Read Hebrews 9:19-28
Exegesis
V19 Moses had been given the Law by God and he (Moses) related that to the people.
Moses also made a symbolic gesture of sprinkling blood (Mercy Seat).
V20 “This is the blood of the testament”
No Testament (will) was in effect until death of the testator (blood shed)
V22 In the Law, almost all things were “purged” with blood (something died)
WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD IS NO REMISSION (of sin).
It began with Adam and Eve, and has continued.
Now God, through Moses, put it in writing (the Law)
V23 The temple on earth (Jerusalem, the Temple) had to be purged from sin by blood for sin
The temple on earth and the functions in that temple was a shadow of things in Heaven.
The temple in Heaven needed a “better sacrifice” than the blood of caves, sheep, etc.
V24 Christ (The Great High Priest) did not make His sacrifice in the temple on earth.
Christ made the blood sacrifice in the Temple in Heaven itself.
V25-26 The earthly people had to sacrifice, with blood, EVERY TIME they sinned.
The earthly High Priest had to sacrifice, with blood, EVERY YEAR.
V27 All mankind must die ONCE – and once we have died, there is judgment (by God).
When Christ (Great High Priest) died, He made the one true blood sacrifice, in Heaven.
V28 Jesus Christ died as OUR blood sacrifice – ONCE FOR ALL.
And those that “look to him” by faith in His finished work, will appear before God without sin.
Verse 27 – “As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
In this physical life - there are only two options:
It is an option, because we, in this life, choose.
1 - We choose to trust in the finished work of Christ (blood sacrifice in Heaven).
2 - Or we choose to handle our sins, our failures, in our own way.
“There is a way that seemeth right unto man unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
However we choose, results in our Judgment (v27)
By the way, to not choose Christ IS to choose ourselves.
So AFTER this life is over – The UNBELIEVER has an appointment with God
Revelation 20:11-15 The Great White Throne Judgment
V11 God, Himself, is seated on the Great White Throne
You can try to run away, to flee, to hid, to disappear
But there is no place to hide from God on the Great White Throne.
V12 ALL unbelievers will stand before God in this judgment.
Small and Great, Rich and Poor, All races, All genders, Young and Old.
The “books” are opened.
The books that record our deeds, our motives, our intent.
ALL of them – seen or hidden, public or private
Another book is open, which is the book of life
Those in this judgment are judged by the things in the BOOKS.
Those things which are our works. Are we good enough before God.
V13 All those spiritually dead,
on earth, in the sea, or in Hell, itself have an appointment with God
And they are judged according to their own work.
Are your works good enough to withstand this judgement.
V14 All those that are spiritually dead, from earth or from Hell
Are cast into the LAKE OF FIRE. (eternal)
` V15 Whosoever’s name is not found in the Book of Life
is case into the Lake of Fire.
It isn’t the WORKS that send someone to Hell, then the Lake of Fire
It is that their name is not in the BOOK OF LIFE.
So AFTER this life is over – The BELIEVER has an appointment with God
We read in I Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
And in Revelation 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every
man according as his work shall be.”
Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:9 speak of the “judgment seat.”
This is a transliteration of the Greek word “Bema”.
A “Bema” is a raised platform where a Roman magistrate or ruler sat to make
a decision and to pass sentence.
Paul’s used the word “Bema” with his references to the Greek athletic contests.
The victor was given a laurel wreath (poison ivy) placed on the head.
The Greek athletes appeared before the “Bema” to receive his perishable award,
so also the Christian will appear before Christ’s “Bema” to receive his
imperishable award(s).
The Greek judge at the “Bema” bestowed rewards to the victors.
He did not whip the losers,
neither did the Greek judge sentence the losers to hard labor.
The judgment at Christ’s bema is not concerned with the problem of sin.
It is Christ’s evaluation of our lives, our works, our motives, our intent.
It is for bestowing rewards, not rejection of our failures.
Will there be sorrow or anguish?
Yes – there can be a LOSS of rewards. (But not a loss of salvation)
I Corinthians 13:13-15
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 is the “Rapture” of the Church
When the church returns with Christ in Revelation 19:8, she is already rewarded.
So the “Bema” seat or rewards seat (or lack of rewards)
occurs after the Rapture and
before the return of Christ with his saints after the 7 years of Tribulation.
And the participants of the “Bema” seat, are Christians only.
Only Christians were raptured and only Christians return with Christ.
So BEFORE this life is over – The BELIEVER has an appointment with God
I would advise ALL believers to have a daily appointment with God
This is a time of meeting Him in prayer EVERY day.
It is an appointment with God – that WE make.
We make, have and keep business appointments
We make, have and keep Dental appointments
We make, have and keep Doctor appointments
Some of us have appointments with the Judicial system.
These appointments are necessary and indispensable and unavoidable.
` How much more necessary, indispensable and unavoidable is our appointment with God?
Oh, we can avoid the appointment!
We are just SO busy…..
You just don’t understand how busy I am and how much I have to do!!
Really?
To busy for the Lord of Lords and King of Kings?
What a privilege He gives us to come before Him.
We can make time for God now, if we choose it to be important enough.
“To be much like Christ, we must be much with Christ!”
We will make time for Him after the Rapture (at the Bema seat).
How much will we have confessed and have gotten strength and guidance of His will?
All the great men and women of God spent time, regular time, dedicated time, with God.
So BEFORE this life is over – The UNBELIEVER has an appointment with God
Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
Spirit – The Holy Spirit provides the conviction to Come!
Bride – the church has a Gospel and invites all to Come!
And let him that heareth say, Come.
Heareth – hear the Word of God and tells others to Come!
And let him that is athirst Come.
Athirst – Are you thirsting for the things of God? Come!
If God is calling, Come!
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Whosoever will – anyone!
Salvation is offered as a gift, you can take freely!
Come!
