Understanding Animal Sacrifice in the Book of Revelation’s Context

Many readers exploring biblical prophecy inquire about Animal Sacrifice In The Book Of Revelation. While the book is rich with symbolism, including altars and the ultimate sacrifice of Christ as the Lamb of God, it doesn’t explicitly detail the resumption of Mosaic-style animal sacrifices. Instead, the concept of future animal sacrifices connects Revelation’s mention of the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6) to detailed prophecies found primarily in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel. These sacrifices, foreseen for the 1,000-year reign of Christ on Earth, serve a specific theological purpose.

Does Revelation Describe Animal Sacrifices?

The Book of Revelation uses sacrificial language and imagery, but not in the context of prescribing renewed animal offerings. Key elements include:

• The Lamb of God: Jesus Christ is central to Revelation, frequently referred to as the “Lamb who was slain” (Revelation 5:6, 12; 13:8), signifying His perfect and final sacrifice for sin.
• Altars: Revelation mentions altars in heaven (Revelation 6:9, 8:3-5, 9:13, 16:7) and a temple (Revelation 11:1), often in relation to the prayers of saints, incense, or divine judgment, rather than animal sacrifices being performed during the Tribulation events it depicts.
• Martyrdom: The souls under the altar (Revelation 6:9) represent martyrs, whose deaths are portrayed as a form of sacrifice or witness.

While Revelation sets the eschatological timeline, including the future millennial kingdom, it directs us elsewhere for specifics on temple worship during that era.

The Millennial Kingdom Connection: Revelation 20 and Ezekiel’s Prophecies

Revelation 20:4-6 describes a 1,000-year period where Christ reigns on Earth with His saints. While Revelation establishes this future kingdom, the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel provides extensive details about the temple and its services during this specific time. Ezekiel chapters 40-48 describe a future temple in Jerusalem where specific sacrifices, reminiscent of the Old Testament Law, will be reinstated.

Scripture indicates these sacrifices will occur during the millennium:

In the porch of the gate were two tables on each side, on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering. Ezekiel 40:39 (NASB)

“. . . and one sheep from each flock of two hundred from the watering places of Israel — for a grain offering, for a burnt offering and for peace offerings, to make atonement for them,” declares the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 45:15 (NASB)

“It shall be the prince’s part to provide the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the drink offerings, at the feasts, on the new moons and on the sabbaths, at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel; he shall provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 45:17 (NASB)

These passages clearly show that various offerings mirroring the Mosaic system will be part of worship in the millennial temple.

What Sacrifices Will Be Offered?

The sacrifices described in Ezekiel for the millennial kingdom align closely with those mandated under the Law of Moses (Leviticus 1-7, 23). These include:

• Burnt Offering: (Leviticus 1; Ezekiel 40:38-42, 43:18-27, etc.) – Symbolizing atonement and complete dedication.
• Grain Offering: (Leviticus 2; Ezekiel 42:13, 44:29, etc.) – Representing dedication of one’s life and substance.
• Peace Offering: (Leviticus 3; Ezekiel 43:27, 45:15-17, etc.) – Signifying fellowship and reconciliation with God.
• Sin Offering: (Leviticus 4; Ezekiel 40:39, 42:13, etc.) – Addressing specific, unintentional sins.
• Guilt Offering: (Leviticus 5-6; Ezekiel 40:39, 42:13, etc.) – For sins requiring restitution.
• Drink Offering: (Leviticus 23:13; Ezekiel 45:17) – Often accompanying other sacrifices, symbolizing joy and devotion.

These offerings, performed in the future temple described by Ezekiel, will be a central part of worship during Christ’s earthly reign.

Symbolic depiction of sacrifice connecting Old Testament rituals to future millennial memorials prophesied in Ezekiel

The Purpose of Future Sacrifices: A Memorial

Why would animal sacrifices return after Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross? The theological understanding is that these millennial sacrifices will not be offered for salvation or atonement in the way they were before Christ. Hebrews 10 makes clear that Christ’s sacrifice was once for all time.

Instead, these future sacrifices will serve as powerful, tangible memorials, reminding people during the millennium of the basis of their peace and relationship with God: the vicarious atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. Much like the Lord’s Supper (Communion) serves as a memorial for believers today (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:24-26), the millennial sacrifices will continually point back to the finished work of the Lamb of God. Each type of sacrifice symbolically highlights a different facet of Christ’s work:

• Burnt Offering: Reminds of Christ’s sinless perfection and substitutionary death (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 3:18).
• Grain Offering: Reminds of Christ’s perfect life and voluntary submission to the Father’s will (Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 10:8-10).
• Peace Offering: Reminds of the reconciliation and peace believers have with God through Christ (Romans 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:18).
• Sin Offering: Reminds of Christ being the propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2).
• Guilt Offering: Reminds of Christ redeeming us from sin’s penalty and power (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:6).
• Drink Offering: Reminds of Christ pouring out His life for us (Philippians 2:17).

Conclusion

In summary, while the keyword Animal Sacrifice In The Book Of Revelation might prompt investigation, Revelation itself does not detail these practices. It sets the prophetic stage by mentioning the millennial kingdom. The specifics of the sacrifices during this 1,000-year reign are detailed in Ezekiel 40-48. These sacrifices will function not for achieving atonement, but as divinely appointed memorials, constantly directing the inhabitants of the millennial earth back to the infinite value and sufficiency of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This period will also see the celebration of feasts like Passover, Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Booths (Ezekiel 45:21-25; Zechariah 14:16), further centering worship on Christ’s redemptive work and His righteous reign.

Suggested Links:

Why do the sacrifices return in Ezekiel’s temple?
Levitical Sacrificial Offerings
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