I was asked a question regarding sacrifices and offerings in heaven. We are told in some places that there will be sacrifices and offerings in heaven. And for this reason some verses in the bible cannot take place in heaven. But let us look carefully at what they really are:
Offer the Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving on Sabbaths and New Moons
The Jewish temple services were to pass away at the cross. Some say that this includes all of the Father’s appointed times. However, let’s consider the following regarding offerings and sacrifices. Our Father in heaven still desires sacrifices.
Heb 13:15 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.
In fact He has only ever desired these types of sacrifices.
Psa_51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Did this type of offering and sacrifice of praise and thanks cease at the cross? I think not since this is a quote from the New Testament. Paul said these kinds of offerings and sacrifices are to be made “continually”. What does the bible say about these offerings of “praise” and “thanks” in the Old Tstament? Were we to make them?
1 Chronicles 23:30-32 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; (31) And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: (32) And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.
Thank and praise offerings in the Old Testament, mornings and evenings (Daily), as well as on the sabbaths (weekly), new moons (monthly), and set feasts (annually). And it appears that these were to maintain “order” and “charge” in the temple or church, and to be done “continually before the LORD”.
Will we be doing anything like that in the New Heaven and Earth?
Isaiah 66:22-23 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
All of the sacrifices and offerings are to be fulfilled in type after 31 AD. We read in Daniel 9:27.
Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease…
Now, we read in Ezekiel 46 regarding the New Moons that a gate is open where we can see “The inner court” on Sabbaths and New Moons:
Eze 46:1 Thus saith the Lord GOD; 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.
The gates are open only on the Sabbath and on the New Moons. They are closed during the 6 working days, and all other days of the month. A new moon in scripture means beginning of the month. (Num 10:10) In the context of the verse we are told about sacrifices and offerings. But lets read some commentary on this verse to see what kind of offerings are offered:
“The temple of God is opened in heaven…[Eze 46:1] Then we shall have spiritual eyesight to discern the inner courts [Eze 46:1] of the celestial temple. We shall catch the themes of song and thanksgiving of the heavenly choir round about the throne…There they will assemble in the sanctuary from Sabbath to Sabbath, from one new moon to another [Isa 66:22, 23], to unite in loftiest strains of song, in praise and thanksgiving [Heb 13:15]to Him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever. [Rev 22:1, 2]” (Ellen White 6T 369)[Bible References Added]
The context of Ezekiel 46:1 refers to offerings, but here we are told we would come to “offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving”(Heb 13:15) Revelation 22 is also referenced here which refers to coming to the throne each month. It is very easy to know what kind of offerings our Lord wants.
Revelation 22:1, 2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Eze 47:12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
And the tree of life will only be in heaven. Therefore these celebrations will take place on new moons in the new heaven and earth. The gates will not be open every day of the month.
Assemblies in Heaven and Sacrifices
I understand that the assemblies of New Moons (Num 10:2,3, 10) Don’t cease at the cross. The fruit will grow at “the beginning of your months” (Numbers 10:10) There we will “assemble” (Numbers 10:2, 3) at the blowing of the “silver trumpet.” (Num 10:2, 3, 10) every New moon at “the throne of God and of the lamb”. (Revelation 22:1)
For instance in Hebrews 10 we read of the sacrifices and how they shadowed forth to the cross. Then in verse 25 we read “not to forsake the assembling of yourselves together.” (Heb 10:25) In heaven we will “assemble” from new moon to new moon. So those assemblies were not types to pass away at the cross as many are trying to use Colossians 2:14-16 to teach.
1Co 5:7 … For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast,
Assembly – Still kept. (See Col 2:16)
Sacrifice – Nailed to cross. (See Col 2:14)
When you read Numbers 28:9, 10 it says:
Num 28:9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
Num 28:10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
Assembly – Still kept. (See Col 2:16)
Sacrifice – Nailed to cross. (See Col 2:14)
Num 28:11 And in the beginnings of your months(new Moons) ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
Assembly – Still kept. (See Col 2:16)
Sacrifice – Nailed to cross. (See Col 2:14)
Now this is a very simple, we just don’t change the rules from verse to verse and everything makes perfect sense. Ezekiel 46:1 is definitely referring to the time in heaven when we will offer the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Sacrifice – Nailed to cross. (See Col 2:14)
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Assembly – Still kept. (See Col 2:16)
Now try drawing out a calendar on a piece of paper, and on each day of the month and go through it and write what days the gates will be open in heaven so that we might discern the inner courts. (Eze 46:1, 6T 369) The New Moon is the beginning of each month when we come to take of the new fruit or firstfruits symbolically partaking of the life of Christ by what he did on the cross. An eternal memorial every month or new moon and Sabbath for eternity.
