An Absurdity
However, it is absurd to say that such an object lesson or memorial will be needed. As we shall see, Scripture declares such a thing to be "useless". Premillennialists of all persuasions believe that Jesus Christ Himself, the full and final Sacrifice for sins, will be present on earth in Jerusalem, reigning during the millennium, His wounds on display to the entire world. It would be an insult to Christ to reinstitute the bloody type in the presence of the once-for-all Fulfillment.
Furthermore,
Ezekiel 43 speaks of these sacrifices not as memorials, but in the same terms by which they were spoken of in the Pentateuch, as
offerings for sin (verses 19, 21, 22, 25), the means of
purifying the altar (26), and
the basis of acceptance (27). This is very clearly Old Covenant, pre-Cross language.
Even the ordinance of the New Covenant, the Lord's Supper, is for the purpose of proclaiming "the Lord's death
till He comes" (
1 Corinthians 11:26, Acts 1:11). When Christ is once more visibly present, no such bloodless memorial - much less the bloody sacrifice of bulls and goats - will be needed.
The New Testament Interprets the Old
Dear Christian friend, regardless of your position on eschatology, you must always remember one thing as you look at Old Testament prophecy: The New Testament is God the Holy Spirit's commentary on the Old Testament. In the books of Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and especially in the book of Hebrews, we find this central fact bannered before us:
All of the Old Testament ceremonial system was done away, forever, by the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.