“Thus, Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering.” Lev 16:3

In considering this type we must, to appreciate it, remember that it is a picture by itself, of one particular part, of the work of the World’s High Priest.

It is a comparatively easy matter to talk or write about the High Priest anointed and etc., going into the Holy Place and coming out, etc., in a general way, but we believe, to understand the matter clearly, we must realize first, that while Jesus is our (the church’s) High Priest, yet in the more full and complete sense, He is the head and we the members of the body of the great High Priest, and these Levitical pictures primarily referring to the Head, when fully considered refer to the body complete. For instance, the ceremony of anointing commenced with the “Head” and the anointing oil (the Holy Spirit) continues running down over all the members of the body during the Gospel Age.

The consecrating or consecration of the priesthood includes all the members of his body, and requires all of the Gospel Age to complete it.

The sacrifice of atonement commenced with the Head and we “fill up the measure of the sufferings of Christ which are behind,” and therefore this suffering requires all of the Gospel Age.

So, we see that all of these pictures are separate and distinct, and will all be complete at the end of the Gospel Age. And then shall the Great High Priest of the world (Jesus and His bride, made ONE, Head and members complete) stand forth crowned a King and Priest after the Melchisedec order.

There He will stand before the world (manifest but unseen) the Great Prophet – “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me, (Moses) and it shall come to pass that the soul that shall not hear that Prophet, shall be cut off from among the people.” (cut off in the second death).

There He will stand, Priest of the Most High God and King of Salem, i.e. “King of Peace” – “A Priest upon His throne.”

He came typically to the Jews in the end of their age as Prophet, (teacher) as Priest (“when he offered up Himself,” Heb 7:27.) and as King. (When he rode into their city at the close of his ministry.) But they did not receive him in any of these forms. During the Gospel Age, his church or body has acknowledged him as “a teacher sent from God” – the Great Prophet; as their “High Priest,” and as their “King” or ruler. The word teaches however that it is not by the church only that he is to be accepted, but He (together with us as His body) shall be the Prophet for the people, the Priest for all the people and the King over all people, nations and languages; “Lord of all,” Priest of all, Prophet or teacher of all.

This chapter (Lev 16.) treats of the sacrifice of atonement, which as we shall see requires all of the Gospel Age. In the work of sacrifice, Jesus, the head, was not arrayed in glory and we as his body are not in glory when we suffer with him. No, that will come after the sufferings of all are over; there we shall put on “the garments for glory and for beauty.”

“If we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together.” It is for this reason that on the great day of atonement, instead of his “garments for glory and beauty,” Aaron puts on simply “linen garments” representing holiness and purity. Lev 16:4.

These were put upon the body when washed and represented the fact that we, his members, not having righteousness of our own, were reckoned as pure, washed and clothed with “fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints.” We need the covering, but our Head did not – He was holy, harmless, undefiled; so, the head of the typical High Priest, wore only a linen mitre or crown, representing a crown of righteousness – to which was added when this work of atonement sacrifice was complete and the glorious garments put on, a plate of gold representing glory.

The first sacrifice, the Bullock, represented Jesus personally. Lev 16:3, 6. It stood “for” or instead of Aaron the High Priest. He could not lay down his life and then arise from the dead, and take of his own blood into the tabernacle, therefore God permitted him to represent himself by a Bullock, so then the Bullock’s death represents the sacrifice of Christ’s natural life; while the High Priest’s taking the blood into the holy place typified the risen Jesus, a spiritual body entering heaven itself.

But before this sacrifice another work was necessary. Lev 16:12, 13 inform us that before he could approach to make atonement with the blood, he must take fire from off the altar before the Lord and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small and bring it within the vail, and put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat.

The incense was of a peculiar kind. (Read Exod 30:34-38.) None could be made like it. It, we think represented the perfection of “the man Christ Jesus.” “Fairer art thou than all the fair among the sons of men.” This perfect character when placed (by himself) on the fire (trial and temptation) yielded a rich perfume, covering the “Mercy Seat.” Our High Priest must first be recognized as a tried and perfect one, before he could be received as a sacrifice for us. In this way he was proved to be perfect and because perfect he could go forth and offer his life a sacrifice for sin. This incense (representing his tried but spotless life) having been offered, the High Priest takes, as we have seen, the Bullock which is for (instead of) himself, and offers it for himself and for his house to make an atonement. Lev 16: 5, 11, 14.

It was offered for himself, i.e. for his body, the bride. The Head was holy and had ever been at one with God, but the members of his body were yet enemies to God through sin. These must be made at-one. And not for the “little flock” – (the bride the overcomers) only is the bullock offered but also for his house. Aaron’s house was the tribe of Levi (Num 17:2, 3) consequently the blood of the bullock, representing Aaron was used to make atonement for the Priest and for the house of Aaron – the Levites. Num 8:12.

So, Jesus gave his life for the “Royal Priesthood” and also for the larger company of “them that fear God’s name, small and great” – the general church, of believers (specifically the “great company class”). Be it remembered that we understand that the church or house of Christ is composed of a much larger company than the overcomers who are to sit on the throne.

Continued with next post.