The Millenial Sacrifices

 

Ezekiel Series
The MILLENNIAL SACRIFICES
Ezekiel 43:13-44:31
 
Ezekiel 40-48 gives us an added dimension to the millennium. We have studied the millennium in Scripture. We have studied it in the book of the Revelation. We know that the Bible predicts that there will be a period of one thousand years on the earth when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to rule and to reign.
 
For one thousand years, Jesus Christ will reign and will administrate the government of the earth during that period of time. It will be a time, we are told in the Bible, of peace. It will be a time when people learn war no more. It will be a time when the desert will blossom as a rose. A very fabulous, a very remarkable and fascinating period of time. 
 
Ezekiel has given to us another component, another aspect of the millennial reign of Christ and it is the fact that there is going to be during that period of time a temple constructed. There is going to be a millennial temple.
 
When you read chapters 40-48 you will find the blueprints given to us for this millennial temple. I have taken the view that this is going to be a literal temple. It is not going to be figurative. It is not going to be just something with mere symbolic significance, though symbolism is involved here. It is going to be literal. I take that position primarily because you will find in these chapters minute details given about the dimensions of this temple.
 
 
It doesn't make any sense to have all of that minute detail given to us if it is not going to be a literal millennial temple.
 
During the millennial reign of Christ, this temple is going to be constructed in Jerusalem and Jerusalem and this temple will become the worship center of the entire world. The Bible teaches that during the millennium the people of the world will come and they will worship in Jerusalem and in this temple.
 
Go back to Isaiah, the second chapter. There are other places I could go, but this is the primary one I could just point you to this evening.
 
Verse 2 has this prediction: " And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house (the millennial temple) shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hill. And all nations shall flow unto it. Many people shall go up and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of His ways and we will walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
 
So, the Bible predicts that in the millennium people will come from the nations. The nations will flow into the city of Jerusalem and they will come to this millennial temple. In that temple they will learn of the ways of the Lord.
 
The question arises: what is going to be the purpose of this temple? Why are people going to come to this temple? 
 
 
You may recall in Ezekiel 43 we have looked at the opening verses and we have seen a prediction made of the return of Christ under the beautiful picture of the glory of the Lord. We are told in the opening verse of chapter 43 that the glory of the Lord will come from the Mount of Olives, will come through that eastern gate, will go into this millennial temple, and will fill the house. (verse 5). That means that Jesus Christ will return. He will go into that temple and will establish his throne in that temple.
 
Now, we have the picture of all of the nations of the world and they are going to come to Jerusalem. They are going to come to that temple and in that temple they are going to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
With that background in mind, we come to one of the most interesting and one of the most complicated questions in the Bible.
 
In verse 18 of chapter 43 it mentions an altar. It talks about the ordinances of the altar. Then it says they will offer burnt offering on that altar and they will sprinkle blood on it.
 
If you will look on down in verse 19 it talks about they will offer the sin offering on it. If you look down at verse 27, it says they will offer peace offerings. This immediately, for those of us who are familiar with the New Testament, poses a problem to us. This seems to be contradictory to the book of Hebrews.
 
If there is anything the book of Hebrews teaches us, it is that in the cross of Christ and His sacrifice and His shed blood on the cross of Christ, all sacrifices have been fulfilled. Hebrews says that in Jesus Christ we have a better sacrifice. 
In Jesus Christ everything is better. In Hebrews 10, verse 18 it specifically says "for where forgiveness of these is (talking about the sacrifice of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins) there is no more offering or sacrifice for sin." Yet, here in this millennial temple we are told that they are going to offer sacrifices again.
 
Does this infringe on the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary? Does this impugn the shed blood of our Lord? Why will there be sacrifices made in this temple during the millennial reign of Christ?
 
Follow with me. I want to lay the pieces out on the table and then when we get them all together, I think you will see the picture.
 
The first thing in want you to notice is
 
I. The Preparations for the Sacrifices.
 
If there are going to be sacrifices made, then there needs to be an altar where those sacrifices are made.
 
Look at the 43rd chapter, beginning with verse 13. "And these are the measures of the altar." He gives the exact dimensions of an altar that is going to be constructed for use in this millennial temple. He goes right on down through verse 17 and gives the exact dimensions for this altar.
 
There are two little tweaks in these verses. He tweaks the altar in a couple of places. The first one is in verse 15.
 
 
It's not apparent in the King James, English version. But in verse 15 it says, "An so the altar."
 
