Page 3 - God's Great Master Pt.2

Satan, who is called the “god of this world” (2Cor 4:4), and is described as the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph 2:2), being the father of sin (John 8:42-44), will be restrained by Christ from further leading mankind into sin. No longer will he be able to “broadcast” his attitudes of vanity, jealousy, lust and greed.
At the devil’s “chaining” (Rev 20:1-3), the symbolism of Leviticus 16 will become reality. The minds of men, formerly kept tightly closed by Satan and his demon cohorts, will now at last be opened by the Spirit of God. For the first time they will be able to understand God’s master plan of salvation for mankind, and humanity will readily accept and receive forgiveness of their sins through Christ. Then and only then, will man become at one with Christ and the Father, as symbolized by the Day of At-one-ment.
15). How are we to specifically observe the Day of Atonement? Lev 23:32.
The Day of Atonement is perhaps the most unusual Holy Day as far as what God expects us to do during this 24-hour period. For it is the one day on which God has commanded us to fast – to “afflict your souls” or bodies. (For biblical proof that afflicting one’s soul means fasting, compare the following passages: Ps 35:13; 69:10; Isa 58:3; Ezra 8:21.)
Fasting on the Day of Atonement means denying oneself of food and water for 24 hours – from sunset to sunset (“even[ing] unto even[ing]” – Lev 23:32). Fasting is not penance – not a hunger strike to try to get one’s way with God. Whenever a Christian fasts, it should be for the purpose of humbling his or her own fleshly mind with its carnal will, and to draw closer to God and His righteous way (Isa 58:6-11).
Thus, fasting on the Day of Atonement is a vivid reminder of the state of mind necessary for salvation – of the humility, the godly sorrow, the earnest seeking for God’s way – a condition to which this world will have been brought by catastrophic events culminating in Christ’s return!
16). What important seven-day Festival and integral annual Sabbath day occurs soon after the Day of Atonement? Lev 23:33-35; Deut 16:13.
The Feast of Tabernacles was also called the “Feast of Ingathering” (Ex 23:16; 34:22) because this seven-day Festival began just after the autumn harvest season. The whole nation observed the Feast after the final, main harvest was in (Lev 23:39).
17). Did Jesus Christ keep the Feast of Tabernacles? John 7:2, 8-11, 14. Did everyone know that Jesus always kept God’s feast and was certain to be in Jerusalem for its observance?
Verse 11.
Because of continually mounting persecution, Jesus wisely chose not to travel openly in Judea (verse 1). However, verses 1-10 show that He did risk His life to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Even though He went secretly, He openly taught in the temple during the middle of the Feast.
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