Church of God News

A Chinese Depiction of a Dragon
(The Bible in Revelation 20:2 Calls Satan Both a Serpent and Dragon)

COGwriter

The Day of Atonement, most commonly called Yom Kippur by the Jews (or the Fast in the New Testament), starts tonight, October 8th, at sunset this year.

CGOM’s (Church of God Outreach Ministries) James McBride wrote:

• Atonement (yom kippur) is a one-day observance held annually in early autumn – on the Hebrew calendar it is the 10th of the seventh month, Tishri. The day is observed from sundown on the 9th (Leviticus 23:32), and is a day of complete cessation of work, fasting and is set aside for contemplation and worship. The Day was one of the seven annual observances appointed by the LORD (Leviticus 23:4) and is ‘…a never ending statute throughout your generations’
• For the Israelites, the Day marks the high point of a period of introspection, reconciliation and personal renewal which began ten days before on the Day of Trumpets. A person’s sins may have been confessed and sacrifice made during the year. At Atonement the national sin is covered – so the nation as a whole can begin the year with a ‘clean sheet’
• Atonement is the one day of the year when the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. His purpose was to offer sacrifices to  ‘cover’ his own sin and the sins of the nation, and for the purification of the Tabernacle – which was ‘contaminated’ by the sins of the people throughout the previous year
• The year-by-year repetition of the rituals emphasised their temporary nature: ‘ But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins’ (Hebrews 10:3-4)
• Every aspect of the complex ritual (Leviticus 16) of this ‘Day of Days’ foreshadows the person and work of Jesus Christ: ‘…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; 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’ (Hebrews 9:11-12). Chapters nine and ten of Hebrews focuses on the Day of Atonement. Especially, Paul – in the context of explaining this Day – enjoins the faithful to observe the Day of Atonement: ‘… let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching ‘ (ch 10:24-25, and see Isaiah 58:13)
• The High Priest, on Atonement, sprinkled the blood of the sacrifices on the ‘mercy-seat’. The word derives from ‘a covering’ – the same root as atonement; it was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant where the LORD interacted with man, where He dwelled: ‘…there I will meet with you, and I will commune with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony’ (Exodus 25:22). Jesus, in anti-type fulfills this role: ‘…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’  (Hebrews 9:24). As did the High Priest in Israel, Jesus intercedes for his brethren (ch 7:25). The year of Jubile begins on that Day – the year of release and restoration (Leviticus 25:8-17)
• The rituals of the Day of Atonement concern the symbolic ‘covering’ of sin – the two goats, for example. For Christians our intimate personal relationship with God and with Jesus is marked by the Spring festival – the Lord’s Supper and the Unleavened Bread festival. In them we annually renew our Covenant with God and focus on our personal spiritual ‘leaven’. Perhaps for Christians Atonement – also a time of repentance – references the Body of Christ, the Church of God – spiritual Israel as a whole…
• The Festivals follow a time-line, and have prophetic significance. The position of Atonement in the prophetic year places it just after the end-time events which culminate in the return of Christ – the ‘seven trumpets’ of Revelation. At that time Satan is ‘bound’, his influence on mankind removed throughout the ensuing millennial period (Revelation 20:1-3). Rightly, we fast on Atonement in compassion for a world deceived by this evil being

Notice a few comments on the observance of the date in the nation of Israel:

International Herald Tribune – Oct 6, 2008

In Israel, even Big Brother has to take a break for Yom Kippur.

When Israel marks the most solemn day on the Jewish calendar, the country comes to a complete standstill.

Traffic stops, stores and offices shutter and people spend the day praying and fasting.

With Yom Kippur coming this week, this is forcing the producers of the cult reality show Big Brother to deviate from the format that has made the show a guilty pleasure for people in some 70 countries. They are halting their broadcasts of participants’ every move, and they’ve built a makeshift synagogue for a religious contestant.

This year, Yom Kippur begins on Wednesday evening and ends after nightfall Thursday. As part of the atmosphere of solemnity, Israeli law requires all radio and TV stations to go off the air.

