Millennial Temple Worship – Part 3

The book of Ezekiel describes a future Temple its makeup and service with great detail. Ezekiel was trained as a priest before his freedom was taken and Jerusalem trodden down, her inhabitants taken captive. God commissioned Ezekiel as a prophet, a spokesman for God, so he served that commission in the Babylonian exile with a unique priestly perspective. Ezekiel is called "the father of Judaism" because of his influence on worship without the Temple. It was however, Ezekiel and the heart of the Israelites who looked forward to fellowship with the Lord through worship in the Temple. It was Ezekiel who prophesied the method of worship for the millennial Temple. Worship that is significantly different than that prescribed for Mosiac Temple worship. This final article describes worship for Ezekiel's final chapters. Worship In the period before the Mosiac Law, worship was primarily a spontaneous act involving individuals like Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:3-4), Noah (Gen. 8:20), Abraham (Gen. 22:5), Isaac (Gen. 26:23-25) and Jacob (Gen. 35:1-7). Worship involved a blood sacrifice, a right heart, and devotion to the One True God. It involved the killing of an animal, no doubt reflecting the act of the Lord who provided a covering for Adam and Eve whose disobedient act brought sin to the human race through the fall. The bloody act reflecting the death that resulted from the fall and a sober reflection of a holy, just, yet merciful God. A God who so loved the world that He provided a way for mankind to call it like it is – a way for sinful mankind to come before a holy, just God to confess the greatness of God and the sinfulness of self. To confess – to call it like it is! Worship always involves God's word and acknowledging the truth of who He is – the Creator of the all things. He has so graciously written down His word for us to know, His word that pierces our hearts resulting in praise and song as we recognize how great and awesome a God He is. As we acknowledge for His works, provision and goodness to His creation. The Hebrew word for worship is the verb shachah meaning "to bow down." The idea is one of reverence as one comes into the presence of the holy God who is the omnipotent creator of the universe. The psalmist puts millennial worship into perspective when he writes: Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! 2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. 3 Say to God, "How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. 4 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah (Psalm 66:1-4) Worship in the Mosiac Law Period Worship during the Mosiac Law involved the word of God (2 Chr. 6:4-11; Neh. 9:3-38), songs of praise and music, (1 Chr. 16:6, 42-43; 2 Chr. 5:13; Ps. 150), public prayer (Deu. 26:15), public testimonies, and blood sacrifices and offerings. There were special days and feasts, all of which required that the worshiper worship the One True God and Him only. Worship during this period involved the institution of the Tabernacle then Temple. A detailed method is laid out describing how the chosen sinful tribe was to properly approach a holy God; worship that was uniquely different from any other tribe of the earth. Mosaic Worship served to further set God's chosen people apart from the world with dietary, clothing and even manner of life requirements that all spoke to the people revealing the sinfulness of man and the holiness of God. The Lord Himself fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17), thus abolishing the ordinances of the Law (Eph. 2:14-15). He completed what it pointed to (Heb. 8:5-6; 9:11-15, 23-28), bearing its curse on the cross (Gal. 3:13) thus ending its burden (Rom. 7:4-6; 10:1-5; Gal. 3:24-25) and giving us freedom from it (John 8:31-36; Gal. 5:1). Worship in the Church Age During the Church age blood sacrifices are not required. Instead, the believer is to observe the communal meal which memorializes the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Christ. A new body of believers is formed in the Church which is made up of both Jew and Gentile. The Word of God is prominent in worship, along with songs of praise and music. Public prayer and testimonies are also part of the worship of our Lord God – the Only True God. Worship during the Millennium During the millennium, worship will again involve blood sacrifices. The Lord Himself will teach us His Word and praise, song and music will return to the Temple. In the millennium the Lord will be Israel's God and they will be His people (Ezek. 36:28). Not only will Israel rejoice in the salvation of the Lord, but Gentiles will celebrate the great work He has done as He judges the world for rebellion against the Lord and His people Israel and His