Dear Brethren,
The Day of Atonement pictures our High Priest, Jesus Christ, cleansing mankind of its sins—which brings about the whole world’s reconciliation to God. It pictures the ultimate salvation which will allow man to enter into the "holiest of all" (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:1-15).
This day is primarily about Jesus and the things He has done for us. This day is not about Satan bearing the sins of mankind—because he does not. Because Jesus has not yet removed Satan as ruler of the earth he continues to rule and deceive this world. Jesus said that Satan, the ruler of this world, shall be cast out (John 12:31, Revelation 12:9).
The question for us to consider is when in the Plan of God Satan will be cast out and bound (Revelation 20:1-3)? We know that Jesus died at Passover, sent His Spirit at Pentecost, will return at Trumpets, but why will Satan be bound at Atonement? Those who have accepted the premise that Satan will bear our sins associate Satan’s being bound with the Day of Atonement for that reason—but that is incorrect. The Day of Atonement pictures two things Jesus does for us: He paid the penalty of sin for us, and He removes the guilt of sin from us. Only Jesus is able to bear our iniquity. As Isaiah shows us, the focus of Atonement is on our iniquity being born by Jesus Christ, and our salvation by His life (Romans 5:10).
Isaiah 53:6 …the LORD has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all. (Leviticus 16:22)
John the Baptist also corroborates the fact that it is Jesus alone who bears our sins:
John 1:29 … Behold the Lamb of God, who bears away the sin of the world.
So we find that it is Jesus upon whom sin and iniquity are decisively placed. Paul explains it in this way:
Hebrews 9:28 Christ was once offered [in sacrifice] to bear the sins of many.
Peter shows the two-fold function of Christ as our Atonement:
1Peter 2:24 [Jesus] Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness…
Scripture provides the proper rationale for Satan being bound at the Day of Atonement. It has to do with the meaning of the Holy Days. Knowing that Jesus’ life was the embodiment of the Plan of God, we find that Jesus overcame Satan and his temptations as the Day of Atonement began.
Shortly after His return to this earth, Jesus Christ will bind Satan in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. This will occur at the implementation and realization of the Day of Atonement when the entire world will finally be qualified and entitled to be reconciled to God the Father.
Let’s follow the time line: It was just a short while before Jesus’ 30th birthday when He was baptized in late summer (Mark 1:9). Jesus had not yet overcome Satan – and would have had to be exceedingly spiritually strong to do so. In preparation for His monumental challenge, Jesus was propelled into rigorous fasting and prayer in the wilderness in order to be intimately close to His Father. Jesus was spiritually prepared to take-on Satan. Satan’s temptations were exceedingly powerful and horrendous. Following His baptism, in full faith of His Father’s protection, Jesus willingly faced an awful Adversary.
Mark 1:12-13 Immediately the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto Him.
Jesus dealt with Satan at the completion of His forty days and nights of fasting—and defeated him as the Day of Atonement arrived (Luke 4:13-21).
Jesus withstood Satan’s attacks (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:12). After the climactic battle, Jesus returned to Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. When John the Baptist saw Jesus returning after the Day of Atonement he announced, “Behold the Lamb of God, who bears away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, 35). John the Baptist understood that Jesus was the Messiah by whom atonement would be made for the sins of mankind (Leviticus 16:22).
Satan will be bound for a thousand years on the Day of Atonement just prior to the start of the Millennium (Revelation 20:2). Once Satan is bound, God's Kingdom of peace will be formally established on earth. With Satan bound – deception ceases for 1,000 years.
Satan will be bound in preparation for the entire world to be reconciled to God the Father—beginning at the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement.
The Day of Atonement will see all mankind cleansed of iniquity, and their ultimate reconciliation to the Father.
