The Changing of the Garments on the Day of Atonement
If we are to look at some of the procedures of the Old Testament sanctuary service it is not with the intention of becoming bogged down in spiritual or legalistic minutiae. If our study of the OT doesn’t have relevance with our Christian experience today it is worthless. Our walk with God, our experience with God, our knowing God as a Friend is not a means to an end……It is an end, a fulfillment in itself. Any study that doesn’t enhance our knowledge and our friendship with God is of little value.
The Bible talks of the “changing of the garments” often. It is spoken of in relation to the burnt offering. This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it. And the priest is to put on his linen robe, and he shall put on undergarments next to his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire reduces the burnt offering on the altar, and place them beside the altar. Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. Lev.6:9-11
There is, as we have discussed in a previous article, deep spiritual significance in the burnt offering. If all things in Scripture are significant, then this changing of the garments must mean something. There is indeed significance to these actions.
There is the life and the ministry of Jesus that warms our hearts and inspires us. We think of the miracles, the feeding of the multitude, the healing of the sick and those who were tormented, His marvelous and comforting teaching, His eloquent defense of the true character of God. These were all manifestations of His glory as the Son of God. And then there were those portions of His life when things did not apparently go so well. The temptation in the wilderness in the early part of His ministry must have brought very real and intense suffering, physically, mentally and spiritually. But this of course paled into insignificance when compared to what He endured in the last 24 hours before his death. This changing of the role of Jesus life and His ministry is aptly foretold in the changing of the garments of the High Priest in the daily and yearly services of the ancient sanctuary. Of course, the whole sanctuary service pointed forward to the birth, life and death of Jesus; His work for the salvation of mankind. This dualism in the life and the work of Jesus is spoken of in scripture:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and 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. Phil.2:5-8
Another version has it, Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to his rights as God, but laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men. And he humbled himself even further, going so far as actually to die a criminal’s death on a cross. The Living Bible
Jesus life wasn’t all suffering. He enjoyed the fellowship of ordinary people. He enjoyed the beauties of nature. He walked this earth as the King that He was. There was even a time when this power, His divinity, shone through. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. Matt.17:2 And of course this was not always His experience. There would have been times when He, the Son of God, before whom millions of angels had worshiped, was incredibly lonely. Of those times it is said, I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people there was none with me… And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: Isa.63:3,5 He, like us, had to live by faith when all around Him seemed dark and dismal. …protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Pet.1:5-7
Jesus said of His own experience, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” Matt.26:38 This was to be the culmination of the “sufferings of Christ”. So we know that is the experience of Jesus. How is it relevant to our experience? Amazingly we are told that there is a parallel between our lives and the life of Jesus.
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Phil.3:8-10 KJV In some way we are to have the same experience as Jesus. Again we are told. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy. 1 Pet.4:12,13 KJV
What does it mean to have a part of the sufferings of Christ? We know that Jesus performed a complete work on Calvary but that was just the beginning of the Christian era. Jesus didn’t immediately return to this world in power and great glory after His resurrection and ascension. There has been a lot of history since that time. Since that time, His Church, His people have been an extension of the work which Jesus began. Paul realized this fact. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that is lacking in Christ’s affliction. Col.1:24 NAS
And the same verse in a different version:
But part of my work is to suffer for you; and I am glad, for I am helping to finish up the remainder of Christ’s sufferings for his body, the church. Col.1:24 TLB Christians who live in the last days of this world’s history will have an experience as never before. They are but following in the footsteps of their Master, their Friend, their Lord and Saviour. They will have times of great joy and peace but their will be times when, inexplicably, they will feel a spiritual burden that they cannot explain. In the New Testament era we have moved beyond the legal minutiae of the law. We are now to look for the spiritual fulfillment of these Old Testament procedures. Isaiah chapter 61 is a Messianic prophecy quoted in the New Testament. It speaks of Jesus and His all-encompassing work. (vs.1,2) In this passage we notice that His work is bequeathed to His people to be carried on. His people are those who’ve been blessed and helped in their lives. (vs.3) Here these people are called, “priests of the Lord” (vs.6) It is in their relationship to the “burnt offering” that God pronounces His blessing and promise to them. (vs.8) In the light of this passage alone, we are constrained to look into the spiritual implications of the “priesthood” and the “burnt offering”.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isa.61:1-3
But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. vs.6
For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. vs.8
This whole chapter should be read in its entirety as, not only food for the soul, but pure last day teaching.
