Biblical Insights on the Millennium, Feasts, and Sacrificial Law

During the 1,000 years, the earth remains in a state of total desolation and chaos while the redeemed reign with Christ in heaven and Satan is confined to this world as his prison. 🕊️

The State of the Earth: A Silent Prison

At the commencement of this period, the second coming of Christ brings about a total change to the planet. The presence of the Lord is so powerful that the earth is made empty and waste Isaiah 24:1.

• Total Desolation: The earth is brought back to a state of primeval chaos, described as being "without form, and void," with no light in the heavens and no man remaining Jeremiah 4:23-25. 🌑

• The Bottomless Pit: This chaotic state is the "bottomless pit" or abyss Revelation 20:1. Just as darkness was upon the face of the "deep" at the beginning of creation Genesis 1:2, the earth again becomes a dark, uninhabited wasteland Jeremiah 4:26-27.

• Satan’s Confinement: Satan is bound by a "great chain" of circumstances; because the wicked are slain at Christ's coming 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 and the righteous are taken to heaven 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, he has no one left to deceive Revelation 20:2-3. He is forced to contemplate the ruin he has caused for 1,000 years.

The Experience of the Redeemed in Heaven

While the earth sits in darkness, those who had part in the "first resurrection" are enjoying a glorious reality in the presence of God. ✨

• Reigning with Christ: The saints, having been caught up to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:17, live and reign with Him for the duration of the millennium Revelation 20:4, 6.

• A Work of Judgment: During this time, thrones are set, and judgment is given to the saints Revelation 20:4. They participate in a cosmic review, judging the world and even falling angels 1 Corinthians 6:2-3. This is not to determine who is saved, but to vindicate the justice of God in His dealings with those who rejected His grace.

• Before the Throne: The redeemed stand upon the "sea of glass" before the throne of God in heaven, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb Revelation 15:2-3+1.

The Condition of the Wicked

The Bible is very clear that there are two resurrections separated by this 1,000-year span John 5:28-29.

• A State of Death: While the righteous are in heaven, "the rest of the dead"—the wicked—do not live again until the 1,000 years are finished Revelation 20:5.

• The Earth as a Charnel House: The slain of the Lord lie ungathered and unlamented from one end of the earth to the other Jeremiah 25:33.

The Close of the Millennium

As the 1,000 years expire, the final events of the great controversy unfold.

• The Second Resurrection: At the end of the period, the wicked are raised Revelation 20:5. This provides Satan with subjects once more, and he is "loosed out of his prison" for a little season Revelation 20:7.

• The Holy City Descends: The New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven to the earth Revelation 21:2. 🏰

• The Final Conflict: Satan gathers the resurrected wicked, a multitude as the "sand of the sea," to attack the beloved city Revelation 20:8-9. However, before they can prevail, fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them, which is the "second death" Revelation 20:9, 14-15.

• A New Beginning: This fire not only destroys sin and sinners but purifies the earth, melting the elements with fervent heat to make way for the "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" 2 Peter 3:10-13.

Hello! It is such a joy to study the Word of God with you. 📖 The system of feasts and sacrifices was a beautiful, interconnected "schoolmaster" designed to point the hearts of the people to the coming Redeemer.

The Bible identifies several specific instances and laws where the keeping of a feast was inextricably linked to the offering of animal sacrifices.

The Foundation of the Sacrificial Feasts

The Lord established these services to preserve faith in the "Lamb of God" who would eventually take away the sin of the world. Every feast was a holy convocation where the people were commanded not to appear empty-handed.

• The Passover and Unleavened Bread: This was the first of the annual feasts. It required the slaying of a lamb and was followed by seven days of offerings made by fire.

• "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days." ** Leviticus 23:6-8**.

• The Passover was specifically called a sacrifice: "Ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt." ** Exodus 12:27**.

• The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost): Fifty days after the wave sheaf, the people gathered to present the firstfruits of the harvest along with specific animal sacrifices.

• "And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD... Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings." ** Leviticus 23:18-19**.

• The Feast of Tabernacles: This was a joyous time of ingathering where a large number of bullocks, rams, and lambs were offered over eight days.

• "And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish." ** Numbers 29:13**.

Specific Instances of Sacrificial Feasts

Throughout sacred history, we see God’s people putting these laws into practice during times of national spiritual renewal or dedication.

• Solomon’s Dedication: When Solomon finished the Temple, he observed a massive sacrificial feast during the seventh month.

• "And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God... Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days." ** 2 Chronicles 7:5, 8**.

• The Return from Captivity: After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and the Temple restored, the exiles celebrated with great joy and many offerings.

• "And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats... And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month." ** Ezra 6:17, 19**.

