On the Day of Atonement

“On the Day of Atonement”

Man’s Inescapable Appointment

Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" 

Once to die... Greek: apokeimai, be laid up in store; be in reserve. Translated appoint (Heb. 9:27); be laid up (Luke 19:20; Col. 1:5; 2Ti. 4:8). It is appointed or laid up by divine decree: "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19). This law of death will hold firm for all men until the time of the rapture when the living who are to be translated will not see death (1Co. 15:51-58; 1Th. 4:13-16; Phil. 3:21).

Death Ends Probation

but after this... After death the judgment, not a second chance to live on earth and be saved. Death ends all probation for the one who dies. If he is righteous at death, his soul and spirit go to heaven awaiting the resurrection of the body (2Co. 5:8,10; Phil. 1:21-24; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 6:9-11). If he is wicked at death his soul and spirit go to hell to await the resurrection of his body (Luke 16:19-31; Isa. 14:9; Rev. 20:11-15). There is no such thing as purgatory or a second chance to be on probation in the Millennium or any other time. Neither is there a reincarnation or a transmigration from body to body.

This is a general rule for all mankind. There have been very rare exceptions (e.g., Lazarus died twice; John 11:43-44). Those, like Lazarus, who were raised from the dead by a miraculous act of our Lord were not resurrected to a glorified body and unending life. They only experienced resuscitation.

Another exception will be those who don’t die even once, but who will be “caught up … to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17; Enoch, Gen 5:24; Elijah, 2 Kings 2:11).

Hebrews 9:28 "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

once... He offered no sacrifice for Himself, for He was sinless (Heb. 7:26; 1Pe. 2:22). He offered Himself once for all sinners, not daily or annually for the Jews only. He tasted death for every man (Heb. 2:9-15; 1Pe. 2:24).

to bear the.... Greek: anaphero, Translated "offer up" (Heb. 7:27; 13:15; Jas. 2:21; 1Pe. 2:5); "bear" (Heb. 9:28; 1Pe. 2:24); "lead," "carry," and "bring up" (Mat. 17:1; Mar. 9:2; Luke 24:51).

Christ’s Eternal Human Body

He offered His body—the one God prepared for Him to offer as a sacrifice for all men (Heb. 10:1-14). Since it was His body that died for sin, it was necessary for the same body to be resurrected and ascend into heaven to represent men. This is what is stated in Heb. 7:25, "He ever liveth." He is ever to live in the same body that lived and died on earth (Luke 24:39; Act. 1:11; Zec. 13:6). Thus, by His eternal intercession and presentation of His resurrected humanity before God, He represents man in heaven and makes it possible for God to justify men who meet His terms (Jhn. 3:16; Rom. 3:21-26; Rom. 10:9-10).

look... apekdechomai, anxious looking with outstretched body (Phil. 3:20).

second time... This refers to the second coming when Christ will come to earth without being a sin offering to save men. He will come the next time to reign and put all enemies under His feet (note, 2Th. 1:7).

Isaiah 53:12 "Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

2 Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Rev. 20:11-15 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."