Church. The world will acknowledge the Lord and Him only. The Temple in the Millennium A large portion of the prophecy of Ezekiel chapters 40-48 deals with the temple, its structure, priesthood, ritual, and ministry. This should not be overlooked since the Temple will be the central place of the millenium! The place where the Lord Himself will dwell! The Temple will not just be a place of worship for Israel, but Gentiles will partake in its ministry. In citing Isaiah, Jesus tells Israel that God's house will be a house of prayer for all the nations (Isa. 56:7; Mark 11:17). The Location. In the first place, the Temple is located in Israel proper, but not necessarily in the city of Jerusalem that we know today. Though a city will be located outside the Temple proper. The land in view in Ezekiel 40-48 is the land given to the tribes where the land is finally divided up and distributed to the tribes (Ezek. 45). This is in fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant (cf. Gen. 12, 15, 17), and in particular, the Land Covenant (cf. Deu. 30). The Lord calls the land of Judah "Holy Land" making it the unique place of promise (cf. Zech. 2:12-13). Each tribe is to receive a section of land, but the first part is to be set aside for the Lord. It is called a holy section of land for the priests to minister (45:1). The area for the holy sanctuary will consist of (a) the Temple, (b) a place for the houses of the priests, and (c) a place for the Levites in chambers in the sanctuary. This same idea of dividing the land up for the tribes is the same as was intended in Joshua's day according to lot, where the Levites did not receive a portion of land but was instead given cities to dwell in (Num. 35:2; Josh 21:2). However, the uniqueness of the millennium finds the place for the priests and Levites localized and particular to the Temple. In addition, just adjacent to this holy area will be located property for the city, a holy district for the whole house of Israel (45:6). A special place for the Prince will be allocated on both sides of the city. Structure of the Temple. The structure of the millennial temple is unique in its organization and decoration (Ezek 41). The structure has various gates, east, north and south (but no west gate). It has various chambers and archways leading to the various areas. The structure's three stories contain chambers on each level. The Temple has an alter in front of the holy place, and a holy of holies. But, this temple does not have a veil, an ark, or a high priest. The walls are lined with carved cherubim and palm trees. Each cherubim has two faces, the face of a man faced the palm tree, while the face of a lion faced the other palm tree (41:18-19). The temple is surrounded by an area called the separate place which surrounds the temple on all sides except the east where the porch is located. Dr. Pentecost notes, "It is noteworthy that in all the description there is no mention of an ark, or mercy seat, or veil, or cherubim above the mercy seat, or tables of stone. The only article of furniture described is the table or altar of wood (41:22) that answers to the table of shewbread, that which bespeaks communion with God." (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 515) Purpose. The purpose of the Temple is given by Unger as (1) "To demonstrate God's holiness (42:1-20). This is the pervading theme of the entire book and especially so in the purpose and details of the kingdom temple (cf. 43:10). The holiness of the Lord is further emphasized by the principle of separation. At the very outset the wall separating the courts and temple from all that is introduced (40:5). The cell buildings, 42:1-14, are called holy and have a similar function of separation. The established separation of the whole enclosure is set forth, 15-20. (2) To provide a dwelling place for the divine glory (43:1-17). Ezekiel sees the return of the glory to take up residence in the temple's holy of holies during the kingdom age, as he had seen its departure before the fall of the city in 586 B.C. (cf. 9:3; 10:4; 11:23-24). 'This is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever.' (3) To provide a center for the divine government (43:7). 