Two Goats

Thank you again, Mr. Jackson. Well, brethren, in Scripture Jesus Christ is revealed and also referred to as the light of the world. We've all heard that, I'm sure, many, many, many times. In fact, I gave a sermon about that at the Feast of Tabernacles in the Delves once upon a time. And in that sermon I talked about the Illumination Ceremony, where in the Court of the Women during the Feast of Tabernacles, or perhaps it was on the last great day, I don't think we know for sure, but there were, I believe, two large candelabras that were about 70 feet high.

And they had to get an elaborate system of ladders and thuds to get up there and to light these candelabras. But they would burn for hours and they have to put more fuel, which was, I guess, old clothing or things that they would use to keep it burning. But it would just about light up the whole city. It was these huge 70 feet high. And it was then that Christ, it was under that, in that context, where he talked about himself as the light of the world.

So we know that Christ was perfect. We know that Christ never sinned. Even as a human being, he never sinned. And he was perfect, certainly, as the logos or the spokesman before he became a human being. We know in the book of John, it talks about Christ and how he was there in the very beginning with the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. You're familiar with that verse. So we know that Christ existed before he was known as the Christ, before he was born of the Virgin Mary. We know he was perfect at that time. And we know also that he has always existed.

He is the Eternal, just as the one known as God the Father is Eternal as well. They were there in the beginning. There were two members of the God family at that point. And again, Christ is the light of the world.

Now, it's interesting to note that the archangel Lucifer was created a perfect being. Now, Christ was never created. He was there in the very beginning with God the Father. And then he was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived of the Holy Spirit. So certainly a totally different being in so many ways.

But the archangel Lucifer was created a perfect being initially. He was an angelic being, of course. And the name Lucifer means light bringer or morning star or son of the morning, also day star. And he was to bring light to the earth as he was initially given dominion over the earth. Now, today we're observing the day of atonement. This is a very special day.

It's a day of afflicting oneself, a day of fasting. We fast today to humble ourselves and also to draw close to God. Pride was the basic cause of Lucifer's demise. It was the basic cause of his downfall when pride was lifted up within him and he sinned against God because of that. On the other hand, Jesus Christ has always remained humble and submissive to his Father's will. So there's a great contrast between Jesus Christ, the light of the world, and the one that was first known as the light bringer or morning star, Lucifer.

Christ, again, remained humble while Satan became filled with pride. Christ became the light of the world. Satan became the prince of darkness. Today we're going to consider the symbolism of the two goats of Leviticus chapter 16. I'd like to title this sermon, Two Goats as Different as Light and Darkness. Two goats as different as light and darkness. Let's go to Leviticus 16. I think when I first started studying the book of Leviticus and chapter 16 in particular, it was a little bit confusing. I think I do grasp and understand it quite a bit better now than I did initially. But here it talks about two goats that were to be brought on the Day of Atonement.

And Aaron was to take these two goats, verse 7, He shall take the two goats and present them before the eternal at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Now this is on the Day of Atonement. And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord, the other lot for the scapegoat or the Azazel. Now, scapegoat is really not a good translation because it gives a different connotation. Azazel is better. This basically is talking about an adversary. It's talking about someone against God. So there are two goats here, and the slain goat is to represent Jesus Christ, who is slain for mankind.

Christ laid his life down and was slain for the sins of mankind. On the other hand, Satan the devil has never died. If you stop and think about it, Satan the devil is still alive. He never died. Jesus did die. Jesus was slain. So this goat that was slain represents Jesus Christ. The other goat represents the Azazel, the adversary. Some commentaries it's even referred to as, I think, a demon spirit, the Azazel.

So it's talking about Satan the devil, the Azazel or Satan the devil. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell and offer it as a sin offering. Again, Christ died for the sins of mankind. Not that Christ ever sinned. That's why Christ is the perfect sacrifice because Christ never sinned, and yet he died. And the wages of sin is death.

And of course, Christ never deserved to die, but he did die for us. Verse 10, But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat or the Azazel shall be presented alive before the eternal to make atonement upon it. In other words, to lay the sins of mankind also upon this goat because Satan was the initial sinner. He was the one who sinned first.

