1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

THE GREAT "DAY OF ATONEMENT."LEV. 16:3-33.In considering these types we must, to appreciate them, rememberthat each is a picture by itself, of one particular part, of the work ofthe World's High Priest; and so with the various ceremonies of theDay of Atonement. To understand it clearly, we must realize thatwhile Jesus is our (the Church's) High Priest, yet in the more fulland complete sense he is the Head and we the members of the body,of the World's High Priest, just as Aaron was High Priest or chief ofthe under priests, while in a general sense, the whole priesthoodwas one, designed to minister for Israel who typified the world.These Levitical pictures primarily referring to the Head, when fullyconsidered refer to the body complete. For instance, the ceremonyof anointing commenced with the "Head," but the anointing appliedto all the body during the entire Gospel Age, as we have seen. Asthe consecrating of the priesthood includes all the members of hisbody, and requires all of the Gospel Age to complete it, so also withthe "Sin-offering" or the sacrifice of Atonement: it commencedwith the Head, and we the members of his body "fill up the measureof the sufferings of Christ which are behind," and this sufferingrequires all of the Gospel Age. The Day of Atonement, which in thetype, was but a twenty-four hour day, we see then in the antitype, tobe the entire Gospel Age. And with its close the sacrificing ceasesand the glory and blessing commences, and the Great High Priest ofthe world (Jesus and His bride, made ONE, Head and memberscomplete), shall stand forth crowned a King and Priest after theMelchizedek order: King of Peace--a Priest upon his throne.There he will stand before the world (manifest, recognized butunseen) not only as King and Priest, but also as the Great Prophet--"A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of yourbrethren, like unto me [Moses], ...and it shall come to pass that thesoul that shall not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from amongthe people." When brought to perfect knowledge and ability, perfectobedience will be required, and all who will not render it will be cutoff from life--the second death. Acts 3:22,23.page 6In the end of the Jewish Age, Jesus offered himself individually toIsrael as Prophet, Priest and King, typical or illustrative of thewhole Body. As Prophet, he taught them; as Priest--"he offered upHimself," (Heb. 7:27), as King he rode into their city at the close ofhis ministry. But they did not receive him in any of these offices.During the Gospel Age, his church or body has acknowledged himas "a teacher sent from God"--the great Prophet; as the "High Priestof our profession;" and as the rightful King. The Word teaches,however, that it is not by the Church only that he is to be accepted,but he (together with us, His Body) shall be the Prophet for thepeople, the Priest for all the people, and the King over all people,