'This is the place of My throne' (cf. Isa. 2:2-3; Mic. 4:2). The theocratic administration throughout the vision is stressed. (4) To perpetuate the memorial of sacrifice (43:18-27). This sacrifice, of course, is not rendered with a view of obtaining salvation, but it is commemorative of an accomplished redemption maintained in the presence of the revealed glory of God." (Merrill Unger, Unger's Bible Handbook, p. 380) As can be seen, the millennial Temple brings the glory of the Lord back and all Israel will worship the Lord in peace. It is there that He will fulfill all His promises of righteousness in both manner of true worship and government. His earthly kingdom reign is displayed in all it's splendor and glory in the Temple on the hill - Zion. The Lord in the Millennium Central to the millennium is the Lord Himself. The Lord will return physically, a bodily return in the same way that He ascended into heaven (cf. Acts 1:11; Matt. 24:30; Rev. 1:7). He will return in His resurrection body! The prophet Isaiah speaks of the millennial character of the Lord like this: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6-7) In the millennium the whole world will worship the Lord God: It will be in that day that all the world will go up to the mountain of the Lord to worship Him. Notice what the prophet Zechariah says, "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came up against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zech 14:16) It is clear that not only will Jesus return to re-establish the Davidic Kingdom (Amos 9:11-12; Ezek. 37:24-26; Luke 1:33-33; etc), but bring spiritual revival to Israel (Jer. 31:31-34; Rom. 11:26-27). The Theocratic Kingdom. The uniqueness of the millennial kingdom is that Christ will act as King in the promised Davidic Kingdom. Dr. Chafer writes: "Every Old Testament prophecy on the kingdom anticipates His kingly office: (a) Christ will yet sit on the throne as David's heir (2 Sam. 7:16; Ps. 89:20-37; Isa. 11:1-16; Jer. 33:19-21). (b) He came as a King (Luke 1:32-33). (c) He was rejected as a king (Mark. 15:12-13; Luke 19:14; cf. Gen. 37:8; Ex. 2:14). (d) He died as a King (Matt. 27:37). (e) When He comes again, it is as a King (Rev. 19:16; cf. Luke 1:32-33)." (L.S. Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol 3, p. 233). The Lord's Kingdom reign is made clear in the New Testament! Dr. Couch writes, "The New Testament proclaims loud and clear that Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah! When Christ's birth was announced to Mary the angel said: 'He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of Him father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.'" (Luke 1:32-33) (Mal Couch, For the Cause of Zion, p. 123) The character of the age is found in Isaiah 11:4, "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." The Extent of His Rule is Over the Entire Earth His rule is over the entire earth. It was God's intent from the beginning of the creation of man that the earth should be ruled over by man. Adam sacrificed his right to rule when sin entered the human race. God's purpose, however, is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In Psalm 2:6-9 God declares His purpose to set His king in Zion who will have as His possession 'the uttermost parts of the earth." (John Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom, p. 301) The Satisfaction of His Rule Over Israel Israel was not satisfied with the their theocratic rule. They wanted to be like the rest of the nations who had kings (1 Sam. 8:4). The book of 1 Samuel describes the destruction of the priestly family of Eli and the general downgrading of worship in Israel and her demand for a king. This was seen as a rejection of the Lord by the people (1 Sam. 8:7), so they get a king – Saul, a powerful, handsome Benjamite. A king who lacked devotion to the Lord and sought advise from a witch. The Lord, however, will return and rule Israel in a just and proper way. He alone will show Israel what a true King is like in a theocratic rule where both Priest and King are joined in a Malchizedekian priesthood that will last forever (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6; 6:20; 7:1-28; Ps. 110:4). The Character of the Kingdom The kingdom will be characterized by righteousness. This is the ethical part of a legal system. Not only does a kingdom have a land (the whole earth), a people (all the people of the earth) it also has a law – the law of the land. This law is marked by Christ who is not only the law-giver, but the judge who will deal righteously in that day. Sin will not go unpunished! Those who are in open rebellion will be put to death (Isa. 66:20, 24; Zech. 14:16-19). Dr. Walvoord writes, "While it is obvoius that even under the rule of Christ there will arise from children born in the millennium those who merely profess to follow the King without actually being saints, the true character of these is manifested at the end of the millennium in the final revolt. Meanwhile they will be forced to obey the King or be subject to the penalty of death or other chastisement." (Walvoord, p. 302) Holiness The central characteristic of the kingdom age is holiness, righteousness and knowledge. Isaiah 11 describes the millennial reign of the Lord. A time when "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord (Isa. 11:9). The Hebrew word used