He is the father of lies. And so he tempts and accuses God's people. And he has so much to do with the sinful nature of this world. And he is, of course, the God of this world, as it says in the Bible.

So this particular goat was to represent Satan the devil. And he was to have hands laid upon this goat to make atonement for the sins and to let it go as the scapegoat or the Azazel into the wilderness. And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, shall kill the bull as the sin offering, which is for himself. And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense, beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil.

And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony lest he die. And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side.

And before the mercy seat, he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. And he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it. So there was obviously there was a bull that was sacrificed as well. There were these two goats, one of them being sacrificed, the other one being.

We'll read about what happens to Ed in a moment. Verse 16, So he shall make atonement for the holy place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel and because of their transgressions for all their sins. And so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until he comes out that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his fingers seven times, cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. And when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place, the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, he shall bring the live goat.

And Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. And the goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land, and he shall release the goat into the wilderness. Now that would be symbolic of Satan the Devil being cast into outer darkness, being in a sense released into the wilderness or into outer darkness.

So again, we see a big contrast here. We see one goat that represents Christ, Christ who is perfect and yet who submitted perfectly to his father's will and was sacrificed, laid his life down, shed his blood. And then we have the other goat, the Azazel goat or the adversary that was basically responsible for sin initially and also tempting Adam and Eve in the garden, and having an influence in tempting all of us to sin. Not that we aren't also guilty because we play a part as well, but Satan is the father of sin. And so again, we see a contrast here between these two goats. Now let's go back to Isaiah 14 now.

And by the way, where it talks about the hand of a suitable man is speaking of Jesus Christ. Christ is the only one that was the one that was really qualified to take... Now there was a person that actually fulfilled this back in ancient times, but symbolically it is representative of Christ who is the suitable one who lived perfectly.

Now in Isaiah 14, again we're drawing a contrast between the two goats and the difference between these two goats. Isaiah 14, beginning in verse 12, we're going to go back and talk about Lucifer, a bit, and his origins. Isaiah 14, verse 12. Isaiah 14, verse 12, How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, Son of the morning, or day star, as my margin says, Son of the morning, or light bringer, day star, how you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations. For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, or above the angels of God. And I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest side of the north in the third heaven, and I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, and I will be like the Most High. I will become like the Most High.

Basically, it was intentional that he was going to try to uproot the Most High and gain preeminence.

I will be like the Most High, yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit. That is to be his fate. Now, again, it is talking about a physical king as well, but it is also clearly talking about Lucifer and Satan the Devil. The same thing is true in Ezekiel 28, where it talks about the Prince of Tyre. So if we go over there to Ezekiel 28. Ezekiel 28. So Satan was perfect until sin was found in him. Ezekiel 28 verse 11.

Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God, you were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty, and you were in Eden, the garden of God. So it has to be talking about Lucifer, talking about Satan the Devil. You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering. The sardius, the topaz, the diamond, barrel, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, emerald, gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day that you were created. You were the anointed cherub, or cherub, who covers the archangel, one of the archangels. And I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God, part of the government of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity or sin was found in you. And then it talks about the o covering cherub, and by the abundance of your trading, your deceit, you became filled with violence within and you sinned. Therefore I cast you out as a profane thing, out of the mountain of God, and I destroyed you. Well, that word destroyed doesn't mean exactly what we would think of as destroyed, but certainly Satan is in a very subservient role to God. God's allowing Satan to have rule over this earth at this time, but God is always in charge. You know, God allows Satan to do what he does, because he has a plan of salvation. And in that plan it says that Christ was actually slain from the foundations of the world. So God knew what was going to happen. He knows the end before the beginning, as it says in the scripture. So he knew what would happen. He knew that mankind would sin, that Satan would tempt mankind to sin. And so the plan was that Christ would be slain from the very foundations of the world, would pay the penalty for our sins.

So Lucifer again became known as Satan, he became known as the adversary, he became known as the Lord of darkness, and the angels who follow him became known as demons or evil spirits.