The English word actually translates a Hebrew word which occurs only here in the entire Old Testament.
 
It's a different word from verse 13. The word in that 15th verse for altar is the Hebrew word, ariel. That means the lion of God. Jot that down. This altar in the millennial temple is going to be known as the lion of God.
 
The second little tweak is down in verse 17. In verse 17 it tells us about steps that go up to that altar.
 
That altar was a big thing and in the tabernacle they had an incline that went up it. But this one, instead of an incline, has stairs or steps. He says that this altar will be approached from the east. The stairs will look toward the east. This is different because in the Old Testament tabernacle and Old Testament temple they approached the altar from the south.
 
In the millennial temple they have changed the directions so that the priests and the people viewing this altar will approach the altar from the east. This makes it possible then for them, as they approach, to look directly into the temple.
 
The reason they were commanded not to approach it from the east in the earlier temples was because pagan religions in those days approached from the east or west because they were sun worshipers. So God wanted to make it very clear that they were not to be idolaters, not to be sun worshippers. So he told them to come from the south.
 
Now, he says you will approach it from the east. We know the reason for that. There won't be any idolatry in the millennium.
 
By the way, all the false gods, according to the New
Testament, are demonically inspired gods. There is not but one God and his name is Jehovah God. All gods are not the same; you do understand that, don't you? The Bible teaches that any God but the true God are gods that have been demon inspired.
 
But in the millennium there will only be the worship of the true God. So they will approach from the east because there is no more idolatry. That's the first thing: the altar that is going to be prepared.
 
In verse 19 he tells us about a special group of people who are going to be priests who are going to be prepared also. He says that the priests are going to be of the seed of Zadok. Zadok was a priest during the days of king David who remained loyal to David during the time of the rebellion of Absalom.
 
Absalom, David's own son, rebelled against him, but Zadok remained faithful to David. In commemoration of their faithfulness to David and to the Lord, in the millennium God says it will be the sons of Zadok who will be the priests.
 
Here's the practical lessons for that. If you are faithful to the Lord, the Lord will use you in greater capacities. Jesus put it this way. "You have been faithful in a few things, I'll make you ruler over many things." Faithfulness wherever God places you will give you opportunity to render greater service unto the Lord.
 
Here we have an altar. Here we have the priests that are all set up. Those are the preparations.
 
Now I want us to look at the personalities of these sacrifices.
 
II. The Personalities of These Sacrifices.
 
Now, turn to the 44th chapter. We are told about that eastern gate being shut and the question arises: why is that eastern gate going to be shut?
 
When the millennial temple is constructed, there will be an eastern gate and the Lord Jesus Christ is going to return and is going to come into the city of Jerusalem in that eastern gate.
 
When He does, according to chapter 44, that gate is going to be shut. Nobody else will ever go through it. It will be permanently shut. That means that God is saying "I have come home to stay, I'm not ever going to leave again."
 
When you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, He comes into your heart to stay and the door is shut and He will never leave you again. That's something to shout about. He's in there forever. Eternal security.
 
Now, in the 3rd verse it mentions this person, the prince. It says this particular gate and its porch is for the prince. Who is the prince? In the earlier years of my ministry, I assumed that this prince was the Lord Jesus Christ. I was wrong. This prince cannot be the Lord Jesus Christ. I'll give you two reasons.
 
 
The first reason is in chapter 45, verse 22. It talks about this prince. It says this, "And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering."
 
This prince is going to prepare for himself a sin offering. Can that be Jesus? No. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. That right there lets you know this prince can't be Jesus.
 
Maybe it's David resurrected. I don't think that's correct either. Look at the 46th chapter, verse 16,
"Thus saith the Lord God; if the prince give a gift unto any of his sons." It can't be David resurrected because the Bible says in the resurrection there are neither or given in marriage. That means that children can't be born. David, in the millennium, is going to have a glorified body and he's not going to have sons.
 
So, it's not Jesus, it's not David resurrected. Who is the prince? I don't have the foggiest notion who he is. It's one of the questions I'm going to ask when I get to heaven. Who's the prince? I'm going to fall at the feet of Jesus and worship him about ten thousand years and when I finish that firs praise time, then I'm going to ask ”who's the prince?
 
I'll give you my best opinion. When you read chapter
44 and 45 in particular you will find some of the responsibilities of the prince. You will find some land that is given to the prince which is in close proximity of the temple. It seems to me that the prince is going to be some kind of administrator in the millennium.
 
