Defending Ellen G. White on the Scapegoat Issue

by

Robert  Sterbenc

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DEFENDING ELLEN G. WHITE ON THE SCAPEGOAT CONTROVERSY            by Rob Sterbenc       

 

Millions around the world have attacked Ellen White on this point, as could be found on the internet in countless forums.

 

Before we begin this discourse on the scapegoat controversy, we need to establish this very important rule in proving Scripture:

 

Isaiah 28:10, 13  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, and there a little...But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little...

 

You can see, from the above, how important it is to follow this rule.  Did not God say in the Scriptures, to come and reason together (Isaiah 1:18)?

 

Hebrews 8:5 states that the earthy sanctuary was an example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God whan he was about to make the earthly tabernacle.  This means that the heavenly pattern was in place, in its full design and blueprint, before any earthly sanctuary was built. This point is very important.

 

In Leviticus 16:8-10 the high priest draws one lot for the Lord, and one lot for the scapegoat. 

In Leviticus 16:20-22, the high priest then lays ''all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a LAND NOT INHABITED and he shal let go the goat in the wilderness.

 

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 

Question:  If Jesus is to be our sin-bearer forever, as is suggested by those who claim Jesus is the Scapegoat, how can he return the second time WITHOUT SIN UNTO SALVATION?  He will still be BEARING OUR SINS.  In fulfilling the shadow of Hebrews 8:5, as our High Priest, to what or to whom will Jesus place these sins?

 

Hebrews 1:6 states that all the angels of God worship Him.

Revelation 5:11,12 shows how many angels, ten thousand times ten thousand, all sing and worship before the Lamb.

 

Question:  Was Jesus thrown into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1) to fulfill the prefigure of the scapegoat? If Jesus, the Lamb of God, is surrounded by, and worshipped by ten thousand times ten thousand of angels, how can he possibly fit the description of the Scapegoat, who is sent away TO A LAND NOT INHABITED?  Is the worship of over a hundred million angels in the heavenly sanctuary found in the bottomless pit of Revelation 20:1?  

 

Yet, the devil, and Satan, is bound for a thousand years and cast into the bottomless pit. Revelation 20:1.  Since the scapegoat fits this description, this proves that the Scapegoat is Satan, not Jesus. The following verses make sense that the sin-bearer, Jesus, should transfer all the sins and transgressions of God's people onto Satan:

 

John 16:11  The prince of this world is judged.

1 John 3:8  The devil sinneth from the beginning.

Revelation 12: 9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,

which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels with him.

 

Thus sin is imputed onto Satan, for he was the first transgressor.

 

OTHER EVIDENCE POINTING TO THE SCAPEGOAT AS SATAN

 

The Hebrew translation for Scapegoat is Azazel.

 

The following link suggests there was worship of a demon-god named Azazel by primitive Semitic tribes, before the Hebrew nation came into the promised land:  

 

http://www.deliriumsrealm.com/delirium/articleview.asp?Post=100

 

The Encyclopedia Britannica online gives the following statement:

 

Azazel, in Jewish legends, a demon or evil spirit to whom, in the ancient rite of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), a SCAPEGOAT was sent bearing the sins of the Jewish people. Two male goats were chosen for the ritual, one designated by lots ''for the Lord,'' the other, ''for Azazel'' (Leviticus 16:8). The ritual was carried out by the high priest in the Second Temple and is described in the Mishna.  After the high priest symbolically transferred all the sins of the Jewish people to the scapegoat, the goat destined ''for Azazel'' was driven into the wilderness.

 

From the evidence described above, a compelling case can be made to prove Ellen White correct in stating that the Scapegoat typified Satan.  -RS