In Proverbs chapter 4 it talks about those who follow the ways of Satan or the ways of darkness will stumble in their darkness. Let's look at Proverbs chapter 4. Proverbs chapter 4 verses 18 and 19. Proverbs chapter 4 verse 18. But the path of the just is like the shining sun.

And of course that would be Jesus Christ. Christ is like the shining sun, he's the light of the world. That shines every brighter unto the perfect day, the way of the wicked is like darkness.

Lucifer or Satan, the way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what makes them stumble. They're deceived. They don't even understand why they do the things that they do oftentimes, but nevertheless they do them. So again we see a large contrast between Satan the devil and Jesus the Christ. Let's go to Revelation 20 where it talks about what's going to be happening to Satan the devil when Christ returns. Revelation chapter 20. We know that Christ is now at the right hand of God. In fact, they're making intercession for mankind because when we have a repentant heart and mind we cry out to God for forgiveness. And Christ hears our prayers and the Father hears our prayers and Christ intercedes on our behalf. Satan is the accuser of the brethren so Satan will accuse us before God after he's tempted us to sin. Then he will accuse us before God.

But Christ makes intercession and grants repentance. And that's how our sins are covered.

So it's very important that we understand this. Notice in Revelation 20 verse 1.

Then I saw an angel or a messenger from God coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottom was pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, that servant of old, who is the devil, and Satan. And he bound him for a thousand years. So during the millennial reign of Christ, during that one thousand year period, Satan is going to be bound. He's not going to be able to accuse the brethren. He's not going to be able to tempt the brethren or anyone. So he'll be bound for a thousand years. And he cast him into the bottomless pit. And he shut him up. And he set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years were finished. But after those things, he must be released for a little while. Now it goes into what's going to happen to those who are martyred in chapter 4, those who are faithful to God, who do not worship the beast, do not receive the image of the beast, or receive his mark on their foreheads or their hands. It says they will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years.

So those who are alive at this time, at this very last day, these last days, and refuse to follow Satan the devil, even though they may be martyred. Now some will be taken to a place of safety. Some will be protected, as the Bible says in Revelation 12, for a time, times, and half a times. But others will have to be tested, and some will be martyred. But nevertheless, as long as they're faithful, they will reign and rule with Christ for a thousand years.

Now verse 5 says, the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.

Okay, that should actually be in parentheses, because the next sentence, this is the first resurrection, refers back to verse 4. At the end of verse 4, they lived and they reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. And then if we go back to the beginning of verse 5, but the rest of the dead, you see those who are dead initially in Christ will be in the first resurrection. Those who are martyred will be in the first resurrection. If they're faithful and they're martyred, they will be in the first resurrection. But the rest of the dead will not live again until the thousand years are finished. This is actually a second resurrection, but it doesn't say that in the scriptures, but that's the only thing it can possibly mean.

Verse 6, blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.

Over such the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him a thousand years. So these are the firstfruits. Christ is the firstborn among many brethren, and those who are faithful, who have died in Christ, or who are alive in Christ, they will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. Now, notice verse 7, when the thousand years have expired, then Satan will be released from his prison. And we'll come out of that wilderness or that abyss or that pit, and we'll go out to deceive the nations, which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the frost prophet had already been cast. You know, they were cast a thousand years ago, so that if you notice, R is in parentheses. That's not an original word there.

They were cast back a thousand years ago into the lake of fire, as it says in other places here in Revelation. I think over in chapter 19, it talks about that. But anyway, Satan is going to be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, as it says here. It could be symbolic. The actual fate of Satan.

You know, do we understand that fully? I don't know whether we do or not. I mean, the scripture doesn't say a whole lot about Satan the devil. It does say that he is going to be cast into a lake of fire at this point. It says they will be tormented, or Satan and the demons, is what it's referring to here. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. So apparently, they'll be still in this lake of fire, unlike the lake of fire that's going to burn up human beings.

You know, it's a different type of fire.

