Friday, February 14, 2020

Does Hebrews Preclude the Literal Interpretation of the Sacrifices of Ezekiel's Temple?



There are certain objections to this view which must be considered. 1. Some insist that sacrifices reinstituted would contradict Hebrews. It is emphasized in such passages as Hebrews 9:26; 7:27 and 9:12 that Christ once and for all offered an acceptable sacrifice to God, which needs not be repeated. Such an alleged contradiction can only arise when one fails to see the distinction, dispensationally, between God’s program for the church and his program for Israel. Unger has well stated the necessary distinction to be observed:

Regarding the imaged clash between the teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews and Ezekiel’s prophecy, it may be said the whole conflict vanishes when the ground and position of the one are seen to be entirely different from the ground and position of the other. One has in view members of the Body of Christ, the Church, since their redemption while Christ is on high. The other is concerned with earthly Israel, and embraces the Glory of Jehovah once more dwelling in the land of Canaan. One concerns Christianity where there is neither Jew nor Gentile, but all are one in Christ. The other deals with restored Judaism, where Israel is blessed directly, and the Gentiles only mediately or subordinately to the Jews—a state of things in diametrical contrast with Christianity.

. . .

The particular difficulty in accepting the literal-futuristic view is Christendom’s conceit (Rom. 11:15-26) in presuming that the fall of the Jew is final, and that the Gentile as supplanted him forever. When the truth of Israel’s recall to blessing is comprehended a literal-futuristic interpretation of Ezekiel’s prophecy is the normal explanation of the vision. (Unger, “The Temple Vision of Ezekiel,” Bibliotheca Sacra, 106:170-71)

In reference to the church, Christ stands as One who has offered a completed eternal sacrifice. She looks to Him alone. Such is the teaching of Hebrews. Yet, in dealing with Israel in their future relation to Christ, in Hebrews 8:8-13 and 10:16 there is the anticipation of the enactment of a new covenant. The new covenant of Jeremiah 31 served notice that the old (Mosaic) order was to be supplanted, because of its insufficiency, by a new order. Ezekiel’s temple vision gives detail concerning the new priestly order to be inaugurated by God after the fulfillment of the new covenant with Israel. Such an interpretation is in perfect harmony with the teaching of Hebrews. (J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1964], 527-28; what is said about Hebrews  in the above can also be said of 3 Nephi 9:9)

Further Reading

Old Testament Practices and Mormonism


Henry Sulley on Sacrificial Offerings and Ezekiel's Eschatological Temple