When Do The Sacrifices Stop?

Q. First off, I so love your website. It has been such a blessing to me and I have been using the MP3’s as my bible studies for a while now. I have a question about Israel after the rapture. I’ve read and also have been listening to the 7 Things To Know To Understand Biblical Prophecy and I’m stuck on one part and can’t quite get the understanding of how it will work.

My question refers to Israel AFTER the rapture of the church. You mention (which I believe) that the battle of Ezekiel will be used to once again “wake up” Israel and turn their hearts back to the Lord and put a desire back in their hearts to rebuild the temple, but here is where my confusion begins. After the battle, it is mentioned that they will rebuild the temple and begin the sacrifices in the temple again because they are back in old covenant relationship with God. At what point will they see and accept the Messiah, Jesus, and STOP the sacrifices? Will it be at the 2nd Coming? I’m just confused about the starting of the sacrifices again and I’m not sure when they will finally see and accept Jesus as Messiah and realize His sacrifice is sufficent. Thank you so much.

A. I think the Battle of Ezekiel 38 will mark the beginning of Daniel’s 70th week, the last 7 years of history. Some time in the first half of that period the Jews will build a Temple and begin sacrificing animals again. Daniel 9:27 says that the anti-Christ will cause the sacrifices to cease in the middle of the week. Toward the end of it, the Lord will open their eyes to the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10).

But when the Lord returns, the Temple sacrifices will begin again and will continue all through the Millennium (Ezekiel 40-48) as a memorial to the Lord’s death.