A Journey into the Kingdom

Cameos of the Kingdom Study 4 – “Sacrifice and worship in the Kingdom”

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. The Governing Principles - Ps. 50:23 Heb. za ̂ bach - to sacrifice, offer sacrifice Heb. ka ̂ bad - to make heavy or weighty, to make honourable, honour, glorify Heb. derek - way, road, journey, manner, direction, course of life (figuratively)

7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the heathen (nations) that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Worship Prominent – Ps. 96:7-10 Heb. hadrat qodesh – holy array (RSV). Roth. – “in the adornment of holiness”.

Scriptures on Sacrifice in Kingdom Jer.33:14-18 Jer.33:14-18 – “Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings…and to do sacrifice continually.” Isa.56:6-7 Isa.56:6-7 – “..their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar.” Ps.51:18-19 Ps.51:18-19 – “Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offerings…” Mal.3:1-4 Mal.3:1-4 – “Then shall the offering of Judah… be pleasant unto Yahweh as in days of old.” Isa.60:1,7 Isa.60:1,7 – “All the flocks of Kedar….shall come up with acceptance on mine altar.”

Sacrifices of the Festivals Ezek. 45: The New Year – Ezek. 45: bullock for a sin offering on the 1 st day of Abib (religious year) and Tishri (civil year) Ezek. 45: Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread – Ezek. 45: one bullock for a sin offering on the day of Passover (Prince offers for himself and people) - 7 bullocks and 7 rams as burnt offering for each day of the feast - one kid of the goats as sin offering each day Ezek. 45:25 3.Feast of Tabernacles – Ezek. 45:25 - burnt, sin and meal offerings as for the feast of unleavened bread - meal offerings : an ephah for each bullock, ram. An hin of oil with each ephah.

Type, Antitype, and Memorial Heb.10:12 “Since the above premises clearly indicate that animal sacrifices will be restored, how are we to understand their reinstitution in view of the testimony respecting Him who ‘hath offered one sacrifice for sins for ever’ (Heb.10:12)? The obvious inference is that as under the Mosaic law animal sacrifices pointed forward to the sacrificial Lamb of God’s providing, so, in the age to come, animal sacrifices will point backward to that same provision for taking away sin. As in the former case animal sacrifices could never in themselves ‘take away sins,’ so also in the latter.” Bro. H. Sulley – The Temple of Ezekiel’s Prophecy pgs.58-59

Why Sacrifice in the Kingdom Age? Gen.15:5-10,17-18  The Abrahamic covenant was initially confirmed by sacrifice of animals (Gen.15:5-10,17-18). 1 Cor. 11:24-26  Today the memorials of bread and wine “do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor. 11:24-26). Ezek.45:15  Shedding of animal blood in future will commemorate the sacrifice of Christ and bring its principles into focus (Cp. Ezek.45:15). 1 Tim.2:5-6 Heb.10:12,14  This is proven by the statement that animal sacrifices “make reconciliation” for the people. There is only “one mediator between God and men” and that is Christ (1 Tim.2:5-6), and only one sacrifice for sins (Heb.10:12,14).

But Why Shedding of Blood? Isa.65:20  Death is greatly curtailed in the Kingdom. A man dying aged 100 will be considered a child (Isa.65:20).  Men living for hundreds of years without sickness and disease may lose sight of their mortality. Gen.3:21  Like Adam and Eve in the garden they will need to see the death of an animal to know what mortality really means (Gen.3:21).  Hence, the sacrificial arrangements in the Temple are set up to ensure that shed blood is everywhere evident as a graphic reminder of every mortal man’s need for redemption.

