(2.6b) ANIMAL SACRIFICE

REMAINING SACRIFICES (NOTE: EDITING PROCESS STILL IN EFFECT – FINAL DRAFT NOT YET COMPLETED)

According to the interpretation in “(2.6a) Proposition of Two Temples,” Ezekiel 40-46 is removed from the eschatological framework of pre-millennialism. I believe that the remaining passages describing animal sacrifice, during the millennial age, contain neither sin offerings (chatat) nor guilt offerings (asham).

The eschatological passages I’m referring to are the following:

In the above verses, the following sacrificial terms are used or implied:

NOTE: Zechariah 14:16-19 does not say whether or not Sukkot will include animal sacrifice during the millennial age. Some people think it will, others do not. To the interpretation that does involve animal sacrifice, I’ve included the sacrificial terms from Leviticus 23:33-43—I will explain why I didn’t include sacrificial terms from Numbers 29 in the sub-section below.

Of the remaining sacrificial terms listed, only some of them can be associated with expiatory roles. However, none of them are restricted to expiatory roles. Take the olah (burnt offering) for example. The following is a quote from Jacob Milgrom.

“The burnt offering then is a gift, with any number of goals in mind, one of which—the one singled out in this chapter—is expiation.” – Milgrom, Jacob. Leviticus 1-16: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. Yale University Press, 2009. p. 176.

It seems that, according to Milgrom, the burnt offering can vary in its purpose—I believe Leviticus 22:18-19 attests to this. If I understand correctly, the burnt offering does not have to be expiatory—it can be carried out strictly as a reverential function.

NOTE: The olah (burnt offering) predates Mosaic law (e.g., Genesis 8:20).

Zebach, minchah, nesekh, 'ishshâh, and zâbach all have non-expiatory roles as well. They can all be carried out in the context of reverence, distinct from any expiatory role.

I believe that the context of animal sacrifice in the letter to the Hebrews is Mosaic law and expiation (e.g., Hebrews 7:18-19, Hebrews 8:4, Hebrews 10:8, etc.).

“When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (these are offered according to the law),” (Hebrews 10:8, ESV)

From a pre-millennial standpoint, sacrifices during the millennial age will not be expiatory, nor will they feature as elements of Mosaic law. Thus, I do not believe there is any contradiction between pre-millennial eschatology and the letter to the Hebrews.

SUKKOT DURING THE MILLENNIAL AGE

According to Zechariah 14:16-19, Sukkot will be practiced in the millennial age.

“Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and present themselves, then on them there shall be no rain; there shall be the plague with which the Lord afflicts the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths. This shall be the punishment to Egypt and the punishment to all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Booths.” (Zechariah 14:16-19, ESV)

References to Sukkot

The feast of Sukkot translates to the feast of “Booths” or the feast of “Tabernacles.” Throughout the Bible, there are many different references to Sukkot...

“Feast of Harvest” (see Exodus 23:16)

“Feast of Ingathering” (see Exodus 34:22)

“feast of the Lord” (see Leviticus 23:39)

“feast to the Lord” (see Numbers 29:12)

“Sukkot”/”Booths”/”Tabernacles” (see Deuteronomy 16:13, Leviticus 23:34, Ezra 3:4, and Zechariah 14:16-19)

“the feast of the seventh month” (see Nehemiah 8:14)

“the feast” (see 1 Kings 8:2, 2 Chronicles 7:8, and John 3:37)

Instructions for Sukkot are found in the following passages: Exodus 23:16, Exodus 34:22-23, Leviticus 23:33-43, Numbers 29:12-39, Deuteronomy 16:13-17, Deuteronomy 31:10-11, Nehemiah 8:15, and Zechariah 14:16-19 (future).

No Expiatory Animal Sacrifice

Because of what’s prescribed in Numbers 29:12-39, some people believe that Sukkot will include expiatory animal sacrifice during the millennial age. Given my conclusions above, it should be obvious that I disagree with such a belief. In support of my conclusions, there’s an interpretation to consider.

In Daniel 9:24, a summary is provided.

“‘Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.” (Daniel 9:24, ESV)

In the summary, there’s a reference to atonement. I believe that this particular reference corresponds with Isaiah 53:5-6 and Isaiah 53:10-12. At some point during Daniel’s 70 weeks, the Messiah atones for the iniquities of the people, and as a result, expiatory animal sacrifice is obsolete. Given that the millennial age takes place after Daniel’s 70 weeks, there will be no expiatory animal sacrifice during the millennial age.

As a result of Messiah, instructions for food are different (see Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15, and Romans 14:2-3). As a result of Messiah, Sukkot is different—there will be no expiatory animal sacrifices.

Christians believe that when the Jewish Messiah reigns on earth, there will be no expiatory animal sacrifice. Other religious communities have reached the same conclusion. Notice what’s said in Vayikra Rabbah 9:7.

https://www.sefaria.org/Vayikra_Rabbah.9.7?lang=bi

Elements of the New Covenant

As a result of Messiah, instructions for food are different, however, they’re not non-existent. Under the New Covenant, instructions for food are issued (see Acts 15:29) and observed. Christian Salvation is not dependent on these instructions, however, Christians are expected to follow them nonetheless.

The instructions in Acts 15:29 are not Mosaic law…

The instructions in Acts 15:29 are similar, or identical, to instructions found in the Torah (e.g., Leviticus 17). However, instructions in Acts 15:29 are not elements of Mosaic law, because they are instituted as elements of the New Covenant by the apostles. I believe that a similar circumstance is applicable to Sukkot in the millennial age—a format or practice, identical, or similar to something found in the Torah, is instituted as an element of the New Covenant.

In the millennial age, Sukkot features as an element of Jesus Christ’s New Covenant, not as an element of Mosaic law—Christians are not under Mosaic law, and are warned never to go back to Mosaic law – see Galatians 5:4…

“You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.” (Galatians 5:4, ESV)

Christians will be expected to observe Sukkot AFTER the second coming of Christ, NOT BEFORE.