The REAL reasons for the Altar and Sacrificial System

[stovebolts]

Hi there, sorry it took so long again...

So when the Altar is set up again in Jerusalem, how will you react? Will you try to go and worship the Lord? Will you stand for the Lord against the tidal surge of Atheists and Christians, friends and family, who will be in an uproar against it? What will you do?

I don't see the worth of an Altar being set up again in Jerusalem, and I hope you don't find this disrespectful.

We see many Altars in the Old Testament, but what I want to look at is the function of the altar. What purpose does it serve? Think about this and see if it isn't true that the Cross served the same function as the Altar. Hey, there is a reason the curtain to the most holy place was rent from top to bottom don't you think?

I believe that we are now under the new covenant (Jer 31:31) and as with old, the Altar grounded the Table. As such, the Cross also grounds the Table when we partake of the Lord's Supper.

Jesus told us that only those who worship in Spirit and Truth are true worshipers of God, and those who worship in Spirit and Truth are those who's worship is acceptable.

For some reason, Hebrews 2:10 comes to mind.

I don't know if you read much Jewish thought, but this verse also comes to mind.

Genesis 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

This is talking about the temple. Look at it this way.
This is the first temple.

Genesis 26:19-20 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

This is the second temple
Genesis 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

Now then, let us look at the third temple again.
Genesis 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

This is speaking of the Messiah. And what did Jesus say? Destroy this Temple, and I will rebuild it in 3 days.

John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

John 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

[nmwings]

We see many Altars in the Old Testament, but what I want to look at is the function of the altar. What purpose does it serve?

I have already explained the 5 purposes it serves.

I don't see the worth of an Altar being set up again in Jerusalem

Than I must assume that you will side with the Anti-Messiah when he shuts it down.

Think about this and see if it isn't true that the Cross served the same function as the Altar.

The cross did not serve the same function as the Altar. Hear the words of the one who hung on that cross: Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? You’re doing the exact same thing the Pharisees were doing: by putting the cross (the gift) over and above the Altar which sanctifies the gift. You don’t seem to understand that without the Altar to sanctify His death, His gift would have meant nothing.

I believe that we are now under the new covenant (Jer 31:31)….

Which new covenant are you speaking of? You refer to the one spoken of by Jeremiah which says the entire law will be written on our hearts (which includes the worship of God at His Altar.) Yet the church and the theology to which you cling insist there is another new covenant where the law is done away with. It never ceases to amaze me how people can read a passage, yet interject words that are simply not there. And most people apparently skip over and ignore Acts 6:13-14 which says that anyone who speaks against the Temple (which includes the Altar), the Temple Service, or that the Messiah annulled the Law is a false witness. In addition, anyone who teaches against the Temple, the Altar, or the Law given at Sinai is a false teacher.

Jesus told us that only those who worship in Spirit and Truth are true worshipers of God, and those who worship in Spirit and Truth are those who's worship is acceptable.

This is not a new concept. This is exactly what the law given to us at Sinai teaches.

For some reason, Hebrews 2:10 comes to mind.

The book of Hebrews speaks against the Altar and the Temple Service. The unknown author tells its readers to have nothing to do with the Altar in Jerusalem, and that “we have another altar (a substitute) from which to eat from.â€

The book of Hebrews speaks against the Messiah…. by saying He did away with the law. Therefore, according to Acts 6:13, the book of Hebrews is a false witness. So, because the book of Hebrews is a false witness, any reference you make to his writings carries no weight with me.

Genesis 26:22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

This is speaking of the Messiah. And what did Jesus say? Destroy thisTemple, and I will rebuild it in 3 days.

You are correct by saying there is a pattern that happened with Isaac concerning these wells, which historically seems to fit the pattern of the Temples. However, the info you presented is not entirely accurate. You are missing the “big picture†which can be summed up this way, “What happened to the patriarchs will happen to their descendants.†Let’s review these 3 wells……

Esek means “contention†and Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians because of the contention between Babylon and all the other nations Israel was among.

Sitnah means “to hate without cause†and the 2^nd Temple was destroyed by the Romans and the phrase “hating without cause†was specifically attributed to what the Messiah said about Himself, “They hated Me without cause†(Jn 15:25) and as a result the Temple was destroyed.

The last well is called Rehobot which means “broad plain.†John describes the earth as a broad plain while Jerusalem itself will be raised up as king of the mountains. The Temple in the Kingdom will have living water flow out of it like a well (Rev 22:1)

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

This is not a new concept either. Again, this is taught in the law given to us at Sinai.