 
Jesus is going to rule and reign over the earth in the millennium, but the Bible says that Jesus is going to have people who will assist him in that ruling and reigning. In fact, you and I are going to assist him. The Bible says you be faithful. Remember the parable Jesus gave about the man who had one city and he was faithful and God gave him ten cities.
 
You be faithful in what you are doing now and in the millennium the Lord will let you serve in great capacities. The saints are going to rule and reign with Jesus Christ on the earth. Maybe this prince is going to be some kind of chief administrator with specific responsibilities over the temple, the temple area, and the city of Jerusalem.
 
So, here is a prince. Then there are going to be some priests as I have already indicated.
 
In chapter 44 he picks up again these priests. The priests are going to offer these mysterious sacrifices. He tells about some Levites in verse 10. "The Levites that are gone away far from me."
 
In other words, those who have not been faithful. "When Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity." They are responsible for their disobedience.
 
In verse 14 he says, "I'll make them keepers of the charge." They have lower places of responsibility.
 
Here's another lesson. You are a priest also. The
Bible says that as a born again, child of God, you are
a believer-priest. But God requires of His believer-priests, of his New Testament, born again ones, that we be faithful; that we live for the Lord.
If we are unfaithful, then you reduce your opportunity of service.
 
I could tell you tell you sad story after sad story after sad story of Christians who at one time were used mightily of God in places of service and they fell. God forgives you when you fall, but they never again have been able to serve with the same effectiveness and capacity that they served previously. It's so important that God's believer-priests keep themselves clean.
 
In verse 15 he talks about the son of Zadok and how they are to minister. He talks about their clothing.
Clothing is a picture of character and lifestyle. In verse 23 it says they will teach my people. You and I, as priests, have a responsibility to teach others. 
 
"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean."
 
You and I are to be walking lessons to other people of the difference between that which is clean and that which is unclean. Your lifestyle should be an example to others around you of how to live. Folks are looking at you. People are watching you. They know you are a Christian. How important it is for us to live faithfully unto the Lord.
 
There are the preliminaries. There's an altar. The sons of Zadok. There is the personalities, the prince
and these priests. Now, there is this matter of the purpose of these sacrifices.
 
 
 
III. The Purposes for the Sacrifices.
 
Go back to chapter 43, verse 18. "These are the ordinances of the altar." 
 
We do know there is going to be an altar in that temple. But when you study chapters 40-48 you will be surprised at the articles of furniture which are not in that temple. Look at the tabernacle. Look at Solomon's temple. You find certain pieces of furniture. For instance in the tabernacle and in Solomon's temple you will find a washbasin.
 
It's called a laver. We call the sink where we wash our hands a lavatory. That's where we get that word laver. It's a washbasin. But in this millennial temple there is no laver, no washbasin. Why? In the millennium we have already been washed by the precious blood of the lamb.
 
In those other temples there was a lamp stand. You won't find a description of a lamp stand in this temple. Why? Jesus is in that temple and He is the light of the world. That's all the light we are going to need.
 
In the other temples you will find a table where the showbread was. The priest could eat the bread. You won't find any description of a table with bread on it in this millennial temple. Why? The Bible says Jesus is going to feed us in that day. He's all the bread you will ever need. He feeds the heart.
 
You will not find a veil in this temple. No mention of a veil. Why? Because when Jesus died on the cross the Bible says the veil was torn in two from top to bottom. The way is wide open.
You will find a most holy place. Look back to chapter
41, verse 4. The last part of the verse says, "This is the most holy place." That's just another way of saying the holy of holies. There is going to be a holy of holies in that temple. What do we remember that was in the holy of holies in the tabernacle and in Solomon's temple? There was an ark of the covenant and a mercy seat. A gold slab on top of that Ark of the Covenant. You will search these chapters and you will not find mention made of a mercy seat or an ark of the covenant. 
 
There was a series of movies called the Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was built around a fictitious search for the Ark of the Covenant. That's been one of the puzzles of church history of biblical archeology through the years. Where is the lost ark? From time to time you will hear somebody say it's over in Ethiopia. Somebody else says it's buried beneath the temple mount.
 
People speculate about where the Ark of the Covenant.
 
Turn to Jeremiah 3. I want to show you something. 
 