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When the high priest laid aside his priestly garments on the day of atonement, confessed the sins of Israel over the head of the scapegoat, and forced that animal into the wilderness, he was typifying the vital work of God. After an exhausting and demanding night, of confessing, making sacrifices, continually washing and changing garments, the man would have been exhausted. He didn’t realize it then but he was living out in microcosm what Jesus was to experience in the garden of Gethsemane, His mockery of a trial, and His terrible suffering at the hands of ruthless, demon possessed men.
Christians who live in the last days, just prior to Christ’s coming will have a similar experience. We need to step back and ask ourselves, why did Jesus do this for us? It certainly wasn’t just to prove how strong He was. It was because of His love for the human race. ‘For God so love the world that He gave’, is the immortal truth that rings down through the ages. And God’s people who go through hard times aren’t experiencing these things just to prove how strong they are. Their experience will be a small reflection of the experience of Jesus. Their calling is to follow ‘in His steps’. Jesus has given them an ‘example’ to follow. Jesus hardships were for others. Because He was Creator, ‘others’ denotes the whole human race. For the saints ‘others’ denotes those for whom the Holy Spirit has laid a burden. These people will be praying and interceding for their ever increasing circle of loved ones. These prayers will be like shafts of light penetrating and enlightening the darkness. They will be powerful to save people who may not even be aware of what is happening. These will be brands plucked out of the fire by the prayers and intercession of those who they may even have mocked and despised. God saves and justifies the ungodly when there is an intercessor, a ‘priest’, standing for that person. We need to remember the words of a Christian author here. “It is part of God’s plan to grant us, in answer to the prayer of faith, that which He would not bestow did we not thus ask.” GC p.525 Can you see the absolutely vital role of Jesus and His army of intercessors. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available – dynamic in its working. James 5:16 Amplified Bible
He gives families to the lonely, and releases prisoners from jail, singing with joy! …… O God, when you led your people through the wilderness, the earth trembled and the heavens shook. Mount Sinai quailed before you – the God of Israel. You sent abundant rain upon your land, O God, to refresh it in its weariness! There your people lived, for you gave them this home when they were destitute. The Lord speaks. The enemy flees. The women at home cry out the happy news: “The armies that came to destroy us have fled!” Now all the women of Israel are dividing the booty. See them sparkle with jewels of silver and gold, covered all over as wings cover doves! God scattered their enemies like snowflakes melting in the forests of Zalmon. Ps.68:6-14 The Living Bible.
These verses describe the spiritual experience of those who live in the spiritually destitute times of the last days. Their confinement, their apparent ineffectiveness, their stature, their gender has nothing to do with the powerful work that they do for God.
A Christian moving in the Spirit will sometimes have a great burden for something he cannot even identify. …the Spirit also helps our weakness; we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words: Rom.8:26 Yet they will keep on persevering in prayer as they know that what they are doing is important to God’s work in the salvation of souls. Paul alludes to this when he says:
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 1 Cor.14:14 There is a very real work that is spoken of by Zechariah. Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zech.4:5,6
There will be Christians who have never known about sanctuary typology. Right up until the end of time there will be God’s children who know nothing about this subject but who love God and their fellow man and are living and praying unselfishly. Just as Jesus was led ‘by the Spirit’ into the wilderness to suffer His temptation and indeed all of His life was a Spirit led experience, so God’s children will be led by the Spirit into their own personal experience. Being an intercessor and a ‘watchman’ for God is not something we choose as a ‘good idea’ or a ‘noble cause’. No, the Spirit of God, and He alone can and will, if we allow Him, lead us into this type of experience. Being prepared to walk with God in a surrendered state in every area of our lives is His only ask of us. The work belongs to God and He will do it. We are simply called to ‘watch’ with Jesus as He called upon His disciples to do back then. He is still making that call today.
When we intercede for people what are we doing? Are we convincing God to love people and to save them? We don’t need to do that. He already loves the human race with a love far greater than ours. ….God so loved the world… Jn.3:16. God the Father needs a priest, as in Jesus, to present the people covered and clothed in the righteousness of His Son through His sufferings and shed blood. Jesus has earned the right and paid the price to be able to do this. Likewise He needs an army of priests not just to say to God, ‘save these people because I love them’ – God already loves them. Priests do things more definite and more definitive than that. He needs an army of priests to present these people to Him covered in the blood, the righteousness, of Jesus. This involves the priests donning the garments of humility. This will be an attribute that only God can fully see. But it will be an attribute that validates, justifies, vindicates, their request. A Christian author once wrote, “The strength of the children of God is in their humility.”Just as God the Father had to listen to Jesus and has to accept sinners on Jesus behalf. So likewise, the saints of this generation, the “chosen generation, the royal priesthood”, those who have learned true subjection and humility through the fire of the Holy Spirit burning on their hearts. If these people make a request to God – He will listen to them. All this is done with the Spirit of Melchizedek working in them and through them.
