Ancient Churches Lexicon
Altars
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Altars did not originate with the concept of sacrifice. They were built before anyone had the idea of slaughtering animals on them (AC 921). It is true that in the Hebrew Church, a later period of the Ancient Church, the sacrifice of animals upon an altar was a fundamental part of worship (AC 4489). But in the Most Ancient Church, and in earlier periods of the Ancient Church, there was no animal sacrifice (AC 2180). However, they did have altars. The altar was developed as a representation of the Lord from the collections of doctrinal things made by the people of the Most Ancient Church called “Cain” and “Enoch” (AC 921, AC 920). At first, mounds were piled up as a witness for, and in memory of, something that was to stand firm and be remembered (AC 8623). These mounds later became altars that were representative in all of their aspects (AC 4489).
The use of altars in worship began in the Ancient Church and then spread to the nations around it (AC 920). The Ancient Church was the source of many religious rituals in the Gentile nations, including perpetual fires and the burning of incense (AC 6832, AC 10177).
See also:
Cain, Eber,
Enoch ‘Who Walked with God’,
Gentiles, Representatives,
Rituals, Sacred Fire,
Sacrifices, Worship
Passages relating to Altars and the Ancient
Churches:
AC 920, AC 921; AC 1298; AC 2180; AC 4489;
AC 4835; AC 6832; AC 8623; AC 10177; AE
375; AE 391; AE 504
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