AD 70

In AD 70, the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem.

Almost 1955 years has passed, but the temple has not been rebuilt. Without the temple, there is now no place for the sacrifices to be offered according to the Mosaic Law. But those sacrifices were required to make atonement for sins.

Hebrews 9:22
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

The law states that almost everything must be consecrated and made clean by blood. And sins cannot be forgiven without shedding of blood.

As the Jewish practice of animal sacrifices had paused and stopped, they are neither able nor permitted to offer animal sacrifices without the temple and the Levitical priesthood. Without those animal sacrifices, how can they receive forgiveness from their sins?

Without any blood sacrifice today, the Jews have no way of atoning for their sins. But Passover is still remembered and kept without the sacrifice of the lamb. Yom Kippur is still observed without any burnt offerings and sacrifices made for the atonement of sins.

However, the conditions and requirements of the Mosaic Law remain unchanged. The Jewish people are unable to make things right with God. They cannot find forgiveness without an animal sacrifice.

Today, many Jews believe that forgiveness of sin is obtained and done through repentance, prayer and good deeds.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

However, the people in Israel also know that it is not good enough. Since AD 70, they have been trying to rebuild the temple and to restore the priesthood.

Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’

This is because the life of the body is in the blood. And God had given them rules and regulations for pouring that blood on the altar. They must do this to remove their sins so they will belong to the Lord. It is the blood that removes the sins from their life so they will belong to the Lord.

Before His death, Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destructed and destroyed.

Matthew 24:1-2
1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple.
2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Jesus knew what God’s will was. The animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant have to be replaced by something better and eternal! Once and for all, Jesus became the eternal Sacrifice. Not just for the Jews but also for all the people of the nations!

Hebrews 9:15
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

For this reason, Christ came and died. He sealed the new covenant so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This was done because His death was required to set people free from the sins they did while the first covenant was in effect. There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. Thus, Jesus died so that we could live.

And Christ had fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law.

Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

The animal sacrifices were merely a type of the perfect Sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

The sacrifice of Christ paid the debt of sin for all mankind, both Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

About 40 years after the death of Christ, the Jewish temple was destroyed in AD 70. The ceremonies and rituals for animal sacrifices were divinely removed. They have not been observed and done since then.

As Christians, we need to know and acknowledge that Christ had died for us. We need to remember that He had sacrificed His life, and died for us. We need to understand that He had paid the price of death, poured His life for us and atoned for our sins!

Because He died, God forgives our sins, and we live. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life. And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Written on 1 October 2025