Now, in 2 Peter chapter 2, it talks about these angels who sinned and how they will be placed in restraint until the day of judgment. 2 Peter chapter 2. Of course, Satan had a third of the angels who followed him into rebellion. They became demons. They were sinful angels. The other angels did not sin. In 2 Peter chapter 2 verse 4, For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell or to Hades and deliver this is Tartarou actually here. It's a different hell reserved for these angelic beings.

Cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment. So, they are going to be judged. In fact, it says we will judge angels.

So, exactly how that's going to work. That remains to be seen.

And exactly what that means, I don't know that we know that for sure, but the Bible means what it says. It's just we don't always understand exactly what it means until the time comes. So, we do know that there are some very difficult times coming upon the earth.

Because Satan and his demons are not yet bound. Satan is still the God of this world and there are evil spirits and demonic spirits that influence people today. And there will be some very difficult times coming upon the earth prior to Christ's return. Now, in 2 Corinthians 4, it does talk about Satan as the God of this world. And a lot of people really don't understand that. And they wonder why there's so much trouble down here on earth thinking that, you know, that God's causing all this to happen. God isn't causing it, but God is allowing it to happen. 2 Corinthians 4. And God is allowing it so that people will be tested and that human beings will come to realize that they can't do it on their own. They need God and they need Christ in their lives because otherwise it will end in destruction.

2 Corinthians 4, verse 1, Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we receive mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking and craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. So this talks about you and me, and we are not to handle the Bible deceitfully. We're supposed to live by every word of God.

We're supposed to dig into the Bible and try to understand it as best we can and pray that God will give us greater understanding. And then when we know the truth, we're to live by it.

We're not supposed to engage in gossip and in slander. We're not supposed to break the commandments of God. We are called to keep God's commandments and to live by every word of God. Certainly, we're not to handle the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, even if it isn't all understood at this time, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

God has opened up understanding to His people, and He continues to open up understanding to us.

I don't think we know everything yet. I think there are still things we have to learn, and certainly I think everyone would agree with that. But God has revealed a great deal to us. He has enlightened us and opened much of the Bible to us. Most of the Bible, I would say, He's opened to us. We have a good understanding of God's plan of salvation, of what God's doing, and yet we still have things to learn. But for some, He's blinded them, and the gospel has been veiled, and they are blinded by it. They are perishing because they are continuing in their sins.

Verse 4, "...whose minds the God of this age has blinded. Satan has blinded their minds, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." God isn't calling everyone now. God isn't opening everyone's mind to His truth and to His way of life. He's only calling some people at this point, those who will be in the first resurrection. There are billions of people throughout history who have never been called of God. In fact, many have lived and died and never knew the truth of God. Some never even heard the name of Jesus Christ, and yet they've been dead for a long time. They're going to have an opportunity to come up after the thousand-year period. That's when they'll come to know God's truth and God's way, and God will call them at that time. Satan has blinded the vast majority of people on earth throughout the ages, because he is the God of this age. As it says here, the God of this age, Satan the devil, has blinded them, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. Now God is shining on us. He's illuminating our understanding so that we can know these things. Verse 5, For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Throughout the Bible, we see this imagery of light and darkness. Christ is represented by the light, Satan the devil represented by the darkness. God is shining in our hearts to give us knowledge and understanding of his truth and his way of life, so that we may be glorified as Christ is already glorified.

At his return, those who are firstfruits will be glorified. We will put on the very nature of Christ at that time. He is the firstborn among many brethren, so we are to become like him. The Bible says we will see him as he is, and we will become like him. So it is important again to grasp our future and what God is doing in our lives today. Now back in the book of Amos, again carrying out this theme of darkness and light. The two goats, one representing darkness, the other one representing light. Amos chapter 5, the book of Amos, Amos Obadiah. It's right before Obadiah if that helps you find it. Probably not. Amos chapter 5 verse 18. Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord. Now we don't desire the day of the Lord, do we? We're not looking forward to the day of God's wrath. We're not looking forward to that. We are looking forward to the time beyond that when God will govern and God will reign and this whole earth will be remade and there will be a thousand years of peace and God's law will go forth from Zion. But we're not looking forward to the heartache that's going to be caused because of the sins of mankind. That's why God's going to have to pour out his wrath upon people so that they will come to understand that there are consequences for sin and that people do need to repent of their sins. And God's allowed mankind to go on sinning for nearly 6,000 years. So the day of the Lord is the culmination of all of that and God's wrath is going to be poured out in the day of the Lord. That's what it's talking about here. So woe to you who desire the day of the Lord. For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness and not light. You see, a lot of people wish bad things to happen to their enemies.

