A Greater Atonement Day

When discussing the new covenant, Paul reminded his readers of the annual Atonement Day under the Law covenant.  On that day, separate sacrifices were offered-one for the priestly tribe of Levi and another for the 12 non-priestly tribes.  This has long been explained as prefiguring Jesus' great sacrifice that would benefit both the 144,000 with a heavenly hope and the millions who have an earthly hope.  Paul showed that in the fulfillment the benefits of Jesus' sacrifice are administered through a greater Atonement Day under the new covenant.  As High Priest of this greater day, Jesus gave his perfect life as an atonement sacrifice  in order to obtain "an everlasting deliverance" for humans. - Hebrews 9:11-24. 

Many Hebrew Christian of the first century were still "zealous for the [Mosaic] Law." (Acts 21:20)  Fittingly, then, Paul reminded them: ""[Jesus] is a mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because a death has occurred for their release by ransom from the transgressions under the former covenant, the ones who have been called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance." (Hebrews 9:15) The new covenant freed Hebrew Christian from the old covenant, which exposed their sinfulness.  Thanks to the new covenant, they could embrace "the promise of the everlasting [heavenly] inheritance."

"Everyone" who "exercises faith in the Son" will benefit from the ransom  sacrifice.  (John 3:16, 36) Paul said: "The Christ was offered once for all time to bare the sins of many; and the second time tha the appeared it will be apart from the sin to those earnestly seeking him for their salvation.  (Hebrews 9:28) Today, those earnestly seeking Jesus include surviving anointed Christians of the Israel of God and the millions making up the great crowd, who also have an everlasting inheritance.  Both classes thank God for the new covenant an for the life-giving blessings associated with it, including the greater Atonement Day and the ministry of the High Priest, Jesus, in the heavenly Most Holy. 

Next time: Busy in Sacred Service

From the Watchtower magazine, 1998