for knowledge used in Isaiah 11 reflects a complete knowledge, a complete understanding and is particular to the knowledge of God. Righteousness Another characteristic of the Lord in the millennium is the glory of the Lord or the Shechinah Glory. Not only will the Shechinah Glory be in the Holy of Holies, but will be a wall of fire around Jerusalem (Zech. 2:4-5). All flesh will see it in that day (Isa. 40:5). The Word of God The Lord Himself will teach the world from His holy mountain (Isa. 2:3). And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. (Isa. 2:3-4) Ezekiel records, "His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory." (Ezek. 43:2). Life centers around the Lord. He is the Bead of Life. "The orthodox [Jew] also made a connection with the coming of the Messiah and the bread coming out of heaven. They said 'that in the days of the Messiah the treasury of manna will again descend from on high.' Christ spoke of Himself as similar to the manna. He said that He Himself was 'the living bread' that came down out of heaven. He said however that He is not like the manna which was only temporary fod. The Jews who ate that finally died, but those who partake of Him as the living spiritual bread 'shall live forever' (John 6:51-58)." (Mal Couch, For the Cause of Zion, p. 127) The Manner of Worship After a proper consecration of the altar (43:18-27), worship may begin. The attitude of the millennium is holiness, peace, security, joy, and gladness, because the prince of peace reigns on His throne (Isa. 32:16-20; 35:5-10; 51:3; 55:12-13; 61:10-11), and because of what He has done for His name's sake (Isa. 66:5; Ezek. 20:9). Isaiah puts it this way, "I will greatly rejoice, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isa. 61:10-11). This attitude is not only held by the Jew of that day, but by the gentle who will also share in the great joy of the day. Micah points out, "…many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem…" (Micah 4:1-2). The Priests It is the Temple that serves as the focal point of worship in the millennium. This, after all, is the place where the Lord's glory will be. The Temple will have a proper order to it. There will be priests that are descendents of Zadok, a particular branch of the Levites that will be responsible for the alter and sacrifices, who personally come near and minister to the Lord (40:45-46; 43:19; 44:15). They are to stand before the Lord to offer the fat and blood (44:15). They are allowed to enter the sanctuary, and when they enter the inner court they are required to wear special linen garments – no wool (44:17), (a) linen turbans on their heads (44:18), and (b) linen trousers on their bodies (44:18). No clothes that contain sweat are allowed. And when they leave the sanctuary to see the people they are to change garments leaving the garments in the holy chamber (44:19). In addition, their hair shall not be long nor shaved (44:20), and neither are they allowed to drink wine when they enter the inner court (44:21). They may have only one wife who is Jewish and was a virgin or a widow of a priest (44:22). The priestly duties are (a) to teach the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean (44:22-23), (b) to act as judges (44:24), and (c) shall live holy lives, observing appointed times and days. They shall not come near dead bodies except in the case of a family member (44:25). They shall have no possessions for God is their possession (44:28), and they shall eat the best that is reserved for them (44:29-30). The priests are to eat of the holy offerings presented (a) the grain offering; (b) the sin offering; and (c) the trespass offering. In addition, they are to observe the ordinances of the alter which include sacrificing burnt offerings and sprinkling blood on it (43:18). The Levites The Levites will be in charge of the temple, a ministry of guarding and maintaining the temple but are excluded from priestly service (40:45-46). They will be gatekeepers of the house (44:11), and will slay the burnt offerings for the people (44:11). They shall not be as priests but keep charge of the temple for its works (44:13-14). The Temple Singers There will be singers present with a chamber just for them but not much else is said of their ministry in the millennial Temple (40:44). It may be the case that their function, selection, and duties did not change from what was known in Ezekiel's day. That is, singers were selected from the among the Levites (1 Chron. 9:33; 15:16). David himself spoke to the chief Levite to appoint singers along with and psalms, lifting these up with joy (1 Chron. 15:16; cf. Ps. 84). Possibly sons of Heman, Asaph, Ethan, and Jeduthun (1 Chron. 15:19; 2 Chron. 5:12). Possibly numbering more than one hundred and fifty (2 Chron. 