Follow the wording closely. The Lord is talking to Israel in verse 16. "And it shall come to pass when you be multiplied and increased in the land; in those days saith the Lord, they shall say no more the ark of the covenant of the Lord, neither shall it come to mind (won't even think about it) neither shall they remember it (won't even remember there was an ark of the covenant); neither shall they visit it (not be
one); neither shall that be done anymore."
 
 
It doesn't make a hill of beans difference where that old Ark of the Covenant is. They ain't gonna need it no more!
 
Why aren't they going to need an ark of the covenant in the holy of holies?
 
Because Jesus is going to be enthroned, the glory of the Lord is going to be in that holy of holies. He's all the ark you need. He's all the mercy seat you need. There He is! They can look for the lost ark all they want. If they find it, they won't have any use for it.
 
I still haven't answered the question, have I? Why is there this altar? Why are they going to offer sacrifices on this altar during the millennium in this temple?
 
Go back to chapter 43. It seems that during the millennium this altar and these sacrifices will be used as teaching tools. Not that these sacrifices are going to take away sin.
 
By the way, the Old Testament sacrifices never took away sin. The Old Testament sacrifices looked forward to the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary, which alone can take away sin. The Old Testament sacrifices were never intended to take away sin. They were just intended to point forward to the one sacrifice that would take away sin. So these millennial sacrifices are going to look backward to the cross as a teaching tool.
 
 
 
 
 
It's kind of like the Lord's Supper. In this church age, you and I gather (we are not told how often to do it, but we gather periodically, not too often to take away its meaning) around the Lord's table and we take the bread and we take the cup which commemorates the death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
 
Now, we do not believe there is any salvation in the Lord's Supper. We do not believe that spiritual life is transmitted by people taking of this Lord's Supper. It is a teaching tool.
 
The Lord's Supper teaches about the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It looks back to Calvary and Jesus said, "As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the Lord's death till he comes." The implication is when he comes, the Lord's Supper will cease.
 
But during the millennium there are going to be these sacrifices made. People will be born during the millennium. The saints are going to be there, but there are going to be Jewish and Gentile people there. Jews who receive the Messiah; Gentiles who receive Christ as their Messiah; but there are going to be children born to these individuals.
 
They have not been glorified. They have gone into the millennium and children are going to be born. They will be what we call Kingdom Kids. Our little children have shirts on with "Kingdom Kids." There will indeed be Kingdom Kids during the millennium. But these Kingdom Kids will need to be born again.
 
 
 
They are going to have to be saved just like your boys and girls have to be saved.
 
I can almost imagine how this temple and these sacrifices are going to be used to commemorate and to celebrate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and maybe they will get up a plane load from Berlin and fly over to Jerusalem. They will go to that millennial temple.
 
Here's a group of kids and they are gathered around that altar. Those animal sacrifices are laid on that altar and the teaching is given. This altar is an illustration of the awfulness of sin. As the fires consume that animal sacrifice for the burnt offering or the sin offering, the lesson will be taught how awful sin is. It brings the holy wrath of God down.
 
We are all sinners and we all need a Savior. Then they will say to them ”do you remember what verse 15 said? I told you that the Hebrew word is ariel, which means the lion of God. Maybe they will teach this altar means the lion of God. One of the little children will say - on this lion of God the sacrifice is being made.
 
This lamb is being burned on this and the blood has been applied. Is this the lamb that will save us from our sins?
 
Turn over to Revelation 5. Here is something similar to what I think we have here. John is having a vision of heaven and he was looking for who could take the book that carried the title deed for the redemption of the world.
 
 
In verse 5 one of the elders said unto John, "Weep not, behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book." John says in verse 6, "I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne he turned, looking to see a lion and in the midst he saw a lamb."
 
Go back to Ezekiel 43, verse 15. They are gathered around that altar. The lesson is being taught. We are sinners. We need someone to save us from our sins. We need a lamb to sacrifice for our sins.
 
The question is asked, "Is that the perfect sacrifice?" Oh, no, no, the lamb has prevailed. Who is this lamb? Verse 17 says that the steps of the altar are from the east which means they are looking directly into the temple and they say, "There he is. Jesus is the Lamb who has shed one sacrifice for sins forever."
 
I can see them getting saved right and left. I can see them coming to Christ.
 
What is this all about? The whole point of it all is look to Jesus. Jesus is the answer for your salvation needs. Jesus is the answer for your daily needs. You have a problem? Look to Jesus. He is the answer to every problem you have.
 
Let's bow our heads in prayer.