Question:
Could you please direct me to the scriptures in the Bible that call for a resumption of Burnt Offerings in the future?
Answer:
In Ezekiel chapters 43-48 it talks about a future temple, and the return of the Lord. Ezekiel 43:18 refers to burnt offerings: “And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, TO OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.”
Also, in the same chapter, verse 27 through chapter 44:2: “And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your BURNT OFFERINGS upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD. Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; BECAUSE THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL, HATH ENTERED IN BY IT, therefore it shall be shut.”
And once again, in 45:17 it says, “And it shall be the prince’s part to give BURNT OFFERINGS, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.”
It is important to note that these offerings do not save people, because animal offerings never saved anyone. Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Those sacrifices were just bringing their sin to remembrance, showing them that they needed a complete sacrifice, once for all. Hebrews 10:3 says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.” Hebrews 10:10 says, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Those sacrifices were a picture of the one and complete sacrifice to come, when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Hebrews 9:25-28 says, “Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” The Old Testament prophets all looked forward to this sacrifice of Christ. Acts 10:42,43 says, “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
Based upon these Scriptures, one might ask the question why sacrifices would be instituted again in Israel. The sacrifices will be part of the kingdom set up of Israel, and will be a picture of what Christ did on the cross. Before, they were a picture of what Christ would do in the future. In the future set up, they will be a picture of remembrance of what Christ already accomplished on the cross. The Old Testament saints looked ahead to what Messiah would do, and we look back to what Christ has already done. For all people of all time, it has always been looking to Christ.
Have you looked to Christ alone to save you? Isaiah 45:21,22 says, “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”