They want God to wreak vengeance upon them. They want them to get their just desserts. And sometimes we can find ourselves thinking along those lines. Christ said, learn to love your enemies.

Pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. And I don't think it means, pray that they die in the fires of hell. No, I don't think that's the kind of prayer that God wants us to pray. He wants us to pray that these people would repent of their sins and change their lives and be different. So woe to those who desire the day of the Lord. For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion and a bear met him, or as though he went into the house. He leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bid him. That reminds me of what happened to me this week. I was taking a shower early in the morning, still dark, and I got stung in the toe by a scorpion. There was a scorpion in my bathtub, and I knew what it was right away when it stung me, because we'd seen a few scorpions.

But we've had some scorpions in our house here lately. My wife was telling me, maybe we should spray. Ah, we don't need to spray. That's poison. So I got stung for the first time, lived there 17 years, never sprayed, only got stung once, only lasted for a day, not too bad.

So anyway, this just reminded me of that. You lean your hand on the wall, a serpent bites him.

Is not the day of the Lord darkness and not light? It is not very dark with no... Is it not very dark with no brightness in it? Because there isn't anything bright about the day of the Lord. It's going to be a very, very difficult time. God's going to pour plague after plague out upon people because of their sins. And we certainly look forward to the time after that, but not that particular time. In Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 15, again a prophecy here in the book of Zephaniah, right before Haggai, Zephaniah, Haggai. Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 15, That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation, and a day of desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess. It is a day of judgment. God is judging the earth for all of their sins. The day of atonement is a day of judgment. A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers. So there is a day of wrath coming upon the earth, and there are many, many verses and scriptures that we could go to, but we're not going to. But there are many, many more that talk about the wrath of God, the darkness of that day, and the gloominess of that time.

But that's because of Satan the devil and what he has done upon the earth and mankind following in Satan's ways, sitting in the Garden of Eden and following Adam ever since. That's the consequences. Those are the consequences of sin. In Isaiah 5.20, it shows the attitude of many people throughout the ages. Isaiah chapter 5, instead of striving for righteousness, people make excuses for their behavior. Isaiah 5.20, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

He says, Woe to those who call evil good. There's a lot of glitter and glamour in the earth today. There are many things that are exalted in many, many ways and in many, many areas of life.

People call it good. We live in a very material world, a very lustful world, a world that has its priorities all messed up. People will pay millions of dollars on football games during a year, and yet we have people starving. It really doesn't make sense when you stop and consider the disparity on earth today. We live in a very blessed country, and we literally spend millions and billions of dollars on watching football and playing football and playing people to play football. I doubt whether in the kingdom of God we're going to be playing millions of dollars to guys who can run a football around or knock people over. It's not going to happen.

There's a huge contrast. Some people think that football is the greatest thing ever.

I'm not saying it's the worst thing ever, because I used to play football and I watch football.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not condemning it necessarily, but I am condemning the priorities that we have in this land, in this world, and in this age. It's all topsy-turvy. It's all messed up.

I'm looking forward to a better time when Christ will set the example, and we will learn proper priorities. In Isaiah 59, again, talking about darkness and light, about these two goats, and about who we are going to follow. Are you going to follow Satan into darkness, or are you going to follow Christ into the light and into eternity? Satan has an eternity of darkness to look forward to, in that sense, where Christ has an eternity of brightness and beauty and prosperity and peace. Isaiah 59 verse 9, Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us. We look for light, but there is darkness. That's true here on the earth today. We look for light, but there's darkness for brightness, but we walk in blackness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday, as at twilight. In the brightness of day, we still stumble and fall spiritually. We are as dead men in desolate places. We all growl like bears, and we moan sadly like doves. We look for justice, but there is none. We look for salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before you, before God's will.