There are significant parallels here….they may be hidden under types, metaphor and parable, but for the discerning they are there.
1) There was regular ‘changing of the garments’ all through the year culminating in an increased intensity of this process on the ‘day of atonement’, the day once a year when the sanctuary would be ‘cleansed’,
2) There was a regular ‘changing of the garments’ or a role change in Jesus’ life, all through His life. He at times walked as a King, a High Priest, working miracles, healing, rebuking the armies of evil, teaching, preaching, etc. But there were times when He was subject to the punishment that the evil one meted out and He did not use His kingly powers to lessen his suffering. The temptation in the wilderness was one of those times. They culminated in His last 24 hours on this earth when He was tortured, humiliated, and made to suffer a most horrible and lonely death.
3) All through the Christian era, the followers of Christ have had the same experiences. Times of joy and victory when it seemed no power on this earth could stand against them and times of utter persecution and victimization. But the end time for Christians was always going to be a particularly taxing time. Some say this began in 1844 when the prophetic time clock began ticking. There are different lines of priesthood. There was the Aaronic line of priesthood that covered the old testament era. There is the Melchizedek line of priesthood which reaches from way before there was a Jewish nation (see Gen.14) right up to our present day. Jesus Himself is called “high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”. And then thirdly there is the line of priesthood of which Christians themselves are a part. This is mentioned in the first book of Peter and in Revelation.
You will notice that these 3 different lines of priesthood have something in common. They are performed by people, men who have a body, a body that can feel and experience the rigors of a life on this earth. This is something that the angels, even God Himself, could not perform until the miracle of the incarnation, the virgin birth, when God became a man.
…you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Pet.2:5,9 NAS
…He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev.1:5
And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou was slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. Rev.5:9,10
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Rev.20:6
In the light of these passages of Scripture, whether future or present day, can there be any doubt that God’s people, Christians of today are called to be priests? But we need to be very honest here. The role of a priest is more than worship. Priests actually do things, important things. The term “priest” in the above verses seems to infer something more than what we have been taught is the traditional role of a believer. The ‘World Language Dictionary’ has a priest as one who is, “…especially consecrated to the service of a divinity, and serving as mediator between the divinity and his worshippers…” This would give new meaning to verses such as 1 Pet.2:21. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…
A priest is also understood to mean, “one who has charge of the religious life of a people.” (Cruden’s concordance) Now in Christendom this has always been understood as meaning that certain people are called to the “priesthood” and these people are to be ministers and have charge of the running of the church and the spiritual well being of the ‘flock’. This is all very well. But in the early church while the leaders had the title of deacons or elders or bishops the term priest seems to have reference to all people who are called to follow Christ. So does this mean that there is more to the role of the ordinary believer than we have been traditionally taught?
The next important point to take note of is this: The priests themselves are not perfect. They are ‘clothed with filthy garments’ and in total need of the covering of Christ’s righteousness. How do we know these things? It’s good to look at the following passage of Scripture.
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. And he spoke and said to those who were standing before him saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”……..And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways, and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here. Zech.3:1-7Joshua here stands as the ‘type’ or representative of all who are called to follow Christ. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1Cor.10:11
The calling and election of God is sure. (Rom.9:11) If people are called to serve, their calling and election is sure in spite of their real or imagined failures. We need to quietly ponder these things and then allow the Holy Spirit to work His marvelous work.
Did something significant happen around 1844. The biblical scholarship to arrive at this conjecture seems reasonably sound. Should we then be looking for something more than some procedural event in heaven? The book of Revelation seems to portray a close parallel between the events in heaven and those on this earth.
If there is one thing the changing of the garments illustrates, it would have to be the close identification of the priest with the people. Jesus illustrated this in the laying aside of His robes and taking the role of a servant. Jesus…rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, girded Himself about…and began to wash the disciples feet. John 13:3-5
This actually offended the disciples as they saw this as beneath His kingly role. Jesus actions were to be confirmed in the hours to come as He took upon Himself the sins of the world. He would soon say to His disciples, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” Matt.26:38 His inner being was being crushed by a weight so heavy and intense that it felt like the very life was being crushed from Him.
