Was the Atonement Finished at the Cross?
Two-Step Atonement & Judgment
Study to Show | Present Truth part 8
In this lesson, we will study the prophecies of the two-step atonement. The first was done daily; the second was done once per year.
Let us first define the word ‘atonement.’ The word atonement means: To cover, to expiate, purge, reconciliation, reconcile, forgive, purge away, pacify, merciful, cleansed, disannulled, appease, put off, pardon, to pitch. See The Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Hebrew Dictionary number 3722 and 3725. Additionally number 2643 in the Greek Dictionary.
1. What happened after the priest made an atonement for the sin of the person? Leviticus 4:35
2. What three titles does Jesus give Himself? John 14:6
3. What should we study in the Bible in order to find the way of Jesus so that we may find truth, even the truth about the atonement, and receive eternal life? Psalm 77:13
4. Where did the Psalmist go in the Bible and what did he study in order to understand the end? Psalm 73:17
Note: Since the sanctuary message teaches the end, it will also teach the beginning, because God declares the end from the beginning. See Isaiah 46:10.
Note: The Bible teaches that the sanctuary on earth had three compartments: The Court, The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Additionally, the earthly sanctuary was a type or a copy of the heavenly sanctuary. See Exodus 25:8,9,40; Hebrews 8:1-5.
Note: The court of the sanctuary represented the earth. The sacrificial lamb was slain in the court. Jesus, the lamb of God, died on the cross on this earth.
5. What was the sinner to do in order to be accepted and in order for an atonement to be made for him? Leviticus 1:4
6. What did the person do when he laid his hands upon the head of the animal? Leviticus 16:21
7. Where in the sanctuary did the sinner confess his sins in order to receive an atonement? Leviticus 1:4,5
Note: The Bible teaches that there is an atonement made at the altar for people who confess their sins and surrender to God.
7. What could a surrendered man receive once Jesus died on the cross? Romans 5:8-11
Note: In this Bible study series, we discovered that the death of Jesus was prophesied to occur in A.D. 31 Spring, which fulfilled Daniel 9:24-27. Therefore, the first of the two-step atonement was also prophesied.
8. When Jesus mentioned His death, what did He say regarding judgment and Satan, the prince of this world? John 12:31-33
Review and Herald, October 29, 1895: Just previous to his crucifixion, the Saviour said, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me,” Though it was the hour of the power of darkness, yet in anticipation of his triumph, Christ could say, “The prince of this world is judged.” “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” Viewing the work of redemption as completed, he could, even in death, speak of the great final deliverance, and represent things that were future as if present. The only begotten Son of the infinite God could successfully carry through the great plan which made man’s salvation sure. {RH, October 29, 1895 par. 8}
9. Where did Aaron take the blood of the animal and upon what did he sprinkle the blood in order to make the final atonement for the congregation of the Jews? Leviticus 16:15,16
Note: The phrase ‘within the veil’ where the mercy seat resides points to the most holy place. See Exodus 26:33,34; Hebrews 9:3-5. 20. Note: The final atonement occurs in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.
The Great Controversy, 479: The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given Him at the close of His work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man–to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits. {GC 479.3}
The Great Controversy, 480: In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. “Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?” 1 Peter 4:17. {GC 480.1}
10. What was the name given to that day for the final atonement? Leviticus 16:29,30
11. What happened to the live goat, the scape goat, that represented Satan at the end of the Day of Atonement? Leviticus 16:20-22
Note: The atonement was not finished at the cross. The cross was the first of the two-step process in the great work of atonement.
12. What did Jesus say on the cross just before He gave up the ghost and died? John 19:30
13. What will Jesus say after the great work of judgment is completed in the heavenly temple? Revelation 16:5,7,17
14. What will Jesus do to people who refuse to consecrate themselves to Him? Exodus 32:29-33
Note: The blotting out of people from God’s book of life means that you are eternally lost.
15. On what day were people cut off and destroyed if they refused to afflict their souls and consecrate themselves to God?
Leviticus 23:27-30
16. What were the people instructed to do if they committed known or ignorant sins? What would they receive if they complied? Leviticus 4:27-31
17. What would people not receive if they met the requirements to receive the benefits of the atonement? Numbers 8:19
18. What great crisis brings the seven last plagues in these last days? Revelation 14:9,10; Revelation 16:1,2
19. The message of the atonement was for which two groups of people? Numbers 15:28, 29
20. What would cause a person to be cut off from God’s people and be lost and not receive the benefits of the atonement? Numbers 15:30
21. What must be our prayer? Psalm 19:13,14
22. What commandment was broken and caused a person to be cut off and not receive the benefits of the atonement? Numbers 15:31-36
23. Read Numbers 15: 38-41 and write down your thoughts in light of Number 15:28-36
24. What work does Jesus say will occur in the last days? John 12:48
25. Why does Jesus send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to us? John 16:6-13