No 16

(Animal Sacrifice restored)

The Old Testament teaches us that animal sacrifices, although sanctioned by God, could never remove spiritual guilt from the person; the New Testament is very clear on this issue – Hebrews 10: 4, 11 say “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:” Nevertheless, something happened to the person if the animal sacrifice and the person’s attitude were correct. In Leviticus 1:4, we read “And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.” What happened to the person was personal and significant; not merely symbolic and prophetic. It was, of course temporal and not eternal; it was external and not internal; and it was legal and not soteriological (for salvation). Faith was, as it is today, the only way to approach the true God for salvation.

During the Millennium period, the animal sacrifices that will be performed will be efficacious and expiatory only in terms of strict provision for ceremonial forgiveness within Israel’s relationship with God and therefore temporal. Salvation comes only by grace through faith in God (Eph 2:8).

At the beginning of the Millennium, everyone will be believers but those born during the Millennium will need to place their faith in God just as everyone else did. Therefore the nations will require protection from the wrath of a Holy God that animal sacrifices will provide in accordance with their divine function in Mosaic Law. “There will be no Arc of the Covenant, no jar of manna, no rod of Aaron, no tables of the Law, no mercy seat, no Cherubim, no veil, and no Holy of Holies where the high priest entered once a year” (Taken from the book “Thing to come” by JD Pentecost)

In the book of Ezekiel, we read “he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.” (45:17b). Jeremiah also states “Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.” (33:18). Both these Scriptures refer to the Millennium period.

Just as the Church today achieves a spiritual and symbolic balance with the bread and cup; so will a regenerated Israel attain the divinely intended balance between form and content; between law and grace in the New Covenant with animal sacrifices. (This whole study was gleaned from the works of John Whitcolm)