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In all of this we have the assurance that God will not allow any of His people to have a burden that’s too heavy for them to bear. There is a natural progression here, aptly symbolized by the burnt offering. All throughout the year there were the daily sacrifices of the burnt offering. These were increased many fold on the day of atonement. As we said in the beginning of this article these old testament historical events in themselves are just historical events that happened in another era. An era that was in many ways more brutal and stark than the times in which we now live. We wouldn’t even consider or countenance the killing of animals now as a form of sacrifice or worship. That whole concept is repulsive and abhorrent to us. At least this is the case in the countries that have been open and receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. So to reiterate, these practices that happened so long ago and were sanctioned by God had a powerful and sobering effect on the people of those times. The spiritual lessons of those times are what we today are looking at. There is much significance for us today in the burnt offering. This we covered in a previous article on the subject. The Christian growth initiated in individual Christians is their individual preparation for their own unique burden bearing. God keeps us alive in this old world of sin so that we may tread the path that Jesus trod for us so long ago. As Jesus was led by His Guide, the Holy Spirit, so we are led by that same Spirit to perform acts of kindness and self effacing love for our loved ones and those around us. As we approach the end of time, these spiritual exercises will involve more and more of an intercessory role as did the life of Jesus in His final hours. And in a limited way this will involve a substitutionary role as Christians lay down their lives in a spiritual sense for those around them. This is what the anti-typical day of atonement is all about. The ‘good news’ is that Jesus has fully accomplished our salvation by His sacrifice, resurrection and mediation for each and every believer. The ‘bad news’ is that ours is not merely a passive role in accepting everything that’s been done for us. Each and every believer is to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in their lives and live according to His promptings. We are talking in a very human way here. Genuine believers who walk in close fellowship with God will have a closeness and intimacy with their Creator that is not without its moments of pure joy and good humor. This is the way it is between ‘friends’. And Jesus calls us “friends”. (John 15:15) There is a wryness but good humor in the way that God treats us.
It was, Moses, His chosen one, who stepped into the breach between the people and their God and begged Him to turn and not destroy them. Ps.106:23 The Living Bible. It was on the basis of Moses close relationship with God that he could ask this of Him. His closeness with God where they spoke face to face was behind Moses’ love for his people. He says, I am going to the Lord, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin… But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin… and if not please blot me out of Thy book… Ex.32:30-32 Greater love has no man than this, said Jesus, that he lay down his life for his friend. Jn.15:13
Another Old Testament story that bears looking into for the spiritual lessons it brings is the book of Job. This Old Testament book of the Bible has remarkable similarities to the subject we’ve been discussing. If we compare the first and last chapters of the book of Job we will find some interesting facts. After Job’s ordeal we find that God, increased all that Job had twofold. Job42:10 And then this is spelt out for us. From 7000 sheep he was given 14000: from 3000 camels he was given 6000: etc. etc. This story tells us that he was given exactly double of everything just as God said it would be. (compare 1:2,3 with 42:12,13) But then in verse 13 of the last chapter this analogy apparently breaks down, or does it? This verse tells us that he had “seven sons and three daughters”. This was the same number that he had before if we look at chap.1:2. In this book we are looking at things through God’s eyes – the eyes of divine love that see the end from the beginning. Job really did have double the amount of everything, even his children, if you take into account his previous 7 sons and 3 daughters. These children who had been killed were safe in God’s care. On what basis were they safe? On the basis of Job’s prayers and intercession for them. This is clearly and succinctly stated in chap.1:5. After the partying and feasting of his children (chap.1:4,13) Job was found to be busy praying and interceding for them. The strong implication in these verses is that while God was not necessarily in the thoughts of these young people they will be saved through the prayers and intercession of their father. This fact is recognized in the footnote to Job 42 in The Living Bible. “42:13-14 gave him seven more sons and three more daughters, making a total of twenty children, ten of whom were in heaven.” While we may question whether these children were actually ‘alive’ in heaven or ‘asleep’ waiting for the resurrection morning, the important point to recognize here is they seem to be portrayed as ‘safe’ in God’s hands because of the prayers of their father.
We need to look at the character of this man Job, which was instrumental in bringing his prayers to fruition. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil. Chap.1:2 This was the key to Job’s effectiveness in prayer. He was not necessarily a ‘religious’ person, but he was a ‘good’ person. Job had learned well the lessons of the burnt offering in his own life. The spiritual lessons of this in our lives today are important and far reaching.
If ever there was an example of the ‘changing of the garments’ from prosperity to humility, this book must be up there with the best. Perhaps it is significant that Job’s problems began after He had begun interceding for his children. His character gave him the power in prayer that God is looking for in His people today. Job was told to pray for his friends: …go to my servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and my servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly… chap.42:8
God had given Job the gift of intercession. This was manifested not only towards his own children but towards his friends. We today, who live in the anti-typical day of atonement, can take this information believe it, and rejoice in it.
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