Big Brother will also shut down its broadcasts on television and the Internet, an unheard-of disruption in the 24/7 coverage of the housemates’ yawns, scratches, feuds and inane conversations. Those addicted to the show will have to do without their fix for a full day, and those inside the house will enjoy relative privacy, although — in keeping with the show’s rules mandating total isolation from the world outside — they won’t know it.

While television shows are not particularly relevant related to the Day of Atonement, it is nice that the nation Israel at least makes some attempt at observing the biblical Holy Day.

But of course, this Holy Day has meaning for true Christians.

Satan the Dragon is to bound for the entire 1000 years of the millennial reign of Christ.  And that is just part of the significance of the Day of Atonement for Christians.  A day that early Christians, like the Apostle Paul (cf. Acts 27:9), kept (the Fast was so widely observed in the 4th century that it was condemned by John Chrysostom (see Fall Holy Days Approach).

The Day of Atonement, unlike the world’s false pagan holidays, does have much significance for Christians today.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Did Paul? Should you?
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement”. Does it have any relevance for Christians today?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
LCG 2008 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this year.
Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.

COGwriter

The financial news all over the world has been stressful in the past few weeks.

Now Hong Kong had a major drop:

Notice the symbol for the Chinese word lán for desire or greed is a combination of the symbols for woman and two trees:

Desire, Greed	= Woman	+ Trees

Hence, the Chinese seem to tie greed into the story of Genesis involving the woman Eve and the two trees (cf. Genesis 3).

But Hong Kong is not the only nation to have reported financial problems today.

Developed nations, in general, and  the United Kingdom in particular, are becoming a concerns:

We live in perilous times and they were prophesied to come per 2 Timothy 3:1 (see also LCG: Perils Test Our Faith).  But the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6) (see also Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

But Hong Kong should do better than the UK in a while.

Articles of possibly related interest may include:

China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?

Living Church of God Evangelist Richard Ames with a “Telly” Award for “Tomorrow’s World”

COGwriter

Last night, LCG’s Richard Ames sent out the following announcement:

FWIW, I spoke to Dr. Meredith a couple of days ago and other than being a bit tired he seems fine.  It is nice that he was at the office in Charlotte yesterday.  He also plans on attending the Feast of Tabernacles.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

Barack Obama

COGwriter

Last night, I watched much of the debate between US presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama.  Interestingly, neither candidate mentioned their vice-presidential running mates (Sarah Palin and Joseph Biden).

Our son Michael and I had the same basic conclusion: both candidates will continue to lead the USA in the wrong direction, though one may lead it faster down the wrong direction than the other one would.  But even that is difficult to say with certainty.

Rarely did any of the candidates address the real issues facing the USA.  Briefly, there was no discussion of national sins, nor the need for national repentance (the Bible specifically promises blessings for obedience and cursings for disobediance, see Deuteronomy 28).  Neither candidate truly seemed to look to God the Father or His Son Jesus the Christ to help save this nation.

Furthermore, it astounded me how much both men thought they would essentially solve the energy, health care, and budget problems.  While some of their proposals may help, they BOTH gave the impression that they would actually be able to solve these if they became US president.

As one who has studied economics at both the undergraduate and graduate level, it seemed clear to me that neither candidate had a plan to get the USA out of debt that could work.

Since Barack Obama was leading in the polls prior to that debate and because there was no “clear victory” for John McCain (Republicans tended to think he won, while Democrats tended to think that Barack Obama won), it appears likely that Barack Obama may win.

When talking with a European on an airplane while flying to Europe in May 2008, he asked me who I thought would win.  When I said Barack Obama, he was quite surprised.  While Europeans tend to prefer Barack Obama, they also tend to feel that the US voters would more likely support John McCain.

Currently it looks like Barack Obama and Joseph Biden may win.  But whichever team wins, they will be leading a nation in decline.  A nation that probably will not survive past the next decade.

Some articles/news items of possibly related interest may include:

Barack Obama is Not the Antichrist Some have suggested that he may be, but neither he nor John McCain will be.  Find out why they cannot be.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus? Will the final “Anti-Christ” be Jewish, insist on Saturday, be opposed to the trinity, and bring in the millennium? Catholic writings indicate this, but what does the Bible show?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”. Might Bible prophecy be fulfilled if he is elected president?
Barack Obama Carries Hindu Monkey God Although there are some strange and false stories about Barack Obama, this one seems to be true.
Might Sarah Palin Fulfill Prophecy? Why might Sarah Palin fulfill Bible prophecy?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?

