The Altar

 

Ezekiel 43:13-27

 

February 16, 2023

 

The Altar

“These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high and one cubit broad, with a rim of one span around its edge. And this shall be the height of the altar: from the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a breadth of one cubit; and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward four horns.  The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve broad.  The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen broad, with a rim around it half a cubit broad, and its base one cubit all around. The steps of the altar shall face east.”

And he said to me, “Son of man, thus says the Lord God: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for throwing blood against it, you shall give to the Levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, declares the Lord God, a bull from the herd for a sin offering.  And you shall take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar and on the four corners of the ledge and upon the rim all around. Thus, you shall purify the altar and make atonement for it.  You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area.  And on the second day, you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull.  When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull from the herd without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish.  You shall present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the Lord.  For seven days you shall provide daily a male goat for a sin offering; also, a bull from the herd and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided.  Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it.   And when they have completed these days, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, and I will accept you, declares the Lord God.”

Many years ago, as a young believer in Jesus Christ's atonement for sin, I came across this and other passages that troubled me about animal sacrifice during the millennial kingdom.  Why was that going to be the case in that Jesus was to return and be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?  “Got Questions” gave me this insight, it answers my questions and I hope it is yours also.  

“The primary objection made to the idea of animal sacrifices returning during the millennial kingdom is that Christ has come and offered a perfect sacrifice for sin, and there is therefore no need to sacrifice animals for sin. However, it must be remembered that animal sacrifice never removed the sin that spiritually separated a person from the Lord.

Hebrews 10:1-4 says, “For the Law since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins"

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice