Tough Question 10-- Jesus' Return and Animal Sacrifices

Tough Questions for Christians #10—Animal Sacrifices after Jesus’ Return
Tough Question 10

So AZ is reading his Bible again! This time, it’s Ezekiel 41-48, where the battle of Gog and Magog happens and the Temple is rebuilt. Most interpreters see this as being the battle of Armageddon, and the temple rebuilt describes animal sacrifices and sin sacrifices being instated. So why have them if Jesus’ death is sufficient?

This is another excellent question, and my answer has a few points:

First, Jesus’ death is the reality, animal sacrifices are the example. This doesn’t say anything against making sacrifices. In fact, James told Paul that he needed to do an animal sacrifice, and Paul willingly agreed—Acts 21:18-26. Animal sacrifices as a gift of thanks to God makes a lot of sense, and is a good form of worship, as well as an excellent opportunity for a BBQ!

Second, there is some question as to the placement of the Gog and Magog battle. Is it after the 1000 year reign of Jesus as Revelation places it? Is it the battle of Armageddon? I’m not worried about that. But from Ezekiel’s perspective, in looking at history as we do, he would probably see Herod’s refurbishment of the temple as fulfillment of his prophecies about the temple. Ezekiel is seeing the temple in heaven and measuring it as a standard for the temple on earth. Those measurements were supposedly used by the rebuilders of the temple in the first century, and so Ezekiel would see that as being fulfilled then. How that relates to Gog and Magog is questionable, and those who study prophecy know that prophecies are always fulfilled in general terms, but the connections between the texts aren’t usually fulfilled.

I want to talk about the nature of prophecy here as well, but I think I’ll hold off for another time.