The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4
X. Scapegoat-Symbol of Satan’s Banishment
Crosier gives seven separate reasons why he believes the scapegoat does not represent Christ: PFF4 899.1
(1) The scapegoat’s part in the Day of Atonement ceremony takes place only after the high priest had made an end of cleansing the sanctuary. PFF4 899.2
(2) Christ was not, like the scapegoat, sent away alive to a land not inhabited. PFF4 899.3
(3) The goat received and retained the sins of Israel, but Christ will come the second time “without sin.” PFF4 899.4
(4) The goat was sent away from the priest, but Christ is the priest. PFF4 899.5
(5) The scapegoat is contrasted with the other goat, which is called the Lord’s goat and which was offered as a sin offering; while the scapegoat was not called the Lord’s goat and was not offered as a sacrifice. PFF4 899.6
(6) The Hebrew name is not scapegoat, but Azazel, which is the name of the devil (for which he cites authorities). PFF4 899.7
(7) At Christ’s second coming, Satan is to be bound and cast into the bottomless pit-fitly symbolized by the high priest’s sending away the goat into the wilderness! 20 PFF4 899.8
Crosier cannot justly be accused-as critics afterward held:—of making Satan have a part in atoning for the sins of the saved, for his very first argument is that, as the account in Leviticus plainly states, the atonement is already finished before the sins are placed on the scapegoat’s head for final removal. He definitely made this clear. PFF4 899.9
“A little attention to the law will show that the sins were borne from the people by the priest, and from the priest by the goat. 1st, They are imputed to the victim. 2nd, The priest bore them in its blood to the Sanctuary. 3rd, After cleansing them from it on the 10th of the seventh month, he bore them to the scapegoat. And 4th, The goat finally bore them away beyond the camp of Israel to the wilderness. PFF4 899.10
“This was the legal process, and when fulfilled the author of sins will have received them back again.” 21 PFF4 900.1
See Appendix D for fuller statement of Crosier’s views. PFF4 900.2