Paul the Poke

The framework for this series was from an article that was posted by Yehuda Frank at https://allisrael.com/forgiveness-yom-kippur-and-the-messiah-s-atoning-sacrifice .

There are 4 proofs that support God rejecting Israel’s Yom Kippur sacrifice.

1. The lot of the Lord was in the left hand.
2. The crimson strap remained crimson.
3. The western light was not lit.
4. The doors of the Temple were open in the morning.

Let’s take an in-depth look at the crimson strap. The Biblical reference comes from the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool…”

God is looking to have a sensible conversation with His people, Israel. Effectively, they have a sin problem. The context of Isaiah 1 is the complete and total depravity of the nation. Their attitude and actions were poor. They were bodily sick from head to toe. Medical care was not going to help their condition. They have no relationship with God.

The land of Israel was desolate. Cities were being burned. The land was over run by foreigners… This is the pattern of history. Israel, Roman Empire, today’s 21st century United States and Europe, sound familiar?

Now as tradition has it, a sacrificial ceremony was performed and the crimson strap would miraculously turn white. Symbolically, sin was forgiven.

According to the historical documents in the Talmud…

…the last 40 years before the Temple’s destruction, the crimson-colored wool never turned white, signaling a troubling development.

Israel was expecting a miracle. The strap was supposed to turn white and symbolically, sin was to be forgiven. After all, this was Yom Kippur and the High Priest was intervening on behalf of the people. But, there would be no miracle for 40 years and eventually the Temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed in 70 AD.

What Israel did not realize was sin had been forgiven. Israel understood the Mosaic Law. Innocent blood is the price for the pardoning of sin.

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

There was no need for the crimson strap to turn white. The work was finished.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The blood of Christ is the bleach that washes away the crimson stain of sin.

Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

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A point of consideration… Was the 40 consecutive years of a crimson strap a foreshadowing of the Messiah to come? Isaiah 63 says there is One coming in crimson stained clothes who is going to clean house, pillage and judge the nations. He is going to do it all by Himself.

By the way, the meaning of Bozrah is “grape gathering”. The crushing of grapes is equated with flowing blood. This theme is also consistent with the return of the Lord in Revelation 19.

Isaiah 63:1-6 Who is this who comes from Edom, with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, this One who is majestic in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, the One who speaks in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine trough alone, and from the peoples there was no one with Me. I also trod them in My anger and trampled them in My wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, and I stained all My clothes. “For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. “I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; so My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me. “I trampled down the peoples in My anger and made them drunk with My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

Revelation 19:13-15 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is The Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Lehr/e/B09W8FB77N