Our sins testify against us, for our transgressions are with us. As for our iniquities, we know them. In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt. Now this is the prophet Isaiah speaking the truth here. He was not speaking smooth words to these people. He was saying that we're all a bunch of transgressors and liars against God and departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart. Words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off. For truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. There's no justice in the world. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. If we depart from evil, we become targets. Now we become self-righteous. And now there are people who are self-righteous, but those who are truly righteous will be called self-righteous by those who are in darkness, walking in darkness.

And there will be persecution on those who obey God and follow him. Now in Isaiah 9, there's a very encouraging prophecy about Jesus Christ, about the light of the world. Again, the contrast between Christ and Satan the devil. Satan, who's going to be bound at Christ's return, Christ is going to reign supreme. He's going to be king of kings and Lord of lords, and he's going to live forever in brightness and in glory, whereas Satan is going to be bound for a thousand years, released for a short time, and then again cast into the lake of fire and punished forever.

In Isaiah 9, verse 2, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. He's talking about mankind in general, mankind who's going to have their eyes open in the future.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death. Upon them a light has shined. What is that light that has shined? You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy. They rejoice before you, according to the joy of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil, for you have broken the yoke of his burden. Notice you is capitalized. You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle and garments rolled in blood will be used for burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given. And the government will be upon his shoulder. Christ is coming back to receive a kingdom, the kingdom of God, and it's going to go on forever. Now, Christ is still at the right hand of God, and God is in charge, and the kingdom of God is where God and Christ are, but they're going to bring that to earth at that time. And the government will be upon his shoulder, his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. It's going to be a glorious time forever. And upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. God is going to make this happen. And there will be peace for all eternity once Christ bans Satan the devil in the lake of fire after that thousand year period. Then there will be peace forevermore. In Luke chapter 1, again a prophecy of Jesus Christ and what Christ would do, Luke chapter 1. Luke chapter 1 verses 78 and 79. And this is in the context of a prophecy by Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist.

But speaking of Christ in verses 78 and 79, well we might read verse 77 with it, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God with which the day spring is talking about. That's the dawn or the Messiah is talking about, the true light bringer, Jesus the Christ, from which the day spring from on high has visited us to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death to guide our feet into the way of peace. Christ is bringing peace to the earth. So again, it's important that we understand the contrast between Satan the devil who is now the God of this earth and Jesus Christ who is coming to rule on this earth.

In Isaiah 29 it talks about how the death will hear the words of the book and the blind will see in God's kingdom. Isaiah chapter 29. Those who have physical blindness today will be healed in God's kingdom. They will literally begin to see with their eyes if they're resurrected physically. If not, they're going to see spiritually. They're going to be spirit beings.

Isaiah 29 verse 18.

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. There will be healing in God's kingdom. They shall come out of blindness, out of obscurity, and out of darkness. They will come into the light. It says, The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the holy one of Israel. In Isaiah 42 it also talks about opening up the eyes of the blind.

Isaiah chapter 42 verse 7. Again, these are prophecies of a time yet to come because we have blind people on earth today. We have deaf people on earth today. It takes a miracle for them to be able to see and to hear. Verse 7. Let's read verse 6 with it. I the Eternal have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand. I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes and to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord. That is my name and my glory I will not give to another. Christ is coming back. Eventually Christ will deliver the kingdom up to the Father. The new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven. God the Father and Jesus Christ will rule forever in light and in glory. The days of darkness are coming to an end. I'm looking forward to that when those days truly come to an end. In Isaiah 49 verse 9 it talks about the prisoners.

