Context matters. and as it is laid up to men once to die, and after this -- judgment, (Hebrews 9:27 YLT) This verse is commonly used to speak of man facing judgment immediately after dying (while he is dead) and as a proof of death being life somewhere else in contradiction of the teaching of Ecclesiastes 9:5-10, Psalm 146:4, etc. What would be the need for the Great White Throne judgment if man is judged at death? If we read and pay close attention to Hebrews 8-9, we see what Hebrews 9:27 is ACTUALLY teaching. In this passage, The Lord in His work on the cross is being contrasted to the death of each High Priest of Israel. God declared (read Numbers 35 for the details) that when there was an instance of an innocent manslayer (someone who accidentally killed another person), that this person would be judged and if it was determined that he did not murder the person he accidentally killed, he would be allowed to go to a refuge city. He would not be allowed to leave that refuge city UNTIL the death of the High Priest. He left beforehand, an avenger could justifiably kill him. After the death of the high priest however, he could leave the city of refuge and return to his home. So, in Hebrews 9:6, the men who die once are the High Priests, the judgment taking place after is the carrying out of the judging, allowing the manslayer to return to his home. The writer of Hebrews throughout chapter 9, is showing how this custom was the foreshadowing of Jesus as both the person killed AND the High Priest and Israel as the manslayer. Remember, Jesus on the cross praying to The Father, forgive them, for they KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.? Israel did not realize they were killing their Messiah. They were given eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear (Rom.11:8)
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:57:17 +0000
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