Day of Atonement = Pre-Advent Judgment

1) We do believe that each person appears before God in judgment. Faithful believers appear through their defense attorney (Jesus) during the investigative judgment (IJ) and in person during the millennial judgment. Unfaithful believers also appear in the investigative judgment but their case cannot be defended because they apostatized. They appear in person during the white throne judgment after the millennium. 2, 3, 4) Adventists have no particular attachment to the specific date Oct. 22. For us this is a historical landmark because this is the date the Millerites arrived at. The IJ could have began anywhere between 1843-1844 as there is no way to determine the precise dates from the prophecy. 5) A lamb was sacrificed every day of the year not just on the Day of Atonement. This simply points to the fact that we have to be permanently covered by the blood of Jesus. 6) Adventists believe Jesus entered God's presence at His ascension. The earthly sanctuary service was not an exact representation of the sanctuary in heaven because it could not be. Otherwise: " there should have been just one sacrifice instead of many " the ceremonies should have been conducted just once instead of year after year " the altar should have been a cross " and, since the high priest represented Christ, he should have offered himself instead of a lamb as the sacrifice, etc. , etc. It is never a good idea to take a model and expect it to reflect the real thing perfectly in every specific. In the Old Testament, the priests were sinful human beings. As they ministered daily in the Holy Place, they needed a veil to shield them from the Shekinah Glory in the Most Holy place. Jesus, however, doesn"t have that problem; He is holy, undefiled, separate from sinners. As such, He could enter directly into God"s presence and even sit down at His right hand. That being said, the OT sanctuary still had a Daily Ministry and a Yearly Ministry. This Adventist doctrine is not about moving from one room to another in 1844 but about beginning a new ministry in 1844. 7) Sacrifices had to be perfect because it would have been disrespectful to offer to God the worst of one's flock. Basically, 'this lamb is maimed and unhealthy so we don't want to eat it nor can we sell it so we might as well take it to the sanctuary. .. ' 8-13) Regarding the Scapegoat. Here are three reasons why the scapegoat cannot symbolize Christ: 1) Lots were cast to distinguish between the Lord's goat and the Scapegoat. If the scapegoat represents Christ then this means that lots are cast to distinguish between the Lord's goat and the Lord's goat. 2) The name Azazel used in connection with the scapegoat is a Jewish name for a demon. 3) Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The scapegoat was not sacrificed and therefore cannot represent Christ. Thus we conclude that the way the scapegoat bears iniquity is different than the way the Lord's goat bears iniquity. By being killed, the Lord's goat makes an atonement for sin. The scapegoat on the other hand carries only the blame. In other words, after God cleanses the congregation of all their sins, He turns to Satan and punishes him for his active role in tempting them to commit those sins. If it wasn't for Satan, those sins would never have been committed to begin with. 14, 15) Lev. 23:29 states that any unfaithful person is to be cut off so there IS judgment on the Day of Atonement. Not sure what you mean by the rest of paragraph 14 and part of 15. You said you don't believe in Once Saved Always Saved. When does God separate between the the two types of saved people, those who stay faithful and those who don't? 15) Ellen G White (EGW) - Without a Mediator - What she is referring to in this passage is that today many people hear the call of the gospel but refuse to heed it right away. They sometimes go on for years or decades living for the devil and then finally return and give their lives to Christ. Other people accept Christ early on but then go back out into the world and also spend years in sin before they come back. Yet, none the less, Christ as our mediator is abundant in grace and mercy and pleads with the Father on their behalf. He points to His blood and pleads that God would give them more time. However, while Christ has been doing this intercession work since the fall of Adam, there will come a day when probation has to close. Jesus will return and people will no longer be able to switch sides between Christ and Satan. They will no longer have the time to live for the devil for years or decades like previous generations before they finally repent. This is what she means by standing without a mediator. Not that we are no longer covered by Christ's blood, but that there comes a time when we have to make up our minds whom we will serve and cannot any longer switch sides because there is no more time. 16) If the day of atonement represents the cross then how do you explain all the animal sacrifices that were brought to the temple every day of the year before the day of atonement? Did Jesus die a bunch of times before Calvary? No. Symbols are limited and cannot be an exact representation of the real thing. ----- Next Round---- Here I have just two things to say: 1) I need you to explain to me how everything you said works in light of the fact that you don't believe in OSAS. What happens to true believers that turn away? 2) I don't have a problem with your festival of lights description but maybe you can tell me what the spring festivals represent: Passover, Unleavened bread, First Fruits and Pentecost.