5:12). Their instruments were cymbals, harps, trumpets, and instruments of music (2 Chron. 5:13). The Prince There is the Prince who will serve a special place in the Temple and act as priest. This is an apparent new position in the Temple, acting something like a governor-priest whose ministry is to insure proper measures and organization of Temple feasts and services (45:9-17). Though the identity of the Prince is not disclosed, most identify him as the resurrected David or a descendent of David who will have sons (46:16). If this is not the resurrected David, where then does one find David in the millennium? The East gate is shut permanently except on rare occasion because the Lord entered that gate with all His glory. Only the prince may be at the gate. He is allowed to enter by the archway and eat there. Concerning the prince, Dr. Grant writes, "He seems to occupy an intermediary place between the people and the priesthood, since he is found among the former in their seasons of worship, not among the priests, nor privileged to enter the inner court, yet drawing nearer than the people themselves, since he may worship in the inner east gate which opens upon the inner court, while the people worship in the outer court as gathered at the door of this gate." (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 523) The Prince is to give burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offering at the feast, New Moons, Sabbaths and appointed seasons (45:17). The Prince functions as an overseer of Temple services. The east gate is only to be opened on the Sabbath and New Moon at which time the Prince is to perform the offerings (46:1-8). The North gate is for the people (46:9). They are to enter on the appointed feast days by the north and exit by way of the south. The South gate is also for the people (46:9). They, likewise, are to enter the south and exit by way of the north. There shall be presented daily burnt offering to the Lord (46:13). The burnt offering shall be a lamb of the first year without blemish and a grain offering also presented every morning. These are said to be "a perpetual ordinance" (46:14). The People and Idols One interesting item to point out is that no foreigner shall enter the Lord's sanctuary, either uncircumcised in heart or flesh (44:9). There is some disagreement as to who the uncircumcised in flesh are. The verse is literally "every foreign son, uncircumcised of heart or uncircumcised of flesh shall not come into My holy place." While Kiel & Delitzsch believe the foreigner to be gentiles, Raschi believes the use of the word "son" implies they are Jews who "had fallen into heathen idolatry." (Kiel & Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament) The point is made clear in its context. Ezekiel explains clearly that they are both the heathen that Israel had brought into the sanctuary and Jew who followed the heathen into idolatry: 5 The LORD said to me, Son of man, mark well, see with your eyes and hear with your ears all that I say to you concerning all the statutes of the house of the LORD and concerning all its laws; and mark well the entrance of the house, with all exits of the sanctuary. 6 You shall say to the rebellious ones, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD, Enough of all your abominations, O house of Israel, 7 when you brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary to profane it, even My house, when you offered My food, the fat and the blood; for they made My covenant void—this in addition to all your abominations. 8 And you have not kept charge of My holy things yourselves, but you have set foreigners to keep charge of My sanctuary. 9 Thus says the Lord GOD, No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary. 10 But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. (Ezek. 44:5-10) The Lord is recalling the generations of Israel that had mixed foreign worship. Shortly after the First Temple was built by Solomon, God says, " 6 But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?' 9 Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the LORD has brought all this calamity on them.' (1 Kgs. 9:6-9) Dr. Prices writes, "The seeds of the Temple's destruction were first sown when Solomon established multiple centers for idolatrous worship. His political marriages had a part in this – as part of his contractual agreement, Solomon had to provide for the worship practices of his 1,000 foreign wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:1-3). (Price, pp. 70-71) There will never again be idols in the House of the Lord - no more foreign objects of worship. There will be only one God and He is the Lord! The People - Israel The people will rejoice, sing and be of one mind: Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the LORD restores Zion. 9 Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. (Isa. 52:8-9) National Israel will be saved, the covenant made with Abraham and expanded with the Land, Seed and New covenants (cf. Gen. 12, 15; Deu. 30; 2 Sam. 7; Jer. 31) will be fulfilled in the millennium, "My Spirit" and "My words" will never depart (Isa. 59:21). Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost summarizes Israel in the millennium: Israel will become the subject of the King's reign (Isa. 9:6-7; 33:17, 22; 44:6; Jer. 23:5; Mic. 2:13; 4:7; Dan. 4:3; 7:14, 22, 27). In order to be subjects, Israel, first will have been converted and restored to the land. Second, Israel will be reunited as a nation (Jer. 3:18; 33:14; Ezek. 20:40; 37:15-22; 39:25; Hos. 1:11). Third, the nation will again be related to Jehovah by marriage (Isa. 54:1-17; 62:2-5; Hos. 2:14-23). Fourth, she will be exalted above the Gentiles (Isa. 14:1-2; 49:22-23; 60:14-17; 61:6-7). Fifth, Israel will be made righteous (Isa. 1:25; 2:4; 44:22-24; 45:17-25; 48:17; 55:7; 57:18-19; 63:16; Jer. 31:11; 33:8; 50:20, 34; Ezek. 36:25-26; Hos. 14:4; Joel 3:21; Mic. 7:18-19; Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:2-3). Sixth, the nation will become God's witness during the millennium (Isa. 44:8, 21; 61:6; 66:21; Jer 16:19-21; Mic. 5:7; Zeph. 3:20; Zech. 4:1-7; 4:11-14; 8:23). Seventh, Isreal will be beautiful to bring glory to Jehovah (Isa. 62:3; Jer. 32:41; Hos. 14:5-6; Zeph. 3:16-17; Zech. 9:16-17). Finally, Israel will rejoice as the Lord dwells with them in a place where His holy name will never again be defiled: He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die, 8 by setting their threshold by My threshold and their door post beside My door post, with only the wall between Me and them. And they have defiled My holy name by their abominations which they have committed. So I have consumed them in My anger. (Ezek. 43:7-8) The Feast Days of Old The feast days are special days the Lord set aside for Israel to observe and they serve to point forward to specific figures concerning the Lord. Some of these feasts will continue in the millennium but others will not. Here is how all the feasts are figured. The Spring Feasts The spring feasts are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Pentecost. Passover. Passover was the first of the spring holy days and the first of three annual pilgrimage feasts required by all Jewish males to celebrate at the Temple in Jerusalem. Passover commemorated the historical deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Death passed over the one who placed the blood of the lamb over the threshold of the door. The feast foreshadowed redemption through the crucifixion of the Lamb of God - Jesus Himself who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Feast of Unleavened Bread. The day after Passover begins the week long feast of Unleavened Bread. During the week the nation is to do no work. On the first and last days the people are to offer sacrifices. The feast emphasized Israel's separation from the world. It also foreshadowed the sinless humanity of Jesus, or theologically - the impeccability of Jesus. Jesus is called the bead of life (John 6:35). It is because He was sinless in His humanity that He was the only possible acceptable sacrifice, once for all. Feast of First Fruits. The Feast of First Fruits is celebrated on the day after the Sabbath following Passover. "Worshipers brought the first sheaf of barley into the Temple, and the priest waved it before the Lord. Then the priests threshed the barley, ground the grain into flour, and offered it to the Lord as a grain offering along with a quart of wine. The first fruits symbolized divine blessing and were a guarantee that the harvest would be bountiful." (Robert Dean in Tim LaHaye, Ed Hindson gen, ed., The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, p. 108) The feast foreshadowed Christ as the First Fruits of the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20). Like the feast, the resurrection of Christ guarantees the harvest that is to follow. Pentecost. Fifty days after First Fruits is the feast of Pentecost (The Feast of Weeks). The third annual pilgrimage feast that celebrated the wheat harvest and God's provision. The central feature of the day was the offering of two loaves of bread for the people from the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. It was a day of thanksgiving in which free-will offerings were made. The feast represented the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit under the terms of the New Covenant. Fall Feasts The fall feasts are the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles. Feast of Trumpets. The new moon of the seventh month marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah – the civil new year. It was also called Yom Terua "the day of sounding" and hence referred to as the Feast of Trumpets. The day marked the high holy days in Judaism as the Day of Atonement follows ten days later. It is a day of retrospection, prayer, and repentance. It is said that on this day God judges all men for their deeds and decides who shall live or die, prosper or suffer adversity (Wycliff Bible Dictionary, p. 604). The Feast of Trumpets anticipates the future regathering of Israel. Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur ("day of covering") is not a feast but a solemn day and represented the atonement offered for the high priest, the people, and the sanctuary. This day was a day of fasting and after offering a young bullock for a sin offering for himself and his house, the high priest presented the two goats, cast lots over them, one marked for Jehovah, the other for Azazel (scapegoat). The goat marked for the Lord was slain and the scapegoat was brought forward, the high priest, laying hands upon it, confessing over it all the sins of the people, then it was sent into uninhabited wilderness. The two goats were looked upon as one offering. The Day of Atonement foreshadowed the national repentance of Israel at the Second Coming. Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles also called the Feast of Booths, or Ingathering occurred when the harvest was finally in and the people rejoiced that all was complete. The feast lasted seven days. The people gathered fruit and dwelt in booths made of branches and tree foliage to commemorate the complete provision of God and their wilderness wanderings when their fathers dwelt in temporary shelters. Sacrifices were more numerous during this feast than at any other, consisting of 189 animals for the seven day period. When the feast coincided with a sabbatical year, the law was read publicly to the entire congregation at the sanctuary (Deut. 31:10-13). The booths were dismantled on the last day, and on the eighth day a holy convocation was observed. The feast is a memorial of Israel's redemption from Egypt and foreshadows her regathering and restoration at the Second Coming. The Feast Days of the Millennium There will be a limited set of feast days celebrated during the millennium. Absent will be the feast of Pentecost, First-Fruits, Trumpets, and the Day of Atonement. There will be: The New Year's Feast (Ezek. 45:18-20), Passover/Unleavened Bread (Ezek. 45;21-24), and the Seven Day Feast of Tabernacles (Ezek. 45:25). Included as feasts is the Sabbath days and New Moons. New Year's Feast. The New Year's Feast is something new. It involves the first day of the first year and also the seventh day of the seventh month. Hence, this feast involves the first month of both the civil and religious calendar! It is to be performed on the first day of the first month where a young bull without blemish is to be sacrificed and the sanctuary cleansed. On the seventh day of the seventh month a young bull shall be sacrificed to cleanse the people, that is, "for anyone who has sinned unintentionally or in ignorance. Thus you shall make atonement for the temple" (Ezek. 45:20). We see in the millennium a combining of the civil and religious systems as they come together in a theocratic kingdom where the Lord will reign in a unique Melchizedekian priesthood. Passover/Unleavened Bread. This feast lasts for seven days and starts on the fourteenth day of the first month. But it also includes a feast week on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. The details are as follows: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering. 23 During the seven days of the feast he shall provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven bulls and seven rams without blemish on every day of the seven days, and a male goat daily for a sin offering. 24 He shall provide as a grain offering an ephah with a bull, an ephah with a ram and a hin of oil with an ephah. 25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, at the feast, he shall provide like this, seven days for the sin offering, the burnt offering, the grain offering and the oil. (Ezek. 45:21-25) The Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is slightly different than that from the Mosiac system. There is a difference in the number of offerings and no eighth day. The feast is mandatory for both Jew and Gentile. Those who do not send a representative to Jerusalem for this feast will not receive rain (Zech. 14:17). Daily Service, Weekly Sabbath and Monthly New Moon Service. Along with the feast days will be the daily service (45:13), weekly Sabbaths (46:3) and monthly New Moon (46:3) services which all involve a blood sacrifice with gain and oil offerings. Though, there is no mention of a wine