“Walk about Zion and go round about her” Ezek.46:9 Ezek.47:5 Isa.26:9 “Now we have seen that all who enter the Temple must leave it on the opposite side – those entering on the the north passing out at the south, and vice versa (Ezek.46:9). From considerations hereafter mentioned, all worshippers reach the Temple from the south; and since they cannot pass the sanctuary on the eastern side (Ezek.47:5), all must, of necessity, pass the burning refuse on the western side, either in going to the Temple or in returning therefrom. Hence when the judgements of the Lord ‘are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.’ (Isa.26:9)” Bro. H. Sulley – The Temple of Ezekiel’s Prophecy pg.81

Evidence of Mortality in the Kingdom Ezek. 44:1-3 The Prince’s access – Gates shut to mortal access – Ezek. 44:1-3 Dump Saints portion of Land – Limited access to north Ezek. 39:11 Levites’ portion To Yahweh Shammah Isa. 66:24 “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me…and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” – Isa. 66:24 Death Bodies and refuse Ezek. 46:9 A law of the House – “…he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.” – Ezek. 46:9 Waters of swimming

Arriving at the Northern Gates  Waters crossed  Arrive with sacrifice  Met by mortal Levite  Sacrifice made at slaying block  Sacrifice taken into house

Ingress and Egress to the House Slaying blocks 7 (covenant) steps Tables for preparing sacrifices

Sacrifice at the North Gate  Worshippers arrive at north gate – met by Levites  Sacrifices made and prepared  Levites carry parts of sacrifice to various places  Worshippers share a fellowship meal Levites meet worshippers here Slaying blocks Tables for preparation of sacrifices in porch on both sides Cellae on pavement Outer Court Inner Court Levites change their garments here

Worshippers in Outer Court

The Altar Ezek. 40:47 “So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.” – Ezek. 40:47 pa ̂ neh – face; i.e. in the presence of

The Sacrifices Consumed Isaiah 33:14 Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? – Isaiah 33:14 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. (2 Chron. 7:1)

Where the Prince worships Ezekiel 46:1-3 The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening. Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons. The Prince worships here The people gather here

The Outer Court on the East

The Prince’s Court Luke 12:35-40; 22:18 The eastern court with its two rows of cellae is the palace of the Prince where he resides in the House. Here also he dines with the saints in the upper galleries of the outer range (Luke 12:35-40; 22:18). The Prince worships here East The Prince resides here Sacrifices for the Prince prepared here Gates shut Mt. Zion

The Prince Worships By the post of the Inner Court gate on the east where he can be seen by the people The people gather here to watch the Prince worship Ps. 116:9; 12-15; 17-19

A day in the life of a mortal worshipper  Arrives at the House of Prayer via the western side, passing by the dump.  Crosses the river on the north side.  Met by a Levite and makes a sacrifice at the slaying blocks at the north gate.  Accompanies the Levite into the House and watches the sacrifice prepared and distributed.  Spends some time mingling with others on the Outer Court pavement absorbing the experience.  Moves inwards through one of the gates of the Inner Court to the Separate Place and stands astonished at the grandeur of the Sanctuary.

A Day in the Life …..continued  Met by Levite and ascends the steps of the inner temple to stand before one of the saints sitting to judge and counsel mortals.  Returns to the Separate Place and moves to the eastern court to observe the Prince worshipping.  Walks about Zion passing through the southern court outer cellae to the western upper cellae.  Shares a fellowship meal with many others.  Returns to the Inner Court to pray and listen to the saints in the chambers of the singers.  Stands awestruck as the day’s sacrifices are accepted and departs through the south gate.

Itinerary of a day in the House Arrives at the river on the north side, crosses and makes sacrifice at the north gate. Enters the gate and passes through the Outer Court to the Inner Court and judgement. Moves to witness the Prince worship at the post of the east gate. Walks about Zion to the western court where dines in a fellowship meal. Moves to the Inner Court to hear the saints singing in the chambers of the singers. Reluctantly moves to Outer Court and leaves via the south gate for Yahweh Shammah. “Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.” – Ps. 48:12-13

The Chambers of the Singers  With three upper galleries the building will accommodate hundreds of thousands at one time.  The praises sung in this temple will be one of the highlights of the services held regularly in the House of Prayer for all nations.

The Glory Returns to the House Christ and Saints Ezek. 43:1-7 Ps. 65:1-2 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

Final Study (God willing) – “The End – God all in all”

Design of the Altar “Horn” (6 cubits) Harel – “Mountain of El” Water Ariel – “The Lion of El” “Bosom” or curved back of the Altar Smaller or Lesser Court Larger or Lower Court (8 cu.) 4 cu. Border (1/2 cu.)