The Bible Story Vol 2_w.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong

No one is to go to a fortune teller or medium for advice. No one is to
have anything to do with a wizard or sorcerer or anyone in contact with
dem ons. (Leviticus 20:6.)
God reminded Moses that th e Israelites, who had been influenced for
centuries by the Egyptians, should refrain from consuming blood in their
meat. (Leviticus 17:12-13.) He made it plain th at the life of all flesh is in
the blood. "Anyone who kills or catches any beast or fowl for food must
thoroughly bleed the creature and bury the blood. No one is to eat any
creature that dies of itself or is killed by other beasts." (Verse 15, first
part.)
The only use of blood was as an atonement, by sacrifice, to remind
Israel of their human sins and of the death of Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Plan of Salvation Revealed
Israel' s God told Moses the Plan of Salvation for mankind was so
important He would require the people to observe certa in annual holy
days as reminders. He had already given in Egypt a time to keep Passover,
which foreshadowed the death of the Messiah to pay for sin. The
Feast of Unleavened Bread, which followed, symbolized putting away sin
out of one's life. Another special time, celebrat ed when Israel's God spoke
the Law at Sinai, was the Feast of Firstfruits or Pen tecost . Th is feast
signified that only a few are being called to salvation now. The y are the
firstfruits of God's spiritual harvest . Then came the Feast of Trumpets,
foretelling God's intervention in world affairs. The Day of Atonement, or
harmony, followed. It was ordained by the Creator to fall on the ten th
day of the seventh month, Tishri. That is in September or October of the
man -made Roman calendar, which will soon be repl aced by God's correct
calenda r. God reckons days from sundown to sundown, so thi s whole day
was to sta rt at sundown on the ninth of T ishri and end at sundown of the
tenth. During th ose twenty-four hours the people weren't to work or
consume food in solid or liquid form, although very young children could
nur se. (Leviticus 23:26-32.)
It was the only day of the year on which the high priest was to enter
the inner room of the tabernacle on ceremonia l business. God told Moses
to warn Aaron that if Aaron otherwise came into th e room without God's
permission, he would lose his life in the way his sons had lost theirs.
In performing his duties as high priest, Aaron ordinarily dressed in
the elegant garments designed by the Creator. But on the Day of Atonement
he was to be especially clean bodily and dressed in spotless linen
cloth ing designating simplicity and humility rather than high office. Only
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