The Temple's animal sacrifices

Note: A Messianic group has formed in Cedar Creek Lake (Henderson County) for those living in that part of Texas. Contact information for that is as follows:

Attn: Skip Smith
Skip Smith Insurance Agency
416 E. Cedar Creek Parkway
Seven Points, TX
903-432-4144

Q. Once the Temple is rebuilt, should animal sacrifices be resumed? I assume they will be resumed by non-believers, but if believers consider Yeshua’s ultimate sacrifice the only one needed, should believers go up to the Temple to participate? Elissa

A. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Scriptures among believers. So, let’s go through some of the main points to understand. Most of the misunderstanding about the sacrifices comes out of the false teaching called “Replacement Theology.” That subject has been dealt with at length over the years in these articles, so it won’t be discussed now, but it basically says that the “old” testament has been replaced by the “new” covenant. Now, to answer the first part of your question, yes, animal sacrifices will be resumed in the coming Temples. The one I want to focus on is the Messianic Temple that Yeshua will be a part of.

The Scriptures are clear on this point. Being a believer has nothing to do with the point that these sacrifices will continue. So, let’s do some back round. The word “sacrifice” is not really a good word for the Hebrew word “korban” which means “to draw near”. These korbanot were what biblical worship was. We know from Acts 21 that believers in Yeshua continued to off the korbanot. Paul was coming out of a Nazarite vow (Acts 18.18) and was coming to Jerusalem to offer the required animal sacrifices (Acts 24.17). This was 30 years after Yeshua, and he paid the expenses for the sacrifices of 4 other messianic believers coming out of their Nazarite vow. He did this to put an end to the rumor that Paul has teaching that believers needed to forsake the Torah and the teaching of Moses ( Acts 21.20-28), which is exactly what the Church teaches today.

Paul was against that teaching and proved it by supporting the Temple and the sacrifices. Once Yeshua returns, there will be a messianic Temple. Ezekiel Chapters 40-48 describes the worship which includes animal sacrifices Ezekiel 45.17 tells us why they are done, which is for “reconciliation”, or atonement. Now, there are two levels of atonement. The higher level of atonement was accomplished by Yeshua at the cross where he fulfilled the Yom Kippur sacrifice on Passover. The second level is reconciliation and that will continue till the end of the Messianic Kingdom. Zechariah 14.16-19 says that the nation that does not come up to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Booths will have no rain and receive a plague, and that the L-rd will “smite the heathen that does not come up to keep the feast of Booths”.

To say that these korbanot (sacrifices) were done away with after Yeshua is saying that the blood of these animals took away sin, which the Book of Hebrews clearly teaches that they did not. These sacrifices never did take away sin, so Yeshua’s death had nothing to do with them being “done away with” as many teach today. These concepts are not hard to understand, but because believers have immersed in false teaching for so long they find it hard to comprehend. But, the L-rd is clear about this and with a proper understanding of the Scriptures and what exactly Yeshua did, it becomes clearer and understandable. So, in conclusion, the animal sacrifices, or korbanot (drawing near to G-d) will continue in the coming Tribulation Temple ( Dan 9.27) and in the Messianic Temple dedicated by Yeshua Himself on the Chanukah following his return (Dan 12.11-12).