Orders for the New Altar PT-2 (Ezek. 43:18-27)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/15/2015 8:01 AM

My Worship Time                                                               Focus:  Orders for the New Altar PT-2

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ezekiel 43:18-27

            Message of the verses:  What I want to do in this SD is to continue the quote from Warren Wiersbe as he writes about why there is no problem for there to be animal sacrifices in the millennial temple.  This is a very important point to make when one understands that Ezekiel 40-48 is understood to be a prophecy for the Millennial Kingdom age.

            “The temple will be a place of learning for both Jews and Gentiles (Isa. 2:1-3), and no doubt the worshipers will study the Old Testament law and learn more about Jesus.  They will study the New Testament as well and see the deeper significance of the sacrifices and the feasts.  The only ‘Bible’ that the early church possessed was the Old Testament, and the Christians were able to lead sinners to faith in Christ without John 3:16 or ‘The Romans Road.’  Of the seven feasts that the Jews celebrated (Lev. 23), it appears that only Passover (Ezek. 45:21-24) and Tabernacles (v. 25; Zech. 14:16-19) will be observed in the Kingdom Age.  Passover speaks of the Lamb of God and the deliverance of the Jews from bondage in Egypt, and Tabernacles was a joyous harvest feast that anticipated the coming kingdom and reminded the Jews of their wilderness journeys.  Ezekiel 44:24 indicates that the weekly Sabbath will also be observed.

            “Will the Lord’s Supper also be observed in the Kingdom Age?  The words of Jesus after He instituted the Lord’s Supper seem to suggest so.  ‘I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’ (Matt. 26:29, NASB; see Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18).  If the saints in the church can remember Christ by breaking bread and drinking the cup, why can’t Jewish believers remember Him by bringing sacrifices?  Neither remembrance has any atoning value.”

            Dr. Wiersbe, as always, makes difficult passages understandable.  I have always believed that the prophecies from Ezekiel 40-40 would be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom age, but never understood it as well as I do now, and for that I am thankful.

5/15/2015 8:19 AM