No more Altars
The first time the word altar is mentioned and recorded in the Hebrew Bible is that it was erected by Noah, although it does not specify that there was an altar in (Genesis 4:3–4).
Altars (Hebrew: מִזְבֵּחַ, mīzbēaḥ, "a place of slaughter or sacrifice") in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth (Exodus 20:24) or unwrought stone (20:25).
Unwrought stone is (of metals or other materials) not worked into a finished condition. Natural stone.
Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (Genesis 22:9; Ezekiel 6:3; 2 Kings 23:12; 16:4; 23:8).
You will notice that Altars where build by those who had an encounter with GOD in some way or another.
Maybe GOD showed Adam and Eve how to use the Altar after they sinned, he did kill the animals and clothe Adam and Eve.
That was the first blood sacrifice to cover their sin.
When Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden, they were commanded to offer animal sacrifice upon an altar in similitude of the coming atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
After the Flood, Noah rebuilt the altar first built by Adam and made covenants with God.
According to Jewish tradition, the summit of Mount Moriah is where the Creation of the earth began, and the site where Abraham subsequently built an altar to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Then came Moses and the tabernacle, then Jerusalem and the building of altars anew on Mount Moriah.
It is the ancient site of the first [Solomon’s] temple and the second temple which was present at the time of Jesus.
Today it is referred to as The Temple Mount.
Two major types of altars were found within the tabernacle of Moses and the temple complex later, which continued through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
The destruction of the temple, and thus the altar, in AD 70 by the Romans meant that the normative elements of temple worship were lost.
Sacrifice was eventually replaced by traditional Jewish practices, with an emphasis on scripture study, prayer, and giving righteousness.
It isn’t in the bible but I want to believe that Cain and Abel brought their sacrifice to some type of Alter.
Taught to them by their parents Adam and Eve.
If Altar is a special place where we bring things to GOD that could be true.
The altar includes the four main elements of nature – Earth, Wind, Water and Fire.
An altar is a place of sacrifice and a power point to draw spiritual and supernatural strength (Genesis 8:20-21).
Altars are places of separation where we separate ourselves to God and separate from curses and generational traits.
We note the second altar in Genesis 12:8-13 as Abraham progresses in his journey.
We discover that Abraham pitches his tent between Bethel (meaning house of God) and Ai (meaning heap of ruins), perhaps signifying his devotion to God and how that devotion is intended to impact the world (worship and witness).
One of the greatest constructed Altars was that of the chosen people when they were in the wilderness.
They constructed a grand but moveable temple, one that mirrored the one that is in Heaven.
An altar in the Holy of Holies.
The Holy of Holies was located at the west end of the Temple, and in Solomon's Temple it enshrined the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of Israel's special relationship with God.
At the entrance to the Holy of Holies stood a small cedar altar overlaid with gold.
An Altar is a place to bring blood sacrifice to cover a sin.
If you killed someone’s oxen by mistake you would repay the person and also take a goat to the temple and ask for forgiveness.
Many animals were used and for different sins were covered.
The temple priest would instruct you on what to bring as a sacrifice for what sin it was to cover.
I think many people didn’t do this like they should because they were ashamed to let other know what sin they needed repentance on.
Think about a person who cheated on their spouse had to bring a brown sheep.
They would stand in line with others knowing that the brown sheep is because of a certain sin.
People don’t like to let others know that they have sinned.
That is pride and wrong.
God called on his people to build Altars to give thanks, worship and remember what He did in their lives.
He wanted them to place a marker in their lives to remember that interaction with him, and not just the person or persons it happened to, but to the following generations.
As we study the bible we see that it wasn’t just the Chosen People of GOD that used Altars.
Gideon tore down the enemies Altars to their gods.
God calls Gideon to cast down the altar of the idol Baal (Judges 6:28–35) In order for God to move the people along, the issue of idol worship had to be dealt with.
He called Gideon to not only pull down the idol altar but to build an altar to the one true God and sacrifice to Him.
Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. (2 Kings 10)
However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit--the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
Altars were used even in Jesus day, people were required to bring sacrifices to the temple.
We can go way deep into that practice and why Jesus was mad of how the temple wasn’t right.
But let’s just focus on Altars for now.
In most churches we have wooden benches that are called Altars.
What is a modern day altar?
Nowadays, the altar is the place for non-sacrificial religious rites such as communion or weddings, and is a metaphor for offerings.
When I was first introduced to the Altar as a young boy it was a meeting place with GOD.
It was the place that I could go to be in the presence of GOD.
My walk with GOD is different now and I know that GOD is with me always.
But as a young boy I couldn’t wait to go to church to be able to kneel at the altar and talk with GOD.
True the church altar is a place to bring your cares and needs to the GOD.
We also can bring our joys and triumph to him.
Victories in Jesus and give our sacrifice of praise to him.
BUT there is coming a day when there will be no more Altars.
No more need to have to come to GOD with stuff or cares.
We will not be in a state of need.
When GOD tells Jesus to go get your bride.
When Jesus calls us up to Heaven to be with him.
All that was made will be unmade.
Revelations 21: 1-27 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
From my research and studies this tells me that everything will be destroyed and we will enter into a New Heaven and New Earth.
A set of dwelling place where there was no war or evil battles.
This New Heaven and New Earth will not have to have an Altar because we will not have to have another blood sacrifice to cover our sins.
Jesus placed his own blood on the Altar in Heaven once he rose from the grave.
Being the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.