Hi BibleGuy,
I think this may be better for another thread as it is a bit sidetracked from the OP here. If you start up another thread send me a link I will be happy to comment. Although could I ask for some clarification here?
When you say that the priestly/Levitical/sacrificial is to be restored are you talking about offering animal sacrifices and sin offereings here on earth? Wouldn't this make a mockery of the work that Jesus has done already on our behalf as our sacrifice for sin?
How do your thoughts above fit in with the NEW Covenant and their fulfillment in Christ and his Heavenly priesthood and sacrifice discussed in Hebrews Chapters 4-13 to which the earthly priestly/Levitical/sacrificial pointed to?
Also did you know God's people already go through their captivity with the curses from Deuteronomy 30 with captivity from other nations (Balylon, Medes and Persians, Greece, Roman empires) leading to the fullfillment in Jesus?
Anyhow thanks for your advice in case I have a wrong understanding on what you are saying.
May God bless you as you study his Word.
Hello LoveGodForever,
Thank you, dear brother, for answering. Yes, maybe I should just start another thread on this issue of priestly/Levitical/sacrificial laws.
But, I suppose I'll go ahead and answer the few questions you asked me here. (other readers feel free to disregard this side-chat!)
You asked: "When you say that the priestly/Levitical/sacrificial is to be restored are you talking about offering animal sacrifices and sin offereings here on earth?"
My response: Yes. The force of the many Scriptural considerations I set forth seems to strongly suggest that animal sacrifices will indeed (and should indeed) occur again in the future, as a good thing.
You wrote: "Wouldn't this make a mockery of the work that Jesus has done already on our behalf as our sacrifice for sin?"
My response: Surely not. Paul condoned participation in New-Covenant-era sacrificial activity (Ac. 21).
And, Heb. 8:13 confirms the Old Covenant has not yet passed away (as I showed in previous post).
And, the prophets confirm that animal sacrifices will again occur in the future (as I showed in previous post).
And, Col. 2 confirms that there is an ONGOING SHADOW FUNCTION of Sabbath Torah (which, of course, includes sacrificial elements as outlined in the Torah itself), as I showed in the previous post.
So, just as animal sacrifices (prior to the crucifixion) pointed to the need for the forthcoming ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah, so too shall future animal sacrifices point back to the ongoing need to recognize the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah.
The shadow functioned before the crucifixion. Prophecy guarantees it will also function in the future.
So, I see no reason to suppose that future animal sacrifices will make a mockery of anything. Indeed, they strongly point to the need for ultimate sacrifice in Jesus. That's surely one reason why the antichrist HATES the animal sacrifices. No surprise, then, to see that the antichrist will STOP animal sacrifices when he emerges onto the global stage.
(And, if animal sacrifices were really so bad, then wouldn’t the antichrist want them to continue? Just saying…)
The first century disciples had no such belief (i.e., they did not believe that sacrifices make a mockery of anything), but they rather continued on with great zeal as they discerned that the Messiah had come as the ultimate sacrifice to which the ongoing animal sacrifices continued to point.
You asked: "How do your thoughts above fit in with the NEW Covenant and their fulfillment in Christ and his Heavenly priesthood and sacrifice discussed in Hebrews Chapters 4-13 to which the earthly priestly/Levitical/sacrificial pointed to?"
My response: Not sure you really want me to give an exposition of 10 chapters of Hebrews! But remember, Heb. 8:13 confirms that the Old Covenant was READY (but had not yet) passed away as of the New-Covenant-era time of the writing of the book of Hebrews. Therefore, the animal sacrifices MUST be consistent and harmonious with the New Covenant.
And, the New Covenant consists (among other things) of TORAH being written upon our hearts (Jer. 31; Heb. 8; Heb. 10). But Torah includes animal sacrifice laws. So again, we find consistency between New Covenant and sacrificial Torah.
Perhaps you could specify which passage in Hebrews 4 to Hebrews 13 that concerns you?
You wrote: "Also did you know God's people already go through their captivity with the curses from Deuteronomy 30 with captivity from other nations (Balylon, Medes and Persians, Greece, Roman empires) leading to the fullfillment in Jesus?"
My response: The house of Judah returned from Babylon back to Israel. Much of the house of Israel has still not yet returned. Jesus was still seeking the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And a 100% return of all Israelites to the land of Israel has still not yet occurred since the time of Jesus.
Therefore: Dt. 30:1-8 is NOT yet fulfilled. It follows that 100% of Torah (per Dt. 30:1-8) will be again obeyed in the FUTURE, when all of us Israelites finally return to the land of Israel in fulfillment of the many prophecies which guarantee this return. (1948 was NOT the fulfillment of all these prophecies!)
You wrote: "Anyhow thanks for your advice in case I have a wrong understanding on what you are saying."
My response: You're welcome. I'm glad to see your enthusiasm regarding obedience to Torah portions which many of our Christian brethren do not obey. However, I was concerned that you have not discerned that even the animal sacrifices shall be restored and upheld as law for all Israel (in which we are included!) And, I wanted to make sure you do not oppose the very Torah which our Messiah comes to restore (per Mal. 3).
Also, I don't know if you have ever heard of Ellen White. But I have searched her writings and have confirmed that she has repeatedly opposed the idea that animal sacrifices can/should/will be restored in the future. So, I wanted to show you, too, that she had evidently not understood this important Scriptural consideration. And, her opposition to it has caused me to reject the notion that she was a prophetess. That's one reason why I do not consider her to be a good source of information.
Incidentally, this has forced me to reject SDA theology, since SDA Fundamental Belief #28 claims that White speaks with prophetic authority to comfort, guide, instruct, and correct the church.
Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there too (sorry if I'm stepping on too many toes out there!)
Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong at any point…after all, we’re all learning together, growing in love, grace, and knowledge all the while.
blessings to you, my dear brother.
David