I mentioned we have a prison program and certainly those men, most of them for sure, are there because they deserve to be there because they broke the law. There are penalties for breaking the law, man's law, God's law. There are penalties. Thankfully most of the men that we come in contact, at least most of them anyway, will admit that they belong there or that they did belong there. Most of them think it's time to get out, but most of them will admit it. Once in a while you'll come across someone who still denies it. We're very slow to believe everything that we hear, especially when it comes to visiting in the prisons. In Isaiah 49 verse 9, God does talk about prisoners, though, and some certainly are those who have repented of their sins. There are prisoners who go into prison because they deserve it and they need to repent.

We've seen some repent. A couple have been baptized. We see that most of them, frankly, aren't very repentant and we don't baptize them. I don't know that I'll ever baptize anyone in prison again until they're out and living amongst people for a while because it's so hard to know whether it's true repentance. We've had a few that have come out and they're sticking with it and they seem to be very genuine. But then there's others that, you know, as soon as they get out six months later, they're not that interested in Christ any longer or religion or faith. But in Isaiah 49 it says that, "...you may say to the prisoners, Go forth to those who are in darkness.

Show yourselves they shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. They shall neither hunger nor thirst. Neither heat nor sun shall strike them, for he who has mercy on them will lead them. Even by the springs of water he will guide them.

I will make each of my mountains a road, and my highways shall be elevated.

Surely these shall come from afar. Look, those from the north and from the west, they will come for us. Some will have been prisoners who have walked in darkness." You know, when it really gets right down to us, down to it, we've all been prisoners to a degree.

Before God enlightened us, we walked more closely to Satan in his ways than we did to God's.

So we were all imprisoned at that time. It was only through repentance that the shackles of our imprisonment were cast off, and we came to see Christ as He truly is.

So we do need to realize that in many regards, we've all been prisoners, we all have to repent.

And even those who end up in prison because of their sins, some of us don't end up in prison because of our sins. Thankfully, we're not all tossed into prison because of our sins.

But those who are, if they truly repent, they do have a way to be forgiven.

Some people just want to write off anybody that ends up in prison.

Their scum, they don't deserve to be visited. They certainly don't deserve to come to church.

If they ever get out, they don't deserve to come to church.

I don't see it that way, but I've talked to people that pretty much think that way, especially some crimes. There are some things that are more heinous than other things, and there's more precaution that has to be taken if a person has sinned in a certain way, especially against children. We're very, very careful about that.

And the United Church of God has contracts that they have to sign. If they come to church, they have to be monitored. They're not just set free. We monitor them very closely, and that goes on until Christ returns. We don't stop that, because we don't want to take chances with people that have done that kind of thing. It's for their good and for the good of everyone.

That's why we do it. We've had men who have submitted to that. Some don't want to submit to it. They disappear. They don't come to church. But those who are willing to submit to that type of monitoring and that type of scrutiny, usually it's because they're sincere. They do want to change. Nevertheless, we keep an eye on it. Now, Satan is a very selfish being, and Satan has influenced Adam and Eve to be very selfish. That's pretty much a no-brainer. I think we understand that. We, as God's elect, are to be much different than that. God says, be holy even as I am holy. We're to come out of the world. We are to set a different example. We're to be different. We're to be as different as those goats between light and darkness.

That's the way a true Christian is supposed to be. If you compare a true Christian to one who wasn't a Christian, then there would be a stark difference. There would be many laws that the non-Christian is breaking, even if it's just an ignorance. There would be many laws that they were breaking, God's laws that they were breaking. So we are to be different. We are to reflect the light.

We're not to walk in darkness. In Isaiah 58 verses 6 through 10, it talks about this example.

Isaiah 58. Isaiah 58 verse 6, Is this not the fast that I have chosen? This is often referred to as the fasting chapter. Isaiah 58. Is this not the fast that I have chosen to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free? To let the prisoners go free, or those who are oppressed, to go free? And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with a hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out when you see the naked and you cover him, and you do not hide yourself from your own flesh or from your own family? In other words, you have a good family relationship. Okay, so it's talking about a fast that is to be different, a fast in which we loose the bonds of wickedness. We draw close to God. We endeavor to change our lives and be different. We actually go about giving to those who are in need. We become giving people, not takers. Mr. Armstrong used to talk about the way of give and the way of get. We're supposed to be givers. God loves cheerful givers, people who are willing to give and to help others in many, many different ways. Help with their time, help with their money, and just be there for support in so many different ways. So we are to be different again. We are to be serving people in Matthew 25. It talks about the unprofitable servant. We are to be profitable servants, not unprofitable. We are to be profitable, as it says here in Matthew 25.

