APPEARANCES OF CHRIST, IN HEAVEN AND EARTH.
Hebrews 9:24-28.
The ‘worldly sanctuary’ (Hebrews 9:1) served for a time, in both tent and Temple, but now the ‘reformation’ has been accomplished (Hebrews 9:10).
The endless round of sacrifices would never suffice for the remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22).
To enter into heaven itself, Jesus needed a ‘better’ sacrifice than those previously offered (Hebrews 9:23).
We move forward from the earthly patterns of things in the heavens (Hebrews 8:5), to the heavenly reality which they foreshadowed (Hebrews 9:24).
Jesus has passed into the heavens, and “now appears” in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24).
This is one of three ‘appearances’ of Jesus mentioned in this passage.
FIRST, Jesus “appeared” in the earth, in the past, in the incarnation (Hebrews 9:26).
Christ entered into this world to vanquish sin through the sacrifice of His holy self (Mark 10:45).
The sacrifice of the Cross is described as a once-and-forever event (Hebrews 9:28).
Our salvation was accomplished in the earth at the Cross of Jesus (John 19:30).
SECOND, Jesus appears now in heaven, ever interceding on our behalf at God’s right hand (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25).
Jesus did not need to come repeatedly, and offer repeatedly blood not His own (Hebrews 9:25).
Nor does He need to suffer repeatedly, for His one sacrifice is perfect and efficacious for all (Hebrews 9:26).
Our salvation was ratified in heaven in the presence of God on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24).
THIRDLY, Jesus will appear again in the earth, in the future, when He comes to gather to Himself those who are eagerly awaiting Him (Hebrews 9:28).
This will not be to the exclusion of those who have gone before, as the Apostle Paul had to explain to one of his congregations (1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).
Our salvation will be brought to full fruition in one final application when Jesus returns to the earth (1 Corinthians 15:51).
‘Wherefore comfort one another with these words’ (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
