The millennium kingdom refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ described in Revelation 20:1-6. During this time, Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem in righteousness and peace. An important question is whether animal sacrifices will resume in the millennium temple prophesied in Ezekiel 40-48.
There are good arguments on both sides of this issue. Some believe animal sacrifices will be reinstituted as a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice. Others argue that with Christ’s once-for-all atonement, animal sacrifices are no longer necessary. There are also differences of opinion about whether Ezekiel’s vision refers to a literal millennium temple or not. This article will survey the main biblical evidence and scholarly views on this debated topic.
Old Testament Background
In the Old Testament, God instituted an elaborate sacrificial system for Israel to make atonement for sins (Leviticus 1-7). The blood of animal sacrifices pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross (Hebrews 10:1-4). Some of the key features of the Mosaic sacrificial system include:
- Mandatory sacrifices for sin offerings, burnt offerings, guilt offerings, fellowship offerings, etc. (Leviticus 1-5)
- Sacrifices performed by Aaronic priests descended from Moses’ brother Aaron (Exodus 28:1)
- Ceremonial washing and cleansing rituals (Leviticus 8:6, Exodus 30:17-21)
- Sacrifices performed at the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 12:5-7)
This sacrificial system was an integral part of Israel’s worship. But the prophets also looked forward to a time when sacrifices would no longer be needed (Psalm 51:16-17, Hosea 6:6). The New Testament teaches that Jesus’ death fulfilled and superseded the Mosaic sacrificial system (Hebrews 7:27, 9:11-14, 10:1-18).
Views Supporting Millennial Sacrifices
Those who believe animal sacrifices will be offered in the millennium point to several lines of biblical evidence:
1. Ezekiel’s Vision of Millennial Temple Sacrifices
In Ezekiel 40-46, the prophet describes a future temple in great detail. Special attention is given to the sacrificial system, altar, priests, prince, and temple ceremonies. If this is interpreted as a literal millennial temple, it strongly indicates animal sacrifices will occur during the millennium. Specific details include:
- “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened.” (Ezekiel 46:1)
- “The prince is to be among them, going in when they go in and going out when they go out.” (Ezekiel 46:10)
- “When the prince provides a freewill offering to the Lord…the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He shall offer his burnt offering or fellowship offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out, the gate will be shut.” (Ezekiel 46:12)
If this passage describes a literal millennium temple, the mention of priests, offerings, Sabbaths and new moon celebrations implies animal sacrifices will occur at appointed times.
2. Unfulfilled Old Testament Prophecies
Some prophecies about worship at the temple were never fulfilled historically. Their fulfillment awaits the millennium, according to this view. For example:
- “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.” (Ezekiel 37:26)
- “I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7)
These prophecies mention peace in God’s sanctuary, burnt offerings, and Jerusalem as a center of worship for all nations. Since they await future fulfillment, millennial sacrifices could accomplish this.
3. Memories and Memorials
Even though Christ fulfilled the sacrificial system, some argue that millennial sacrifices will serve as a memorial for Christ’s work on the cross. Just as communion remembers Jesus’ death today, millennial sacrifices will remember his sacrifice in the past:
- “You shall thus celebrate it as a permanent statute for yourselves: a statute forever.” (Exodus 12:14)
- “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)
So while no longer efficacious for cleansing sin, millennial sacrifices memorialize the cross and teach truth to millennial believers.
4. Necessary for Millennial Worship
Another view is that millennial sacrifices are needed because of the unique conditions on earth. Critics argue:
- Christ’s sacrificial work is perfectly sufficient.
- But millennial believers will still be in earthly bodies, not glorified like New Jerusalem inhabitants.
- Earthly believers need vivid object lessons due to the lingering influence of sin.
- Animal sacrifices effectively teach about Christ’s sacrifice and God’s holiness.
So millennial sacrifices remain efficacious due to the believer’s context, not any lack in Christ’s work.
Views Opposing Millennial Sacrifices
While some interpret Ezekiel’s temple vision literally, others see it as figurative or symbolic. Critics of millennial sacrifices offer several counterarguments:
1. Christ’s Sacrifice Made Animal Sacrifices Obsolete
The New Testament teaches that Christ’s sacrifice superseded and fulfilled the Mosaic sacrificial system, making continued animal sacrifices unnecessary:
- “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:11-12)
- “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4)
- “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14)
Given these definitive statements, why would animal sacrifices resume when they are declared obsolete, unnecessary and imperfect?
2. Ezekiel’s Temple in the Age of Grace
Some interpret Ezekiel 40-48 as a symbolic picture of the age of grace and the Christian church. For example, parallels include:
- Living water flows from temple (Ezekiel 47:1, John 4:14)
- Temple open to all nations (Ezekiel 47:22, Ephesians 2:11-22)
- Healing leaves to the nations (Ezekiel 47:12, Revelation 22:2)
- Twelve tribes and apostles (Ezekiel 48:1, Revelation 21:12,14)
If Ezekiel is using the literal temple to symbolically depict spiritual realities about the church age, it does not require a literal millennial fulfillment with sacrifices.
3. Problem of Mixed Covenants
Opponents also argue it is theologically untenable to mix aspects of the New Covenant in Christ with rituals of the now-obsolete Old Covenant:
- “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete.” (Hebrews 8:13)
- “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” (Hebrews 8:7)
Mixing covenants compromises the definitive nature of the New Covenant established by Christ’s sacrifice once for all.
4. Figurative Interpretation of Prophecies
Prophecies about temple worship and sacrifices can be interpreted figuratively or symbolically in light of New Testament teaching:
- Isaiah 2: Temple = Church (1 Peter 2:5)
- Isaiah 56: House of Prayer = Church (Matthew 21:13)
- Isaiah 60: Glory of Nations = New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:24)
So prophecies about worship need not imply a literal temple and sacrifices.
Conclusion
There are good arguments on both sides regarding millennial sacrifices. Those who interpret Ezekiel’s temple vision literally believe animal sacrifices will resume as a memorial and necessary concession to mortal believers. Critics argue this mixture of covenants disregards the definitive nature of Christ’s once-for-all atonement. Other prophecies can be interpreted symbolically or fulfilled by the church age. While details are debatable, all agree that even if millennial sacrifices occur, the glory always remains with the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:12-13).