AT-ONE-MENT WITH GOD!
You
have no doubt heard the claim that there is a "great controversy"
between God and Satan. That
Christ and the Devil are in a running battle for men's
souls. If this doctrine were true, then Satan indeed is winning!
More souls are "unsaved" today than ever before in human history.
Satan, according to this view, is made out to be actually stronger
than Jesus!
But Satan is not stronger than Jesus Christ! Jesus is returning to rule
this earth with a rod of iron—to depose Satan and set up the
Kingdom of God. When Christ returns He will not leave this world in the
hands of the Devil.
Why Christ OUSTS Satan!
For 6,000 years Satan has invisibly swayed the nations. He has guided
human governments, influenced man's civilization, possessed mighty
leaders and inspired World Wars. Satan has had his part in causing the
misery, hate, suffering, and violent death that have plagued mankind
since creation.
Since the days of Adam, Satan has occupied the position of this world's ruler! But his days in that office are numbered!
God is not in competition with Satan—there is no "great
controversy"! The question of who will rule this earth has already been
decided!
Jesus Christ has already overcome the Devil and qualified to replace
him. Jesus Christ is coming as King of kings and Lord of lords to take
over the governments of this world and DEPOSE SATAN THE DEVIL!
Only when Christ reigns supreme will this world have peace for one thousand years.
But what will happen to Satan?
The Day of Atonement reveals the answer. But how many have ever heard
of this day— let alone understood its meaning for us today?
It reveals Satan's fate in God's Master Plan. By studying this Holy Day
you will find astounding answers to these and many other questions.
What the Day of Atonement Pictures
God's Holy Days constantly remind us how, step by step, God is working out His Master Plan.
The first three of these—Passover, the Days of Unleavened Bread,
and Pentecost—picture the first harvest of souls. The
preparation, training and final reaping of the firstfruits— those
jew now being called.
The last four show the plan God has for completing salvation for the rest of the world.
We learned in the last lesson, how Christ will suddenly intervene in
this world at His return. He will be swift and firm in punishing the
nations.
But what about Satan? What happens to him?
The fifth annual Sabbath—the Day of Atonement (or
At-one-ment)—reveals the answer. It pictures Christ deposing
Satan the Devil from his present position as world ruler, and removing
him to a place completely away and apart from mankind. He will be
bound, no longer able to deceive the nations, for one thousand years!
(Rev. 20:1.)
The Day of Atonement has also a deep personal meaning for everyone
whose eyes God has opened. When Satan and his demons are dethroned and
removed from office, they must be replaced by qualified rulers. Satan
will be replaced by Jesus Christ. His demons by those of us who have
surrendered to God and been willing to obey Him.
Are you qualifying to rule this world as it ought to be ruled? Could
you do a better job than the President, better than the rulers of
Russia, of Germany, or Red China? You may think you could, but could
you really?
The fact is we do not now have the power, or the ability or capacity.
Of himself no man is great enough to even begin to commence to measure
up to the standard necessary to bring peace and happiness to the
nations. It takes the power of God—the life of God—the mind
and nature of God. That is possible only through conversion. Through
conversion every single individual, great or small, can have God's own
power and nature added to him by receiving the Holy Spirit!
That's the message of the gospel.
Most human beings cannot grasp this marvellous truth. They are
unwilling to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God and wait to
be exalted in His due time.
Humility Through Fasting
The Day of Atonement is perhaps the most unusual Holy Day. For it is the one day on which God has commanded us to fast!
What, exactly, is fasting? What is its purpose?
The purpose of fasting is to humble oneself— to help us to see ourselves as we are! And to see God as He is!
Fasting on the Day of Atonement means denying yourself food and water
for 24 hours— from sunset to sunset. Fasting is not
penance— not a hunger strike to force your own will on God.
Mahatma Gandhi fasted that way. A Christian is to fast in order to
humble his or her own fleshly mind with its carnal will and to draw
closer to God. To acknowledge his or her own nothingness and ask for
God's strength.
Jesus Christ received the strength to resist the Devil's strongest
temptation by fasting 40 days and nights! Spiritually, He was at His
strongest at the end of 40 days, because He was completely humble
before God. God, of course, doesn't ask or expect us to fast 40 days.
He only commands one day of us each year, though we are also told to
fast voluntarily at other times.
A little hunger on the Day of Atonement serves to prove to every one of
us that we, as Job, are just like worms (Job 25:6)—puny,
insignificant little creatures down here inwardly warring with one
another! How absolutely dependent we are on the food and the water of
this earth!
Fasting on the Day of Atonement reveals to us how much we still love
ourselves. How difficult it is to give up some of self! This day is a
test to see which we will put first. Will it be the cry of the body for
food or the sincere desire to obey God?
Lesson 37 of the 58 Lesson Bible Correspondence Course
