You just have to love all of it to understand it. Study much more, JGIG!
Yes, including the parts where the Scriptures make clear that Christ is not the High Priest for the Old Covenant (being of the Tribe of Judah, not of the Tribe of Levi), but for the New Covenant. Not only that, but His Priesthood is irrevocable, based on the power of an indestructible Life AND by an oath from God - two immovable forces.
We will all be learning through study our whole lives through, Word_Swordsman, even you
.
I have read and studied Ezekiel's book and believe it.
You have believed
an interpretation of Ezekiel's prophecies, just as we all have, for various reasons. That does not make the interpretation to which you have attached yourself the
correct interpretation.
And what you propose below, while it likely will happen (Temple sacrifices, reinstitution of Old Covenant Law), it will be an abomination to the Work of Christ, not overseen by Him with approval.
He covered the captivity of Israel.
Skipping over a lot of it he came to the final regathering of Israel (happening now).
Israel restored, temple built, Israel awaits Messiah (Second Advent of Jesus)
Armageddon happens.
Jesus (Prince) sets up reign.
Former sacrifices, all duties of priesthood and Levites resume in presence of Jesus.
I realize it is objectionable to many Christians that have not read the Bible, certainly never studied it thoroughly.
See, one with a thinner skin would deduce that you were grouping me in with those you speak of in the statement above, simply because I disagree with your interpretation of an oft and widely contested portion of Scripture.
Let me assure you that I do read my Bible and thoroughly study - and the more I do so, the larger Christ and his Work - His Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Perfect Permanent High Priesthood looms, as He should.
EVERY interpretation of unrevealed prophecy should be viewed through the Work of Christ - a revealed Work.
All will be done not because of the need to deal with sin, but that the world will know exactly why such things were given by God to do, and what Jesus did to fulfill all. It will be an eternal memorial in the presence of Jesus, High Priest forever.
An eternal memorial to what? The Work of Christ? The Law memorializes sin - it never takes it away, just covers it - always to be seen and remembered, even though covered by the blood of bulls and goats.
In contrast, the Blood of Christ takes away all sins - to be cast as far as the East is from the West, and never to be counted against those in Him again.
What memorializes the Blood of Christ? Going back to the old practices of offering bulls and goats?
No!
Christ Himself instituted the memorial to His Work - in the Last Supper. We eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of His Work - Him - and who we are in Him.
To go back to the inferior in the presence of the superior is unthinkable.
Jesus has already performed that duty briefly on earth right after rising from the tomb. His blood was shed on the cross, the Lamb died, then the Lamb lived again and immediately ascended to the Father with his own blood, formerly done by the earthly High Priest taking the sacrificial blood into the innermost sanctuary containing the Ark of the Covenant. That's why when Jesus encountered Mary outside the tomb he told her not to touch him (Jn 20:17). That was a requirement of the earthly High Priest to remain undefiled by the slightest touch while between the altar and the innermost Most Holy Place. Instead of taking his blood to Herod's Temple, he took it to the original Temple of God built by God in Heaven.
It took Jesus about half a day to perform it, returning to allow people to touch him.
Some interesting thoughts there.
Note that Christ did not perform His act of offering Himself as a Priest, but as the Perfect Sacrifice under the Old Covenant. The shedding of His Blood fulfilled the requirements of the Old Covenant, and INSTITUTED the New Covenant, of which He IS the High Priest (again - very important to distinguish here that Christ's lineage is NOT that of the Old Covenant High Priesthood, Levi, but of the Line of Judah, and that change is permanent based on both the power of an indestructible Life and by an oath from God).
However the logistics of the Levitical High Priest's offering Christ up in crucifixion actually played out, it is clear that God accepted the Sacrifice of Christ, and then installed Him in a New Priesthood of a New Covenant.
I know chapters 43-48 which describe what is coming have not happened yet. Most Bible scholars believe that.
They will happen after the tribulation, and involve the regathered Jews in Israel that remain alive through it.
Again, you are holding to
an interpretation of that passage. That interpretation does present some big problems, which I discuss here:
Millennial Prophecy: Measuring Unrevealed Prophecies in Light of Revealed Truths
Again, unrevealed prophecy must be subject to revealed Truth, in this case, the complete Work of Christ and His Permanent High Priesthood of the New Covenant.
But for now the spiritual eyes of the Jews remain blinded to Jesus. Meanwhile they are preparing for rebuilding of the Temple, have all the Temple artifacts ready, are training the priesthood, preparing the red heifer, spending money right and left for it. It is wisdom to remain friends with Israel.
And they are doing so in error, clinging to the Old Covenant in Moses; rejecting the New Covenant in Christ. We should not be supporting that effort, but bringing the Gospel of Grace to Israel (and to every other tribe and nation, as well) while loving them well.
-JGIG