I am not a big fan of animal sacrifices; as a matter of fact it is revolting to me to think of the suffering and the blood. I understand why the sacrifices were necessary, but still it is hard to think about.
I do believe that is part of the lesson and part of the story. The death of another, the animal, takes the place of the human. I know there are many animal lovers who would argue that no animal death is worth the life of any human. I probably would agree with them in many cases, but God has established his laws of righteousness.
He loves all of humanity and He has provided a way for all of us to find our way to Heaven. The animal sacrifices pointed to the blood offering of the perfect lamb, who was Jesus.
The first animal sacrifice was apparently undertaken by God Almighty. He must have killed some animals to make coverings for the first man and woman after they sinned in the Garden.
Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
The book of Hebrews is a great book that tries to bring understanding to the Jewish believer why the sacrifices of the Old Testament are no longer needed once a person has put faith and trust in Jesus as the Messiah.
Hebrews.10:1-4 “for the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered; because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscious of sins;
but in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Of course most Jews haven’t trusted in Jesus as their Messiah and most won’t until some time in the Tribulation period.
I believe there will be a time of personal pride and excitement as the nation of Israel undertakes the rebuilding of the Temple. The animal sacrifices will most likely cause an international uproar. Shortly after the temple is rebuilt we can expect the seven-year Tribulation to begin.
A verse that fascinates me is this one.
Malachi 4: 5-6 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
I’m hopeful I will see the day that a scruffy fellow who helps stir a national religious revival in Israel makes national news along with the temple sacrifices. That scruffy fellow will be Elijah. You know…he never died. He was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Yes of course I believe that story. It’s in the Bible isn’t it?
Silly question.
Below is an article by Jeremiah Farris about the prophetic word that tells us there will be sacrifices in a rebuilt Jewish temple in the Land of Israel.
Clay Writer
The Jews Will Return to Temple Sacrifices
By Jeremiah Farris
An often over-looked topic in Bible prophecy is the Old Testament Jewish sacrifices and offerings. The bottom line is this: The Jews in the nation of Israel will return to this old traditional practice of sacrifices and offerings in the future. This is a very important prophecy in the Bible that gets little attention in the pulpit, and is not often mentioned in the church. I have been a student of Bible prophecy for so many years, and not until recently the Holy Spirit brought this topic to my mind. I have really begun to study this out in the Bible. This is a future prophecy that has not been fulfilled.
The Old Testament sacrifices obviously were done away with at the new covenant (Christ’s atonement). Christ’s sacrifice dissolved the requirement for animal sacrifices. I am writing this article not to support the return of Old Testament Jewish sacrifices or to condemn the cross of Calvary but to bring attention to the future prophecy of Old Testament sacrifices that have not yet been fulfilled This very issue is a future prophecy in the Bible and it and will be fulfilled. The nation of Israel still has tons of Jews that need to be saved and have not yet surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The nation of Israel and the Jews are God’s chosen people, but sadly a nation of lost people in need of Jesus Christ’s redemption. Over the centuries, some Jews have surrendered to Christ. These Jews are known as Messianic Jews (Christian Jews). It’s always exciting to see Jews become Christians and be a part of the Body of Christ. As of now, there is no traditional practice of Old Testament sacrifices in the nation of Israel.
But if you read Daniel 12:11 from the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. You see in that verse that sacrifices and offerings will have returned as a traditional practice for the nation of Israel
“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week. He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).
I believe that this could possibly make world news when it happens. The world media, and especially the American news media love to report anything and everything they consider sensational and controversial. I also believe it may even become Jewish law again in Israel when the tradition returns. Once the Church is gone, the focus in the Bible moves back to Israel for the final seven years of Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy (Daniel 9:27).
This will be a legalistic, religious practice that does not honor Christ. As mentioned earlier, the new covenant has taken over because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As believers we know that there is no longer any need for Israel and the Jews to return to Old Testament offerings and sacrifices. But the sad reality is that the Bible says this is a prophecy that must be completed, like all others. This will only happen during the first three and a half years. All temple worship will cease and the Antichrist “will put an end to sacrifice.” The Antichrist will have made the tribulation temple desolate, unfit for worship.
“His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action” (Daniel 11:31-31, HCSB).
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).” (Matthew 24:15)
“He opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains)” (Mark 13:14).
The fact is that all Christians need to spread the gospel to the Jews worldwide and love them like Christ does.
End Times Tribulation Watch 
Clay writer, you must learn to read in context. As the writer of Hebrews says, he is speaking about the World to Come (Cf. Hb. 2:5). It is only in the new heaven and the new earth that John sees no Temple (Cf. Rev. 21), and this is after the Lord Jesus returns and reigns for 1,000 years with his resurrected servants (Cf. Rev. 20). There have been no sacrifices since the Temple was destroyed, just as there were no sacrifices when the Jewish people went into exile to Babylon, but when the people are back in the land, they are required to rebuild the Temple of YHWH. And this is precisely what we find in Ezekiel 37 and beyond: The two kingdoms become one, the dead are resurrected, and the Davidic Messiah (Jesus) is king over the united kingdom until the World to Come, and YHWH will put his sanctuary in their midst until the World to Come, until heaven and earth passes away, as Jesus says (Cf. Matthew 5:17-20). If you keep reading Ezekiel from 37 on, you will find the prince himself, the Messiah, will make sacrifices at the third Temple in Jerusalem, a Temple yet to be built. He is not making sacrifices that were done away with. They are not done away with until heaven and earth passes away, as the Lord says. Grace be with you.
Hello Immanuel,
Thanks for reading.
Which context do you feel I am missing? I am a big proponent of contextual understanding. What are you referring to that you think I missed?