Have you ever wondered about the biblical sacrificial system, its connection to the eating of meat, and to the End Times? There is a definite connection.
When studying the bible, it is important to understand that the God who inspired the book of Genesis, is the same God who inspired Revelation, and every book in between. The essential part of God’s character, that believers depend on, is His unchanging nature.
For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6
Israel has made God angry, time and time again, but in His wrath He remembers the promises He made to their fathers. Nothing can prevent Him from keeping His promises, for if He did He would have been a liar. It is the same for every believer, we all depend on Him keeping His promises, for we have all sinned, even after becoming a Christian.
There is nothing new to God, and nothing ever surprises Him. He knew it all long before it happened. In the midst of His wrath He is still merciful to those who call on Him for salvation.
It is the same with the Son of God;
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8
It is because of the unchanging nature of God that we know His purpose at the beginning was the same as it is at the end.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
When it says that the Lamb was “slain from the foundation of the world” it does not mean that He was literally slain from the foundation of the world, for if He was He would not have had to go to the cross It means that His sacrifice on the cross was a sure thing, even before He created the earth.
This was the purpose of Christ creating the world in the first place, and it is to this event that the entire sacrificial system points, from its inception in the Garden of Eden.
Now, those who know the bible may note that the term “sacrifice” is not a part of the account of the fall of man. This is true, but the result of the first sin was in fact the very first sacrifice, and it was God Himself who performed this sacrifice. What He did there was to teach Adam and Eve about the sacrificial system He was setting up, which would ultimately point to the one and only meaningful sacrifice; His death on the cross.
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
After Adam and Eve sinned, they discovered that they were naked. They made aprons of fig leaves to cover their nakedness. They were really trying to cover their sin, but as usual human effort is unable to remove the stain of sin from our souls.
At least two animals died at the hands of God in this event. God was showing the first couple that they needed a covering for their sin, from someone who was innocent, and so the first two animals died as a result of the first sin.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post it is unlike God to waste the bodies of these animals, simply to clothe this couple. This is about something far deeper.
The God of the bible is a waste-not-want-not God, and so His killing of these animals was more than merely to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve. He spilt the blood of these two animals, which was the first indication of His once-for-all sacrifice which was to come some 4,000 years later.
There can be no doubt that God had in mind His ultimate sacrifice, of which He later said;
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51
The eternal principle of Christ’s sacrifice is that one must partake of the sacrifice. In the law of Moses it is repeatedly stated that the person offering the sacrifice should eat the flesh of the animals, but not of the fat.
When you eat meat you digest it and it is incorporated into your body. The protein from the animals muscles is incorporated into your muscles. It becomes a part of you!
While Jesus does not mean that we should be cannibals, what He really means is that we partake of His sacrifice by reading His words and making them a part of us. The life of Jesus is synonymous with His words. This is why He is called “the Word of God”.
Now, it is not recorded in Genesis that God made a command for man to make sacrifices for sin, yet we see that just a few years later Abel made sacrifices in the same way which was eventually incorporated in the Law of Moses.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: Genesis 4:4
Abel was separating the fat and the meat of his sacrifices. He was butchering the animals, and not simply killing them and burning the whole animal as a burnt offering. The fact that he knew what was fat, and separated it from the rest of the offering, indicates to me that he ate the meat.
Abel learned how to make sacrifices from his father. I also think that God made Adam and Eve eat of the first two animals that He had killed for them!
And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. Leviticus 4:35
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. Leviticus 7:15
And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh. Deuteronomy 12:27
God never changed. The principle of eating the sacrifice was written down by Moses, but was practised since the Garden.
Again, the early sacrifices were anticipating the sacrificial system of the law of Moses. I expect that the animals God killed for Adam and his wife were eaten that day, and what was left was burned as a burnt offering. That was the beginning of the sacrificial system.
How better to impress upon them the consequences of their actions?
Think about how the first couple felt as they observed Him kill the first animal on their behalf. What emotions would they have felt?
I should think their first reaction would have been horror! The first death of any kind on planet earth was the result of Adam’s sin, and he had to watch an innocent animal die because of his decision!
Then, when God insisted that Adam eat of the animal that had died for him, there would have been another reaction: a deeper horror, and then delight! Talk about mixed emotions! Guilt, horror, and delight, all at once!
It would have been a most humbling experience for Adam and Eve.
This is how Christians view the cross of Christ. I am horrified, and humbled, that it was my sin that put Him there. It was my sin that caused the perfect lamb of God to be slain! At the same time there is the delight that His sacrifice took away my guilt.
I am convinced this is the reaction they had, and we should have, to both the Old Testament sacrifices, and especially to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. This was the best way for God to personalize the sacrifices. There was no neat grocery-store plastic packaging, only blood, smell, and the last gasp of the sacrificial lamb!
