Question: In view of the finished work of Christ, is it possible that real animal sacrifices will be offered by the Jews in the Millennium? What possible need would there be for these sacrifices?
Response: It is asked, "If all these things are merely meanings and symbols, why does the Lord then institute it at the end of time again?" Well, there are a number of things the Lord is reemphasizing. For example, there will be literal blood sacrifices performed by the Jews during the time of the Millennium (see Ezekiel 40-48). Please bear in mind that the Lord is faithful to fulfill everything, and He overlooks nothing. There is a purpose in view here. We need to understand it, regardless of what it does to our preconceived ideas and theology.
Regarding the Millennial temple of the Jews, they will not be offering sacrifices for their sins; the sacrifices they offer will be a memorial for what the Lord has done. This will apparently be a requirement for the Jews alone. Just as the church has been given communion so that "as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor:11:26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.), so the Jews will perform an ordinance that will continue to remind them of what Christ has done, but only during the Millennium.
While this act will not have the same significance for Gentile believers, consider how much meaning this will have to Jewish people, in view of their past failure to keep the law. Being consistent, do we then insist that these blood sacrifices continue without end, as the language in which they are couched parallels those verses speaking of the Sabbath in the Millennium? Certainly not!
As many have pointed out, the references to keeping the Sabbath in the New Testament are limited to Jewish observances. We pointed to the clear witness of Acts 20, which has consequently been attacked by those to whom its witness is not convenient.