Clearly, Christ again set the example for us in this way as he laid his life down for us, as he became the Messiah and the Savior of the world by sacrificing himself.

In Matthew 25, really, it is an outstanding chapter in the book. It has the parable of the wise and the foolish virgins, the parable of the talents. Now in verse 30, it says, he will cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, the one that doesn't do anything with what God gives him. God gives you one talent you're supposed to go out and produce with that, not hide it. So cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. So those who are unprofitable will go into darkness. Those who are profitable will go into the light. Verse 31, when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. You know, glory is bright and shiny.

All the nations will be gathered before him and he will separate one from the other. A shepherd, as a shepherd, divides his sheep from the goats. He'll set the sheep on the right, the goats on the left, and the king will say to them, on the right hand, come, you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty. You gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer and say, Lord, when did we do all this? And he'll say, the king will answer in verse 40, Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. So we are to serve one another.

And when we serve one another, we are profitable servants. We are using the talents that God has given us. And God says that you will be on the right side. You will be the sheep that will enter into his kingdom, those who are profitable. You don't need to go to Romans chapter 13 verse 12, but it says there that the night is far spent. The day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Christ is to live in us. Christ is to dwell in us. That goat that represents Jesus Christ, that's the one that we need to follow. We need to follow Christ. We need to accept his sacrifice for us. And we need to walk in newness of life, as it says, and become like him. We are to become like Christ. Ephesians 5 says that you were sometimes darkness, but now you are the light of the world. Walk as children of light. We're not to hide our lamps under the under the bushel, are we? And we're to become lights to the world.

We're to come out of darkness. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses 4 and 5, it says, you brethren are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.

We should be waiting for the return of Christ. We should know what's going to be happening in those last years before Christ returns. There are plenty of clues in the Bible that talk about what's going to be happening before Christ returns. So we should not be taken aback. We should understand and know the signs of the times. He says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 5, that you are all the children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night.

We are not of darkness. So today we've talked about the day of atonement and how it represents two goats. Two goats as different as light and darkness. God has enlightened our hearts. He's enlightened our minds. He has brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light. He has revealed to us his truth about Satan and about his demons being bound and restrained. That's certainly a part of what the day of atonement is all about. The restraining of Satan the devil. But it's not just about that. It's about Christ. The day of atonement is about Christ because Christ is our atoning sacrifice. The only way we can become at one with God is through Christ by accepting Christ and following Christ. So again, the day of atonement shows the great contrast between Satan the devil and Jesus Christ. It shows the great contrast between darkness and light. So Christ has revealed to us his truth about Satan, about the demons, and about darkness. On the other hand, again, Christ is our Savior. He is that great light. He is that King. And we can be kings along with him in his kingdom. And he's coming back soon. Now, I hope we have learned the importance of this day, this day of atonement. We are being judged. This is a time of judgment. Judgment is on the house of God.

Judgment is upon us. We cannot continue in darkness, but we need to walk in light. So we need to repent of our sins. When we commit sin, certainly we should strive not to commit sin.

But being human, if and when, when it does happen, then we need to seek Jesus Christ and seek the Messiah, seek the light. Go back to the light. Sin is darkness. When we sin, we have descended into the darkness. We need to come out of our sins into the light. Thankfully, Christ is forgiving.

He is merciful, and he will give us strength to overcome and to put sin out of our lives. So, brethren, I hope you'll have a wonderful what's left of this day of atonement time of fellowship. I guess many of us are going to get together and have a meal to break our fast. I think I'll probably join you unless I collapse earlier and have to go to the... I don't think that's going to happen. I feel pretty good considering, but my wife and I, Barbara, do wish you a very, very inspiring and uplifting feast of tabernacles.