Death and Then Judgment (6/7/2026)

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

The mystery of death has puzzled saint and sinner alike since near the beginning of time, and here the inspired writer decidedly states it is a one-time occurrence in the life of every person—and he makes it permanent.

From death, there is no return because God has planned an important event that will follow—it is a time of judgment that will determine the eternal future of every individual. And it is compared to the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross—also, a one-time event.

When Jesus died, He bore the sins of every person who ever lived—when He comes again, He will not bring those sins with Him. Rather, He will appear in His perfected state, serving as the Savior for those who “wait” for him—that is, for all who have believed His message and have submitted their lives to His teaching. So, salvation is available for all but will be granted only to obedient believers.

Let us not allow the sobering message of this teaching to escape us—it behooves us to think seriously about our relationship with Jesus, recognizing His part in our salvation. But, we do have a part, and that part is submission—that is what He expects from us.