Day of Atonement: Why Two Goats?

17 09 2026
Two goats standing before an ornate stone temple entrance

Sundown this Sunday begins the Day of Atonement, a day of repentance for all Israel. Christians see Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) in this great day. Perhaps misunderstood is the role of the two goats. The Messiah is seen in both goats. One is the sacrifice to Yehovah, in which Jesus willing offered up His life to the Father. The second goat carried the sins of Israel into the wilderness.

“He shall take the two goats and present them before Yehovah at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yehovah and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which Yehovah’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yehovah, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:7-10

“Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:21-22

Passover depicts the Messiah as a Lamb, but here the sacrifice is a goat, which is a symbol of Satan. The devil himself was defeated at the cross. Death itself was defeated in the resurrection of Jesus. Our sins were paid by His blood and then the second goat pictures our sins removed and banished to the wilderness.

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, ​​So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ​​As far as the east is from the west, ​​So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-12

Three times Jesus asked the Father if there was another way. Yet, each time He willingly submitted to the Father God. Messiah Yeshua did this for each of us, but also for the sins of the nation of Israel. He laid down His own will as a model for all who believe in the Almighty God Yehovah. We lay down our lives and our will to the will of the Father.

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

Les Lawrence, a voice of Christian Zionists (The Shofars/Trumpets Are Sounding)

Watch my video prophecy podcast on YouTube HERE.

Why  do I use God’s literal covenant Name: Yehovah? Here is a link to the explanation in my book: The Hebrew God Who Has No Name. And here is a link to a great visual from my friend Keith Johnson.


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