VI. Scapegoat Type of Satan, Not of Christ

Coming next to the “Scape-Goat” division, Crosier explicitly states that the transaction with the scapegoat comes only after the cleansing of the sanctuary.PFF4 1233.7

“The next event of that day after the Sanctuary was cleansed, was putting all the iniquities and transgressions of the children of Israel upon the head of the Scape-goat and sending him away into a land not inhabited, or of separation.” ^16Ibid.PFF4 1233.8

1. EIGHT REASONS FOR REJECTING POPULAR VIEW

Crosier next declares why he differs from the great majority, who look upon the scapegoat as likewise typifying “Christ in some of His offices, and that the type was fulfilled at the first Advent.” In support of his differing view Crosier presents eight reasons:PFF4 1234.1

(1) The goat was “not sent away till after the high priest had made an end of cleansing the sanctuary”—hence it occurs after the close of the 2300 days; (2) it was sent away alive into the uninhabited wilderness, instead of entering into heaven; (3) it receives and retains all the iniquities of Israel, but when Christ appears the second time He will be “without sin”; (4) the goat receives the iniquities from the hands of the priest, and is sent away by the priest; but as Christ is priest, the goat must be something else beside Himself, which He can send away; (5) it was but one of two goats—one the Lord’s, offered for a sin offering, and the other was not the Lord’s, neither was it offered as a sacrifice at that time. The scapegoat’s function was “to receive the iniquities for the priest after he had cleansed the sanctuary”; (6) the Hebrew name of the scapegoat was Azazel, which authorities, such as Spencer and Rosenmire, say is the name of the devil—the Syriac giving it as the one who “revolted”; (7) at the appearing of Christ, Satan is to be bound and cast into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20), which is symbolized by the scapegoat’s being sent into the wilderness; (8) so the oldest Christian view says that the scapegoat is a type of Satan. Thus, says Crosier, will the “author of sins have received them back again,” but the “ungodly will bear their own sins.” ^{17Ibid., p. 43, cols. 1, 2.}PFF4 1234.2

Thus, he adds, “the thousand years imprisonment of Satan will have begun & the saints will have entered upon their reign with Christ.”PFF4 1234.3

2. CHRIST’S “LAST ACT” IS PLACING SINS ON SATAN

The sanctuary, Crosier holds, “must be cleansed before Christ appears” at His second advent, and before the resurrection. And the “last act” of Christ as ministering High Priest will be to “bear the sins from the Sanctuary after He had cleansed it.” These are placed on Satan. ^18Ibid. Such is a digest, or outline, of the Crosier article.PFF4 1234.4

3. ENDORSED BY BATES AND ELLEN WHITE

That it was accepted by the Little Flock is attested by the endorsement of the veteran Joseph Bates:PFF4 1234.5

“But allow me first to recommend to your particular notice, O. R. L. Crosier’s article in the Day Star Extra, for the 7th of February, 1846.... Read it again. In my humble opinion it is superior to anything of the kind extant.” ^{19Joseph Bates, The Opening Heavens (1846), p. 25.}PFF4 1234.6

Added to this was the word by Ellen G. White: “Brother Crosier had the true light, on the cleansing of the sanctuary, &c.,” after which she added that she could “recommend that Extra, to every saint.” ^{20E. G. White, “Letter to Eli Curtis,” A Word to the “Little Flock” (1847), p. 12.} No more weighty endorsements could be asked for.PFF4 1234.7