Northern Shore of Reykjavík, Iceland

COGwriter

Iceland seems to be in even more financial trouble than the other countries I have been reporting on.  Notice the following news items:

Despite its overall desire to remain outside the European Union, I believe that Iceland will either be part of the EU or at least be more involved with it than it has been in the past.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?

Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev, President of Russia

COGwriter

World markets are being affected by the financial market crises:

Russia and Brazil crumble as commodity prices crash

The entire complex of commodities and emerging market stocks, bonds, and currencies is now in free-fall as the economic crisis spreads like brushfire, threatening to draw every corner of the globe into the vortex of recession.

Russia had stock market problems last month as well (see Russian Stock Panic).

The good news for both Brazil and Russia is that in the mid-term, their financial fortunes will reverse and both will do well for a while.

To see when and who will be ultimately affected how, please see the following below:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for China? Is it a “King of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them.
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan. Will God save the Japanese?
Mexico, Central America, South America, and Brazil in Prophecy What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they suffer in the future?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What is prophesied for Russia? What will it do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?

The Strength of Dollars Have Long Been Part of the “Pride of the Power” of the USA (which will be broken per Leviticus 26:19)

COGwriter

The following news item, came out just minutes ago, and shows that the world is in perilous economic times right now:

Wall Street tumbles amid global sell-off

NEW YORK – Wall Street suffered through another traumatic session Monday, with the Dow Jones industrials plunging as much as 800 points and setting a new record for a one-day point drop as investors despaired that the credit crisis would take a heavy toll around the world. The Dow also fell below 10,000 for the first time since 2004, and all the major indexes fell more than 7 percent.

The catalyst for the selling was the growing realization that the Bush administration‘s $700 billion rescue plan and steps taken by other governments won’t work quickly to unfreeze the credit markets. Global banks, hobbled by wrong-way bets on mortgage securities, remain starved for cash as credit has dried up.

That sent stocks spiraling downward in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and drove investors to sink money into the relative safety of U.S. government debt. Fears about a global recession also caused oil to drop below $90 a barrel; and the benchmark index that gauges fear in the market jumped to the highest level in its 18-year history.

“The fact is people are scared and the only thing they’re doing is selling,” said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer’s Investment Research. “Investors are cleaning out portfolios and getting rid of everything because nothing seems to be working.”  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081006/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street

However, these at most are preludes to what Jesus, in Matthew 24, called the “beginning of sorrows”, but the end will not be yet.  (A news post here of possible interest may be LCG: Perils Test Our Faith.)

There are at least 3 1/2 years to go–and probably several more than that before the start of the Great Tribulation as it CANNOT start prior to 2012.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany Since November 2005

COGwriter

Continuing its historic trend of taking advantage of opportunities for world leadership, in the past three weeks German leaders, such as Angela Merkel have taken steps to assure the world that the German economic system is in better shape than that of the USA.

In its latest move, Germany has announced that it now will guarantee bank deposits, which should make Germans and foreign investors much less likely to continue to invest in the German banks.

But not all is rosy within Germany as it apparently needed further motivation to do so:

This move by Germany (as well as similar moves made by Ireland and others recently) should also reduce the risk of panic among those in the EU.

Interestingly, Angela Merkel was awarded the Charlemagne prize several months back (see Angela Merkel and the “Holy Roman Empire”) for her work to create a more integrated European superstate.

Of course, the Bible does prophecy that a beast power based in Europe will become THE major economic and military power in the world for a short while–and this apparently seems to be set to happen sometime next decade.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? When does the six thousand years of human rule end?

A Chinese Depiction of a Dragon
(The Bible in Revelation 20:2 Calls Satan Both a Serpent and Dragon)

COGwriter

The Day of Atonement, most commonly called Yom Kippur by the Jews (or the Fast in the New Testament), starts Wednesday, October 8th at sunset this year.

Do you know its Christian significance? Do you know that early Christians observed it?