As Adam put on the skin of that animal, he probably looked a little bit like it. A sheep? A man wearing a sheepskin looks a little sheepish!
Now we put on Christ, and we get to look like Him to His Father! We get to look like the Lamb of God, and there is no greater privilege in all of creation!
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:27
We were condemned in Adam, but now we can experience forgiveness, and restitution. We can have full communion with God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son!
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1
I have heard many say that man didn’t eat meat until after the flood. I don’t believe it. The statement after the flood, in Genesis 9:3, was that it was now acceptable for man to eat any animal, not merely the ones designated clean for sacrifice. Man has been eating meat since the Garden of Eden.
The eating of animal flesh is intimately connected to the first sacrifice in the Garden of Eden, and the ultimate Sacrifice of Christ. This is why Paul tells us that the End Times will be characterized by people being forbidden to eat meat.
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. I Timothy 4:1-3
Most people have forgotten the origin of the eating of animal flesh, but Satan, and his demons know it is connected to their ultimate defeat. It was a symbol of the coming Messiah from the Garden of Eden. This is why many Pagans are vegetarians, and vegans, and this is why the Antichrist will support the prohibition of eating this food.
Vegetarianism, and veganism, are acts of rebellion against God’s provision for the removal of sin, but without a sacrifice you will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Eternity is a long time!
Notice that Paul says that meats were CREATED to be eaten. God created animals with the intent that they would be eaten by man. I am well aware that “meats” can mean “food” in King James English but, in this context, this is a specific reference to animal flesh.
The rise of vegetarianism, veganism, and PETA are signs of the End Times, make no mistake about it! This mindset will increase until God brings down judgment upon it!
Dan
housetops 
Reblogged this on servehiminthewaiting and commented:
You are absolutely correct in what you say here, Dan, not only in the scriptures you already pointed out, but 1 Tim 4 says as much:
1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Even the gay marriage issue is tied into this. Their goal is not “equality” but to eventually outlaw “marriage” as we know it today, and thus also fulfilling the predicted “calling what is good, evil, and what is evil, good”. Couldn’t be any plainer that these things are all coming about before our very eyes.
Reblogged this on NoWorksSalvationApocalypseNow and commented:
This is really a well thought through view on the initial sacrifice of animals in the garden of Eden and the connection to endtime events and Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. Really an interesting article, well thought through.
Have you considered the fact that many are vegetarians or vegans today because they consider it unsafe to eat meats produced with growth hormones and processed with uncertain and harmful additives. Health reasons also make it necessary to avoid foods that contain saturated fats which contribute to heart disease, especially when family members have had bypass surgery. And consider how healthy and wise Daniel and his friends were eating a vegetarian diet, if you read beyond Genesis. Sorry, my husband and I have changed our diets because of the health risks of eating adulterated food, and on our limited budget cannot afford free range, organically raised meat products. Only as a former Roman Catholic do I recall abstaining from meat during Lent and eating fish on Fridays, but this was not a problem then, nor is it now for those who observe their church tradition.
This is what happens when you take verses out of context. Many have done this with Daniel. The reason Daniel did not eat meat, nor drink wine, was because they had been offered to Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. If you continue reading Daniel you will discover that he did eat animal flesh, and drink wine, later in his life.
Did Daniel go apostate? I don’t think so. God gave us these verses so we wouldn’t take Daniel 1 out of context;
“I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:3
Daniel did indeed eat meat, and drink wine, later in his life. I have God’s Word on this!
Every word of God is important, not just general principles. We need to consider what the Lord says in the whole bible, and not to just hang on one or two verses.
If you think that the hormones they feed animals are unhealthy you are free to abstain. This does not nullify the principles of the law, however.
With your background and vocation you must be logical. I too embrace the cross, the final and perfect sacrifice and am grateful for it, but I find NO logical nor emotional nor spiritual reason to associate my sustenance, my nourishment with the death of ANY animal. I donʻt prohibit the eating of meat, but I fellowship with the most unhealthy denomination of believers in America–the Southern Baptist and challenge everyone I meet to show me the best way to care for my body. We are burdened with medications that have deleterious side-effects (poor stewardship of our bodies) yet we pray for healing from all the CV (cardio vascular) diseases we have brought upon ourselves. I have not heard, first or second hand of a healing miracle from CV diseases, but I have heard and experienced through prayer and lifestyle change (no animal flesh) reversal and prevention of ALL CV disease. Empirically, the SDA (seventh day adventist) as a whole, illustrate the result of eating as Daniel and are constantly sited in longevity studies (as a non-people group).
Your wife and family are depending on you being healthy. How long you can live on an omnivorous diet without medication. Is your BMI (body mass index) normal (cancer, CV diseases all indexed to this). Do you have a history of disease in your family? Read Daniel 1 and get educated on the stewardship of your body (Romans 12:1-2).
