Among Believers who look forward to the coming of the 1,000 year reign of our Lord Jesus, the question sometimes arises about sacrifices to be made during that time. The question arises because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, and there is no further need of sacrifice. Yet there appear to be Millennial Kingdom offerings.
One of the most important Holy Days in the coming Kingdom will be the Feast of Harvest. This day marks the beginning of a week of harvest celebration and occurs on Tishri 15, or usually in late September or early October. Zechariah 14:16 tells us that the survivors of the terrible Tribulation will go up to Jerusalem every year to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Harvest.
A few verses earlier in Zechariah, the Return of Jesus is described. I suspect that the day of His Return could be Tishri 15. Jesus will probably end all war and usher in one thousand years of peace on Tishri 15, or the Feast of Harvest. It is natural that this great day will be celebrated annually and that, I believe, is the reason for the annual celebration on the Feast of Harvest described above.
In Ezekiel chapters 40 through 46 a new Temple is described. The word “sacrifice” is used very little in this text. More frequently, the word “offering” is used. Just as we make offerings to the Lord for His use, there may be offerings brought to the Lord during the Kingdom Age. The term “Sacrifice” is used only once in the Zechariah text described above. (Zechariah 14:21)
The prophet Jeremiah, despite the somber tone of his work, tells the Jews that the Lord will make a new covenant with them (Jeremiah 31:31) and there will be great joy in Israel. The prophet speaks of “the voice of joy and the voice of gladness” and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise. (Jeremiah 33:11) This, I believe, will be the purpose of Kingdom sacrifices. They will be sacrifices of praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
There will be sacrifices of praise, but no sacrifices for sin. Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins, once and for all. That sacrifice was made on the same mountain where Abraham offered up Isaac; where the Temple once stood and sacrifices were made to the Lord, and where the Temple will once again stand. Jesus put an end to sacrifices for sin. Praise His Wonderful Name!