The camp was made up of Israelites. They had entered into a covenant with Jehovah, were under the law thereof, and seeking the way to life which the law promised. Because of sin they had broken the covenant; and on the atonement day the offering was being made because of sin, that they might be reestab-
lished in their covenant. When assembled before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, the people foreshadowed all the peoples of earth seeking the way of returning to God and to life, which way must be opened by a sacrifice made for sin. Outside of the camp were those who were opposed to God, foreshadowing the world, which is the Devil's organization.
The atonement day of Israel was a twenty-four-hour period of time observed once each year, on which occasion an offering for sin was prepared and presented in the holiest of all. It foreshadowed a greater period of time, to wit, the Christian era or the period of sacrifice, during which time a greater sin offering would be provided and presented in heaven itself.
The court was holy ground and therefore represented the condition of peace with God. On the atonement day only the priests were there. It foreshadowed a condition of peace with God, to be enjoyed by certain favored ones during the period of sacrifice. It shows a condition of justification, which means right with God. It was there that the animals were sacrificed, which sacrifice foreshadowed a greater sacrifice that would be made on the earth.
The tabernacle pictured things spiritual or heavenly. What transpired therein was invisible to those outside, since only the high priest was permitted therein during the atonement day. What transpired there on the atonement day foreshadowed what would come to pass in heaven itself in opening the way to life for mankind.
The priest, being the official servant of God, foreshadowed a greater Priest, an official Servant of God, to wit, Christ, the Anointed One of God. The work of service which Aaron the high priest did on the atonement day foreshadowed a better and greater work which the greater Priest would do within the period of the Christian era.
The bullock which was sacrificed, being without blemish, foreshadowed a greater sacrifice, which must be perfect. The bullock's life-blood poured out in the court foreshadowed the life-blood of a greater and better sacrifice, to wit, the perfect human life poured out on the earth to provide the ransom price. The blood of the bullock poured out in the court therefore foreshadowed the ransom sacrifice made by the perfect One of God on earth. The blood of the bullock carried by the high priest into the holiest of all foreshadowed the greater Priest presenting in heaven itself the value of the perfect human sacrifice or ransom price as an offering for sin and on behalf of man.
The Reality
The law required a life for a life, therefore a perfect human life to be sacrificed to provide the purchase price for the perfect life which Adam forfeited by disobedience. When Jesus was thirty years of age, being perfect as a man and at his legal majority, he presented himself in full consecration unto God; which meant that he entered into a covenant to do God's will. (Psalm 40:8; Hebrews 10:7) His consecration was accepted, and he was there begotten to the divine nature and anointed by the holy spirit of God. (Matthew 3:16, 17) He there became the great High Priest of the Melchizedek order, installed in office to do service for Jehovah. — Hebrews 7:1-17.
Aaron was not a type of Christ, because Christ Jesus was a Priest of a higher order than Aaron; but Aaron foreshadowed Christ and the work he would do during the Christian era. Being always in harmony with and at peace with God, Jesus was, during his earthly ministry, in the condition represented by the court. As a perfect man, foreshadowed by the bullock, Christ Jesus, as
the Priest foreshadowed by Aaron, offered himself unto God as a sacrifice. This work he did as Priest after the order of Melchizedek, and this work he did on the earth. On the atonement day the only place the ransom price is foreshadowed was in the killing of the bullock in the court. In reality Jesus fulfilled this picture when he died on the cross.
That ransom price, being provided while in earth, must be presented in heaven. When Jesus arose from the dead a divine creature and ascended into heaven, he there presented unto Jehovah the value of the ransom price as an offering for sin. This was in reality that which was foreshadowed by Aaron's sprinkling the blood in the holiest of all upon the mercy seat. The work which Aaron the priest did in sacrificing the bullock and carrying its blood into the holiest of all was in reality performed by Jesus from the time of his baptism at the Jordan until he ascended into heaven and appeared in the presence of God.
In the consideration of the ransom and sin offering as foreshadowed on the atonement day the holy, the first compartment of the tabernacle, is purposely ignored, for the reason that it had nothing to do with the atonement day sacrifice. On that day the incense was burned in the most holy by being sprinkled on the fire which was carried in the censer by the high priest. The incense burned in the holy on the golden altar was burned there during the morning and evening sacrifice. — Exodus 30:1-8.
Goat in Picture
After sprinkling the blood of the bullock in the holiest of all, Aaron the priest then returned to the court; and there another picture began. "And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron
shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. . . . Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat." (Leviticus 16:7-9, 15) In this picture only the Lord's goat is seen, and therefore the scapegoat is left for consideration elsewhere. The purpose of the atonement day is to foreshadow the ransom and sin offering.