Wendell,
No doubt we, in the west, eat far too much meat. I agree with you there, and I would agree that the hormones (probably produced by Monsanto) they give animals to make them grow, are likely not good for us.
I think it is likely that the ancient Israelites, as well as the world before the flood, only ate meat when they performed sacrifices. This would have only happened a handful of times during the year.
Regarding Daniel, however, I think you have to take the early chapters in light of the whole book. He did eat meat later on. The issue with Nebuchadnezar’s meat was not that it was animal flesh, but that it had been sacrificed to idols. The wine had also been offered to idols, but this does not mean it is wrong to eat meat or drink wine, only don’t do it if it has been offered to idols.
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Daniel 10:2-3
Daniel did indeed drink wine and eat flesh after the three weeks were over. This shows that the diet of Daniel 1-3 was not followed for his whole life.
My grandfather died of bowel cancer, and he was the one who was the most health conscious in our whole family. I first heard of health-food from him. Still he was 82 when he died. His wife, my grandmother, would have nothing to do with “health-food” and she died four months shy of one hundred!
All I am saying is that we need to be responsible, but don’t put the cart before the horse. Millions of Christians have died early, violent deaths, because they were following the God of the bible. Our hope is not in this world.
God bless,
Dan
Dan: thanks for the balanced response. Picking up on your last paragraph, Danielʻs nutrition in chapter 1 indicates to me that he did not want to eat (violate) himself with the Kingʻs food (the way of the world). At least the symbolism is there and looms large.
I am a student of design and original design (pre Gen 3). I take the totality of the Bible (including Romans 14) as Godʻs complete written word to us, yet it is fascinating to discover HIs purposes for us through OD (original design). The more I understand design, the more I love the Designer. The more I love the Designer, the more I love His design. From the length of our intestines to the enzymes in our mouths and shape of our teeth, we share some striking attributes with other herbivores.
On the matter of long live, as I did not determine the day I was born, I will not determine the day I die (a natural death), But I will and should determine the productivity of my life–my mental, physical, emotional, spiritual faculties are all impacted by what I put in my mouth…and what I read with my eyes and what I listen to with my ears. Given that, I choose the nutrition of OD because it is unsurpassed (Daniel 1) in its ability to help me live productivity (no meds, no diseases, normal BMI etc.) for His glory. It really is full circle and a fulfillment of Romans 12:1.
The Western diet is compromised with not just meat, but with dairy too. Factory farming (have you seen any documentaries) are contaminating everything they “produce”. Hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, insecticides, animal brutality, etc….this is a far cry from the family farms of generations ago. Makes me wonder how far we have taken the Genesis 1:28 charge of “subdue”. My 2013 conclusion is that there are no viable arguments to eat any animals.
I think you will like this!
http://nicklasarthur.wordpress.com/videos/greatestprophecy/
Wendell,
I have been fighting a battle for years, with Christians who think they have the right to add to Scripture. I have been among Fellowship Baptists, Independent Baptists, Free Presbyterians, and Messianics. Each group says some things that are true and right, but then this same old problem resurfaces.
We teach our children to memorize Proverbs 3:5-6 but then we act like it doesn’t apply to us;
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This leads me to the question; Where in the bible does it say that we shouldn’t eat meat if it was grown by a cruel farmer? When I go to a market and buy a chicken, am I responsible for the way it was raised?
Is there a verse in Scripture where it says that it is my responsibility to ensure farmers are not cruel to their livestock? As far as I can tell, he will have to answer to God for his behaviour, but it is not up to me to control the behaviour of another person.
I, as a believer, am commissioned to preach the gospel, and even the whole counsel of God, but that does not make me responsible for another’s behaviour.
This is one huge problem with the human race as a whole. Everybody thinks they know how everyone else should live! This is something that Baptists teach most of the time, to the point that they don’t even know they are doing it.
2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. Romans 14:2-4
Notice that in verse 2, those who are weak in the faith limit their diet to vegetarian only. This is because their faith is weak. You are free to follow that diet, but I will exhort you to dig deeper in the Word of God, as a brother.
We have examples in the bible, of selective breeding, in Genesis 30, but this is not the same as Genetically Modifying their dna. What you end up in this process is still dna as God created, or modified it!
As I see it, if you won’t eat meat, you are left with a grain market that is flooded with GM corn, soybeans and other crops. Even illegal GM wheat has shown up in crops this last week! I have a greater problem with eating food that has had its basic dna building blocks modified by Monsanto, or another corporation, than I do with eating factory farm meat.
Still, if you are that concerned, why don’t you buy five acres and grow your own food? That would be proactive.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
In the mean time, we have a job to do, and that is to preach the gospel. Even GM farmers need the Saviour!
