Ship of the West

Thus far we have centered our attention upon the spirit of “Azazel’ which represents the rebellious offspring of Israel who lead the unrighteous of the world astray. The majority of this group will continue in their refusal to become enlightened throughout the duration of the Last Days. But the Yom Kippur sequence also specifies that a second goat must command the attention of its spectators. Unlike Azazel who stands idly before the multitude who stand in the outer court; YHWH’s Goat (Representing the righteous of Israel and the nations who follow them) are led by the High Priest out of reach from hard hearted and indecisive and drawn closer into the presence of the God of Israel. How will the Yom Kippur imagery look when it is fulfilled during the Anti-typical Day of Atonement? Ezekiel was shown that it will strongly resemble the events during Israel’s desert wanderings. “As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me.” (Ezekiel 20:36-38)

As we read Revelation chapter twelve, we discover a familiar pattern of time that also references a wilderness experience. “The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent's reach.” (Revelation 12:14) The Woman wearing her crown of twelve stars and the LORD’s Goat are one and the same. Both are isolated from the world, yet at the same time, visible to the world just as Israel was visible to the nations while wandering throughout the desert. Here, in plain view of the nations, yet in places where the world cannot touch them, the God of Israel reveals His purpose for the people of the Last Days through the root imagery of Yom Kippur. “I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.” (Ezekiel 20:35) As we look at the position of the alter of burnt offering behind the walls of the sanctuary, we see that the sacrifice of “YHWH’s Goat” was not to be hidden from the view of those standing in the outer court of the sanctuary with Azazel. Although a seven foot high wall separated those in the outer court, a seven foot high platform was erected and the Alter of Burnt offering was set atop. In this way, the multitudes could witness the consummation the sacrificial victims on that day. 

The language conveyed from the wilderness Sanctuary is this: The LORD’s Goat depicts a community led by Israelites whose people are ignorant about the sins they are still committing while in the presence of YHWH. But not all among this community will be capable of stepping so quickly into the light when it is revealed. Many of the saints will struggle both spiritually and intellectually in their comprehension of the light even though it shines brilliantly before them. Like Israel of old, a large majority will be singled out for destruction by YHWH. Their calamity will be a means to awaken the consciences of the world and the church of YHWH’s hatred of sin. It is written, “So then because you art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)The divine enlightenment will increase throughout the entire three and a half year wilderness experience as the church is purified in the sight of all nations. As the worldlings witness the destruction of the LORD’s Goat from the outer court, they will be convicted that a greater expenditure of wrath awaits them for the same sin that Israel commits and many of the world will repent.” “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). Thus Atonement will be made through the blood and suffering of the House of Israel. 

These are the events revealed within the sequence of the Yom Kippur ceremony. The anti-type is played out within the fifth seal of the book of Revelation as the blood of the LORD’s Goat is poured out along the base of the Alter of burnt offering. “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. (Revelation 6:9-11) The saints depicted here will steadfastly maintain elements of the true faith that they know, but the true witness will find the majority incapable of advancing into the new light. The church has no idea what awaits her because her eyes have been covered by the hand of the Almighty. "Have I not kept this in reserve and sealed it in my vaults? (Deuteronomy 32:34) Our only hope is to pray for the willingness of spirit to comprehend the light as it is revealed to us day by day and to step into it. The same was expected of the Israelites as they dwelled with YHWH in the wilderness long ago. “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:11-12)