We do offer sacrifices today. Every day. And that Altar that we offer our sacrifices on is in HEAVEN. Please read the following carefully:
The prophet Isaiah foresaw the Sabbath reform in New Covenant age:
The work of Sabbath reform to be accomplished in the last days is foretold in the prophecy of Isaiah:
"(1) Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. (2) Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. (3) Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. (4) For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; (5) Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. (6) Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; (7) Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isaiah 56:1-7.
These words apply in the Christian age, as shown by the context:
"(8 ) The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him."
Here is foreshadowed the gathering in of the Gentiles by the gospel. And upon those who then honor the Sabbath, a blessing is pronounced. Thus the obligation of the fourth commandment extends past the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, to the time when His servants should preach to all nations the message of glad tidings.
There have been some who have tried to pervert this prophecy by declaring that the reason Isaiah 56 cannot be foretelling of Sabbath keeping in the New Covenant is because verse 7 states: "their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar." In other words, since Christians will not be sacrificing or presenting burnt offerings in the New Covenant, this "cannot mean that gentiles will be keeping the Sabbath in the New Covenant age" according to the argument.
However, this argument will prove hopelessly astray in light of the fact that, yes, Christians today are still to bring their offerings and sacrifices before God in the New Covenant age.
First off, there was no "gathering" of any gentiles or "outcasts" until the time of reformation when Jesus came as the Messiah and the disciples turned to the gentiles. See John 11:52; Matthew 3:9; Acts 13:46-48; Ephesians 2; 1 Peter 1:1; 2:9,10.
Second, verse 7 of the same chapter in Isaiah says that these Christians will be brought to "my holy mountain". Paul tells Christians who are living by faith that they "are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." (Heb 12:22)
We also see how Isaiah 56:7 meets its antitype in the following New Testament passages:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6)
"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
"And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 12:33)
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." (Hebrews 13:15,16)
"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." (Ephesians 2:5)
"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:24)
And concerning the sprinkling of blood we find:
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10:22)
We see this reality also being fulfilled in Hebrews 10 pertaining how the ceremonial services of burnt offerings and sacrifices were abolished, and replaced by spiritual sacrifices in Christ Jesus. Another good example might be that when we “die daily” (1 Cor 15:31), we are fulfilling the antitypical reality of these prophecies in Isaiah 56. We are presenting our bodies a living sacrifice before Christ our High Priest who intercedes before us, and crucifying our desires to sin. And this includes sacrificing our our desires to do as we please, or performing whatever duties we desire during those sacred hours for which God sanctified at creation, the Holy Sabbath day. May we not be deceived by thinking that this is a form of "works" or "legalism", or any form of "bondage". Physically keeping the Sabbath is NO different than the physical keeping of honoring your parents and not committing adultery. The Sabbath was meant to be a delight, because God KNEW we as humans needed this quality time with Him.
Let us not "wilfully" transgress that which we know to be right.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." (Hebrews 10:26)
Hebrews 10:26 perspeciously demonstrates that when we wilfully go out of our way to trample God's law, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. This means that Christ cannot mediate or atone for a sin that is not repented of and forsaken--it means He cannot atone for that which we choose to deny as sin!
Let us not choose to trample and chisel out one of God's divine and royal 10 commandments for which are engraved on the Heavenly tables in God's Temple!
We see therefore that this Old Testament prophecy pointing to the New Covenant Age when the Gentiles will be keeping the Sabbath Holy from polluting it, is sure! The truth of the Sabbath message has been greatly spread and will continue to spread throughout the globe ever since the precious rays of light were discovered in the New World beginning with the grand awakening of the Blessed Hope in the 1830s and 40s, and we can see this prophecy fulfilling before our very eyes as many Christians feel convicted by the Holy Spirit to keep it Holy and proclaim its sacred truth more fully--as to what it REALLY means to keep the Sabbath! Not legalistically like the Jewish Pharisees in the faulty Old Covenant spirit which was based on works and poor promises, but in the New Covenant experience based on faith!
We are now to live in accord with the ORIGINAL and BETTER Testament in heaven for which Christ has made a "surety" of! (Hebrews 7:22). This IS the Tables of the Testimony in Heaven!!! Oh how I urge the reader from the bottom of my heart to take a hold of this sacred present-truth!
It's time to WAKE UP and quit making excuses to desecrate God's Holy Sabbath Day! Enough is enough!
