Merely a Pointer to Christ?
===========================

  In computer programming, a pointer does nothing by itself, but merely
  points to the actual, real thing of interest. We often hear that the
  Levitical system of sacrifices, which included both animal and grain
  sacrifices, was merely meant to teach us something, that it was a mere
  pointer to Christ. Is that what thousands of years of animal death at
  the hands of priests was really all about? Nothing in itself, but
  merely pointing us to the real, actual thing of interest, that being
  Christ and His sacrifice?

  We should note first of all that this does not even make sense under
  its own terms, because if animal and grain sacrifices achieved
  nothing, in what way could they teach us anything? What would be the
  lesson, actually? That Christ's sacrifice achieved nothing also??

  So, some say that the Levitical sacrifices were merely an
  instructional device to "point us" toward Christ, and that the blood
  of sacrifices can never result in forgiveness of sins, but /*God's*/
  /*Word contradicts them*/. Not only is forgiveness of sins the result
  of Levitical sacrifices, but the blood thereof also purges the Temple
  of sin or impurity, and this will be /in the future/.

        Leviticus 4:20 And he shall do with the /*bullock*/ as he
        did with the /*bullock*/ for a sin offering, so shall he
        do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for
        them, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ them.

        Leviticus 4:26 And he shall *burn all his fat* upon the
        altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and
        the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning
        his sin, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.

        Leviticus 4:31 And he shall /*take away all the fat*/
        thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice
        of peace offerings; and the priest *shall burn it upon the
        altar* for a *sweet savour unto* *Yahweh*; and the priest
        shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be
        /*forgiven*/ him.

        Leviticus 4:35 And he shall *take away all the fat*
        thereof, as the fat of the *lamb* is taken away from the
        sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest *shall
        burn them* upon the altar, according to the offerings made
        by fire unto Yahweh: and the priest shall make an
        atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall
        be /*forgiven*/ him.

        Leviticus 5:10 And he shall offer the second for *a burnt
        offering*, according to the manner: and the priest shall
        make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath
        sinned, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.

        Leviticus 5:13 And the priest shall make an atonement for
        him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of
        these, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him: and the remnant
        shall be the priest's, as a *meat* *offering*.

        Leviticus 5:16 And he shall make amends for the harm that
        he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth
        part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest
        shall make an atonement for him *with* *the ram* of the
        trespass offering, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.

        Leviticus 5:18 And he shall bring *a ram without blemish*
        out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass
        offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an
        atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he
        erred and wist it not, and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him.

        Leviticus 6:7 And the priest shall make an atonement for
        him before Yahweh: and it shall be /*forgiven*/ him for
        any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

        Leviticus 19:22 And the priest shall make an atonement for
        him *with* *the ram* of the trespass offering before
        Yahweh for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which
        he hath done shall be /*forgiven*/ him.

        Numbers 15:25-28 And the priest shall make an atonement
        for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it
        shall be /*forgiven*/ them; for it is ignorance: and they
        shall bring their offering, *a* *sacrifice made by fire*
        unto Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for
        their ignorance: And it shall be /*forgiven*/ all the
        congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger
        that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in
        ignorance. And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he
        shall bring *a she goat* of the first year for a sin
        offering. And the priest shall make an atonement for the
        soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance
        before Yahweh, to make an atonement for him; and it shall
        be /*forgiven*/ him.