“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 9:28 NKJV).
Three Appearances of Christ (Hebrews 9:24-28)
Courtesy of Believers Bible Commentary.
Verse 26. Christ has appeared. His First Coming. Came to earth to save us from the penalty of sin. Past tense of salvation. “He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26).
Verse 24. Christ now appears. Present ministry to save us from the power of sin. Present tense of salvation. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).
Verse 28. Christ will appear. Anticipating the imminent return of our Messiah to save us from the presence of sin. Future tense of salvation. Coincidental with our Rapture. “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 9:28).
Our rapture is our Blessed Hope because we will see Jesus. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
The blessedness of our rapture is we shall see Jesus as He really is. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1John 3:2).
Since the Cross, the universe has never seen any event of such magnitude as the instantaneous, worldwide catching up or rapture of all those who are eagerly waiting for Him (Hebrews 9:28).
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [Greek, harpazō, raptured, forcefully snatched up] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1Thessalonians 4:17).
We know of nothing that remains for our Lord to accomplish before He raptures His Church home. Hence, our departure is imminent. It is solely the Father’s sovereign timing, which the universe awaits before He raptures His Church. “7 Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 20 He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20).
Father, truly eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things You have prepared for those who love You (1Corinthians 2:9). Eagerly, we desire to be present with You; but, we pray we will keep our hand to the plow in the meantime laboring for You. Cause us not to give up on raising our families, supporting our brothers and sisters, reaching out to the unredeemed, and maintaining our secular employments. Magnify Yourself through the Rapture of Your Church. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). To You belongs the victory. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 