• The Day of Atonement: While a day of solemnity, it involved a specific routine of sacrifices to cleanse the sanctuary.

• "And this shall be a statute for ever unto you... on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls... For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD." ** Leviticus 16:29-30**.

The Purpose of the Sacrificial Feast

The true meaning of these feasts was to direct the mind toward Christ. The "peace offerings" were especially significant as expressions of thanksgiving, where a portion was burned and the rest was eaten in a sacrificial feast.

• Directing Hearts to the Savior: These rites taught that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin.

• "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." ** Leviticus 17:11**.

• "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." ** Hebrews 9:22**.

Christ: The Substance of the Shadow

While the Jews were required to repair to the temple for these services, they were shadows of the reality found in Jesus. When He died, the veil of the temple was rent, signifying that the earthly sacrificial system had met its fulfillment.

• The Final Sacrifice: Paul explains that Christ is our true Passover, and we now keep the "feast" of the Christian life with sincerity and truth rather than animal blood.

• "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven... but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." ** 1 Corinthians 5:7-8**.

• "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God." ** Hebrews 10:12**.

I hope this helps you see how the feasts and sacrifices worked together to reveal God's plan of salvation! 🙏✨

The keeping of Jewish feasts following the crucifixion of Christ is a practice that has ceased to be a divine requirement because these festivals were inextricably linked to the ceremonial law. 🕊️ When Christ died on the cross, the ceremonial system of types and shadows reached its substance, and the "handwriting of ordinances" was nailed to the cross and abolished Colossians 2:14-17HSFD 98.1+1.

The Abrogation of the Ceremonial System

The ceremonial law, which included the annual feast days, was specifically designed as a shadow of the work of ChristPTJW August 1849, page 9.5+1. This law was a separate code from the moral law of the Ten Commandments; while the moral law is eternal and immutable, the ceremonial law was a temporary arrangement intended to lead people to Christ until He should come1SM 239.2+3.

• Type Met Antitype: The sacrificial system and the accompanying feasts were "types" of future eventsBDOC 67.49+2. When Christ, the antitypical Lamb, was slain, the sacrificial offerings ceased, and the ceremonial law was done away6BC 1096.1+2.

• The Law of Ordinances: The feasts were part of the "law of commandments contained in ordinances," which Christ abolished in His flesh to break down the wall between Jews and Gentiles Ephesians 2:15WFS 29.2.

• A Denial of Christ: For one to continue observing the ceremonial rites and offerings after the crucifixion would be a denial of Christ’s finished workST July 29, 1886, par. 4. It would be equivalent to saying that the Redeemer has not yet come and given His life for the worldST July 29, 1886, par. 4.

The Distinction Between Moral and Ceremonial Law

It is vital to distinguish between the moral law (the Ten Commandments) and the ceremonial law (the ritual system)HSFD 98.1+2.

• The Moral Law Stands: The crucifixion of Christ established and magnified the moral law rather than abolishing it1SM 239.2+2. The Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God on stone, remain the standard of righteousness for all time Exodus 31:18ST July 29, 1886, par. 4+2.

• The Ceremonial Law Fell: In contrast, the ceremonial law was written by Moses in a book and placed in the side of the ark, and it expired when the substance—Christ—appeared Deuteronomy 31:24-26HSFD 98.1+2.

• The Weekly Sabbath: The seventh-day Sabbath was instituted before the fall of man and is part of the moral law; therefore, it remains binding Genesis 2:1-3HSFD 98.1+2. The annual "sabbaths" associated with feast days were shadows of things to come and were nailed to the cross Colossians 2:16-17HSFD 98.1+2.

Contemporary Religious Practice

While some may choose to observe holidays for practical or educational purposes, such as using a Christmas tree to gather offerings for God’s cause, these are not biblical requirementsST January 4, 1883, par. 7.

• Human Tradition: Practices such as Sunday sacredness, infant baptism, or the celebration of pagan festivals under Christian names are considered doctrines of tradition rather than ScriptureEVRR613+2.

• Spiritual Vitality: Religion must not degenerate into a mere observance of forms; God requires works of faith and obedience that correspond to the light given in the present ageGC 316.1+1.

• A New Perspective: In the Messianic age, the prevailing teaching indicates that the whole ceremonial law and all the feasts were to cease as mandatory requirementsLTJMBA 168.1. The focus shifts from the earthly shadow to the heavenly ministry of our High Priest, Christ Jesus Hebrews 8:1-2CIS 39.3+1.

The call for believers today is not to return to the "yoke" of the ceremonial law, which was made null and void at Calvary, but to enter into the "marriage supper of the Lamb" by putting on His robe of righteousnessYI January 30, 1896, par. 2+3. 🌟⚖️