Bad times are coming on the world. There is no guarantee that we will survive them in the flesh. Take reasonable precautions but don’t get bent out of shape over the way the world is going. Don’t focus on this life.
That brings me back to Daniel. You ignored the fact that Daniel did eat meat later on. The point of Daniel’s diet in chapter 1 was not that we are to eat a healthy diet, but that we are to be faithful to God. The Christian church is not commanded to follow the Old Testament diet, and even it did allow meat.
The fact that Daniel and his friends were healthier than the others does not mean that Christians can, or should be, healthier than average, but that God responded to their faith in a miraculous way.
I don’t think there is any evidence that those who eat meat in moderation are any less healthy than vegetarians.
Well, guys I confess that I have more questions than answers and I think I can’t contribute anymore to this fruitless conversation, though it’s been interesting! I believe the assurance of our salvation is in John 3:16 and has nothing to do with the matter of health and diet. It’s all about God’s grace and His love for us and our love for one another. Sayonara and God bless you folks!
I agree Shofar,
The point of the article has to do with the beginning of the sacrificial system, not health food. My point is that it all points to the Saviour, right from the beginning!
John 3:16 certainly has much to do with our salvation, but to really understand it, you have to read the whole bible. It is very easy to take Scripture out of context. As you said, It’s all about God’s grace and His love for us. That is what the sacrificial system was about.
Even phrases like “God’s love for us” can be misinterpreted. Is God crazy about us? Are we so lovable, that He just had to die for us? That interpretation would make it about us, but it’s not about us, it is about Jesus.
So, what about God’s love for us? Is it about how wonderful we are, that God just can’t help but love us, or is it about the wonderful love of God for a bunch of worthless sinners?
Sorry, I just had to ask.
This blog is about studying the whole word of God, for ALL He has for us. His word is full of treasures, but not all of them specifically link to John 3:16.
As Jesus said; “Seek and ye shall find.”
And Paul said;
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15
You are right, it’s all about God and His master plan. This plan includes man being reconciled to God and having a relationship with Him that honors Him. And 2 Tim 2:15 is what we all must do to be approved of Him. And I agree that God’s plan for the redemption of man can be learned from the Old Testament sacrificial rituals and customs.
Blessings, Shalom!
‘God’s Enduring Love’ http://heulu.wordpress.com/
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You are not interpreting 1 Timothy 3 correctly in saying not eating meats is an act of rebellion.
You have to read the 1 Tim. text in light of Rom. 14:13-23; Gal. 1:6-9; 3:1-29; 5:1-4; Col. 2:1-23. All of these texts involve false teachers who were teaching that faith in Christ had to be supplemented by maintaining many of the ceremonial laws given by Moses (i.e., circumcision, the eating of meat from “unclean” animals, worshipping on the Sabbath alone, etc.) Paul rips that notion apart and takes his hearers back to Christ and Him crucified. Now the Romans text involves the occasion where an immature Jewish Christian still struggles with the eating of meat. In that case for the sake of the brother fellow Christians should not eat meat in his presence and so cause him to stumble in his faith. Now once he becomes more mature and realizes that he has been set free from such bondage (Paul’s whole point in the Gal. text especially), no such struggle exists.
Hi JB,
I was interpreting 1 Timothy 3 in light of what he says in 1 Timothy 4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. I Timothy 4:1-3
Apart from that I do agree with what you later said about those who stumbled at the law. I would add that, in the Church-age, we are allowed to eat animals that were considered unclean in the Jewish law. We go back to Genesis 9 for the Gentile dietary laws, as it was repeated in Acts 15 and 21.
Thanks for writing,
Dan
I’m curious where your proof is that Adam and Eve ate animals in the garden. You speak your opinion as fact, and I’m wondering what is backing that up. From what I can see your proof is “God never changes,” but then in the same breath you cling to an end times theology where dispensationalism, which is really just a way of allowing God to change without changing, is at its core. Is there any more proof to your statement?
I dont think it really matters if Adam and Eve ate the meat or just used the covering from the animal sacrifice. The fact is that there has to be SACRIFICE. Sacrifice is an unchanging condition of life that God set up for the
remission of SINS.
Jane, I would have agreed with you in the past, but it is clear that the first sacrifice was in the Garden. Where did Abel get his ideas of Sacrifice? Directly from the Lord? Yes, but the seed was planted with the first Sacrifice in the Garden.
I think God made Adam and Eve eat the clean animals he slaughtered, and the reason was the same for all the sacrifices to follow; there is horror at the death of the animal, and delight in eating the meat, along with the knowledge that “my sin caused this death”!
It was all leading to the one Ultimate Sacrifice of the Son of God, who’s death should give us the same mixed feelings! My sin caused His death, and that death made it possible for me to go to Heaven and experience all the delights there!
Thanks for writing,
Dan