offering, indicating the absence of the aging process as people will live as long as in the days before the flood, where 100 years is seem as young (Isa. 65:20). There is the voluntary burnt and peace offering prepared by the prince which is prepared as it is on the daily Sabbath offering. Gentile Worship Gentiles who survive the Judgment of the Gentiles for their treatment of Israel are the ones who will enter and populate the gentile nations in the Millennium. Dr. Fruchtenbaum says, "These are the sheep Gentiles who, because of their faith shown by their pro-Semitism, will be able to participate in and populate the Kingdom." (Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 493). In the Millennium, the Lord will be the center of Gentile attraction as they seek Him (Isa. 11:10), as He is the light to them (Isa. 49:5-7). They will be subject to the King and receive justice from Him (Isa. 42:1) in His reign. All the kings of the Gentiles will worship Him (Isa. 49:7). It is clear that even the offerings of the Gentiles will be accepted upon the Lord's alter (Isa. 56:4-5). In fact, Gentile inclusion in the Temple worship is said to be brought by "the children of Israel" to the house of the Lord (Isa. 66:18-24). The Gentiles will come to worship on the Sabbaths and New Moons (Isa. 66:23) and the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:16-19). And for those who transgress against the Lord will die and their bodies and be seen (Isa. 66:24). For those who do not pay obligatory tribute on the Feast of Tabernacles will have their rain withheld from them for a year (Zech. 14:16-17). Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. (Isa. 56:7) Healing Waters Flowing under and out from the Temple toward the east will be flowing water (Ezek. 47:1-2). The water flowing forms a river that runs to the sea, and by the time it reaches the sea its waters are healed (Ezek. 47:9). The waters will flow into the sea which Unger identifies as the Dead or Salt Sea "whose poisonous waters will be healed (2 Kg. 2:19, 22; Isa. 11:6,9), making it teem with life." (Merrill Unger, Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament, p. 1598). "And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live" (47:9). But, its swamps and marshes will not be healed and given over to salt (47:10-11), showing that the kingdom age will not be sinless – though sin will be greatly restrained! Along with the healing waters are the healing trees. These trees grow along the bank of the river and seem to be of diverse species that bear fruit for food that do not fail, leaves that will not wither providing medicine. They bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary (47:12). This healing waters reflects the fact that the curse will be lifted during the millennium. Dr. Walvoord wrotes, "Another important factor in the millennium is the fact that the curse which descended upon the physical world because of Adam's sin apparently is lifted during the millennium." (John Walvoord, The Millennial Kingdom, p. 317) The removal of the curse brings long life, their labor not hindered by the curse and the Lord will hear our voice (Isa. 65:17-25). Conclusion Worship in the Millennium will be presented at a Temple whose presence is glorified by the Lord Himself. The worship will consist of a sincere heart which sings the praises of the Lord. There will continue to be a distinction between Jew and Gentile. Even among the Jew, certain ones will be commissioned to perform priestly duties, certain ones maintenance duties, and a special prince who will perform special duties on special days. The reinstitution of the sacrificial system instituted in the millennium will have some features similar to the Mosaic system along with some brand new laws. Dr Fruchtenbaum writes, "For this very reason, the sacrificial system of the Millennium must not be view as a reinstitution of the Mosaic system, because it is not. It will be a brand-new system that will contain some things old and some things new, and will be instituted for an entirely different purpose."( Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, p. 460) But joy, peace and righteousness will reign in the Kingdom for the Lord as He will be presiding as Priest and King. Healing waters will flow and healing trees will provide medicine and food without fail. Dr. Benware says, "The millennial kingdom will be a wonderfully spiritual time. First and foremost, the risen, glorified Lord Jesus Himself will be present. This fact alone sets this period apart from all others. Then the apostle John saw this glorious Lord, he could do nothing but prostrate himself before Him. Certainly this will be the response of all the subjects of His kingdom." (Paul Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy, p. 333)