Oddly, because most people associate the Day of Atonement exclusively with the Jews, they are much more likely to celebrate/participate in the pagan Druid holiday in October now called Halloween (see Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? ) than observe a biblical Holy Day.

Do you know that the Bible indicates that one of the things that it pictures is the binding of Satan the dragon for 1000 years?

How can this be determined?

This can be determined essentially by looking at ceremonies associated with the Day of Atonement in the Hebrew Scriptures and noticing a prophetic parallel in the New Testament.

Although many Protestant commentators seem to misunderstand these passages in Leviticus concerning the Day of Atonement, they are correct that the SLAIN goat represents Jesus Christ.

Yet, notice what happens immediately after the atoning from the death of that first goat:

And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness…And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp (Leviticus 16:20-22,26).

The atonement is over after the first goat is sacrificed. The atonement is not part of the symbolism of the second goat. While many Protestant commentators either do not know what the Azazel goat represents or think it represents the physical life of Christ, the latter explanation would not seem to be consistent with the statements in Leviticus 16:26 (bolded above).

Why?

Because notice that it is a fit man that takes the goat into the wilderness and he has to wash himself after he has released the aza’zel goat. If the second goat represented Christ, the fit man would have to wash BEFORE touching the goat and not AFTER releasing it.

What Happened to the Live Goat is Symbolic of Satan

We in the Living Church of God believe that what happened to the live goat in Leviticus 16 is symbolic of Satan for two basic reasons:

1) The term scapegoat is an inappropriate translation into English, as it implies that blame is being placed where blame is not due. The Hebrew term is actually aza’zel. This is a term that some Jewish people have historically ascribed to a Satanic adversary.

2) What happens with the Azazel goat and what happens to Satan is quite similar, if one compares Leviticus 16:20-22,26 to Revelation 20:1-3.

Specifically, we cite the following passage from Revelation 20:1-3:

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.

Notice that it is a fit man that places the Azazel goat which bares blame for sins into the wilderness, and an angel that places Satan, who brought sin into the world, into the wilderness of the bottomless pit. Contrary to the claims of those who do not take this portion of Revelation literally, this 1000 year binding of Satan has certainly not taken place since John was inspired to pen Revelation.

Satan the Dragon is bound for the entire 1000 years of the millennial reign of Christ.  And that is just part of the significance of the Day of Atonement for Christians.  A day that early Christians, like the Apostle Paul (cf. Acts 27:9), kept (the Fast was so widely observed in the 4th century that it was condemned by John Chrysostom (see Fall Holy Days Approach).

The Day of Atonement, unlike the world’s false pagan holidays, does have much significance for Christians today.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Did Early Christians Observe the Fall Holy Days? Did they? Did Jesus? Did Paul? Should you?
The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians “The Day of Atonement”. Does it have any relevance for Christians today?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
LCG 2008 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this year.
Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.

American and British Aircraft Carriers Are Used As Parts of Threats and Wars

COGwriter

We in the Living Church of God have long warned of the future decline of the military might of the Anglo-American nations.

The recent financial problems in the USA are expected to cause it to lose its military dominance (see LCG: What if We Can’t Afford the Military?).

But the United Kingdom has been experiencing this for decades, and even more in the past decade.  Notice the following news item:

Exclusive: Cash strapped Navy cuts destroyer fleet

The Royal Navy has mothballed almost half of its remaining fleet of destroyers as it desperately attempts to save money in the face of a plunging budget.

The financial problems in both the UK and the USA will result in those nations asking and expecting the EU to fill in the gaps (which some within the EU are now hoping to do, see for example, France Wants Greater EU Military).  And while the UK is in the EU, the European Union will still turn against it.

The Bible both predicted the rise and the fall of the Anglo-American powers.  It also predicts the rise of a massive European power led by the King of the North that will have ties to an ecumenical form of religion claiming to be Christianity.  More and more pieces needed for the fulfillment of future Bible prophecies are coming together.

Several articles of possibly related interest may include:

Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? There is a Mayan calendar prediction for change in 2012. 2012 changes were also centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans (the Hindus may have some predictions for the next decade as well). Do these Mayan/Hindu/Hopi prophecies have any value? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012?