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Among Orthodox Jews animal sacrifices are still the desired norm. However, there is no longer a Jewish Temple for that purpose. Otherwise, they are not practiced. It became unnecessary to continue with animal sacrifices at the precise split-second of the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. The old was done away, the new was introduced. Jesus was the sacrifice, not animals.
The Jewish people stopped doing animal sacrificed because the Romans sacked the Temple in 70 AD. Contrary to popular Christian teaching, the sacrifices did not provide cleansing of the conscience. They did NOT compete with Yeshua (Jesus). Old Testament saints were NOT saved by keeping the Law or by bringing sacrifices, but they were genuinely saved! The sacrifices were for ritual cleansing of the flesh and for cleansing the sanctuary stained by the sins of the people dwelling in its midst. The sacrifices “worked” because they pointed forensically towards the once-and-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb who was slain from the foundations of the world. A person in the time period of the TaNaKH (Old Testament) bringing a sacrifice for ritual sin, yet believing in the Prophet like Moses who would be sent by God, was thus as much saved as Christians living in the 21st century, because his faith was cast objectively on the Messiah to come. He was saved by grace because Yeshua’s sacrifice was just as effective pointing backwards as it is pointing forwards to us today. Given these truths, sacrifices were both effectual and ineffectual at the same time. The secret is in knowing what they were meant to do and what they were NOT meant to do. As for ritually cleaning the flesh and the Temple, they were 100% effective. They took ritual sin away and they cleansed the Temple. As for cleansing the conscience, they were 100% ineffective. Only Yeshua’s sacrifice can take away sins of the conscience. Based on this premise, I believe the sacrifices will return in the Millennium when Yeshua returns to rule from Jerusalem. At that time, all people—both Christians and non-Christians—will be required to bring sacrifices if they wish to approach the Temple that Yeshua has rebuilt.
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