Foreshadowed
The Lord's goat in this picture represented the anointed of God, the same being a class counted in as members of the body of Christ, during the Christian era. The same class was foreshadowed by Aaron's sons, the under priests. No anointing oil was put upon them; but the anointing oil was poured upon Aaron's head and ran down upon his garments, foreshadowing that the class of under priests would receive the anointing through their Head, Christ Jesus. — Psalm 133.
The slaying of the Lord's goat and the carrying of its blood into the holiest of all foreshadowed the sacrificial death of that class which would constitute members of the body of Christ, and therefore a part of Christ; and that the Lord would again present his blood as an offering for sin at the end of the period foreshadowed by the atonement day, in which the church will participate by reason of being a part of The Christ.
Reality
During the Christian era, which was foreshadowed by Israel's atonement day, men and women have conse-
crated themselves to do God's will. This they have done because of faith in God and faith in the blood of his beloved Son, Christ Jesus, as their redemptive price. Their consecration having been accepted by Jehovah, such have been brought into the condition of peace with God, which is the condition of justification, and which was pictured by the goat.
The justification of such resulted in the right to live as a human being, which life Jehovah then and there accepts as a part of the sacrifice of his beloved Son, Christ Jesus. There begotten by the holy spirit such individuals become members of the body of Christ; and they are then offered up by him as the High Priest, as a part of his own sacrifice. When the sacrifice of the members of the body is complete Christ Jesus, the great High Priest, again presents the value of his sacrifice in heaven itself, as a sin offering on behalf of the people.
The offering of the blood of the bullock was for Aaron and his house. (Leviticus 16:11) In the reality the offering of the blood of Christ Jesus, when he ascended on high, was presented in behalf of all those who are begotten to the divine nature during the Christian era. The offering of the blood of the goat was for the people. (Leviticus 16:15) At the end of the period of sacrifice foreshadowed by the atonement day, the blood of Christ will be presented as an offering on behalf of all the people. It is therefore seen that on the atonement day the ransom was pictured in the court, and the sin offering in the holiest of all.
The tabernacle was a part of the Law Covenant arrangement inaugurated at Mount Sinai. "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God." — Hebrews 9:1-6.
The statement here is that the priest "always", that is to say, daily, went into the holy to accomplish the service of God. That service consisted of the morning and evening sacrifice, and had nothing to do with the atonement day sacrifice. — Numbers 28: 3, 4.
The holiest of all, or second compartment of the tabernacle, was the place for sprinkling the blood of the animals on the day of atonement. It foreshadowed the great sacrifice of our Lord being presented in heaven itself. Christ Jesus when on earth laid down his life as a perfect sacrifice. Then he ascended on high, and there in heaven itself made a presentation of his sacrifice as an offering for sin, as it is written:
"But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the holy spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building." — Hebrews 9: 7-11.
Then the apostle says that the blood of the animals offered on the atonement day foreshadowed the offering of the blood of Christ as redemption for man. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" — Hebrews 9:12-14.
The blood of the animals at Mount Sinai foreshadowed the ransom and sin offering, and was the basis for the Law Covenant. The blood of Christ Jesus provided the redemptive price and an offering for sin on behalf of mankind, and is the basis for the making and inauguration of the new Law Covenant. (Hebrews 9:15-21) Then the apostle makes it clear and positive that the blood of Christ Jesus is essential to salvation:
"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared,
to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." — Hebrews 9: 22-26.
The foregoing Scriptural argument proves beyond any question of a doubt that the blood of Jesus is the great redemptive price for mankind, and that the presentation of that blood in heaven constitutes the sin offering on behalf of the human family.
Many will then naturally ask, Why, in the face of this tremendous argument showing the value of the shed blood of Christ Jesus, are there so many men claiming to be preachers of the gospel who deny that the blood of the Lord Jesus has any purchasing value whatsoever? The answer to that question the Lord foretold, and caused his inspired witness to write down. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1) "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." — Jude 4.
Will the people continue to be hoodwinked by these false prophets, who are wise in their own conceits and who pose as preachers of the gospel, or will they be guided by the plain Word of God, which is now due to be understood? Let each reader answer for himself.
The foregoing shows that the perfect sacrifice of our Lord was pictured, was foreshadowed, and was performed. Furthermore, it shows that his life blood poured out at Calvary provided the ransom price; that it was presented in heaven as a sin offering, and that thereby the Lord God has opened the way to life for man and 'life more abundantly' for the new creation.
