“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” -(Heb. 9:27 NKJ)
“The judgment” isn’t a literal translation, the definite article is not in the Greek. Therefore, this does not refer to THE final judgment, it refers to a judgment that occurs immediately after physical death. (See note below)
Christians have already passed from death into life, and do not come under additional judgment after they die physically. The Bible teaches they immediately enter into the presence of Christ (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:6):
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (Jn. 5:24 NKJ)
The author of Hebrews is speaking about those who died unsaved. The unsaved are judged immediately upon physical death to determine how they will wait in Hades for Judgment day.
Those who did not commit eternal sin can repent, and eagerly wait for Christ’s second coming for the rapture/resurrection in Hades, or reject Christ and wait for Judgment Day when it is confirmed they are not in the Book of life and cast into the Lake of Fire:
Therefore, all who repent pass the judgment and eagerly wait for Christ’s Second coming to be raised from the dead while the rest wait in various levels of torment until Judgment Day;
27 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. (Heb. 9:27-28 NKJ)
For this reason, to save the billions who would repent if they knew the gospel, it is preached to the dead in Hades. All who repent and choose to live according to God’s righteousness are protected from the torments of Hades living “in the Spirit” until their resurrection:
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:5-6 NKJ)
They will rise with the church at Christ’s second coming:
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:13-18 NKJ)
Those who committed eternal sins, or wouldn’t repent in Hades, will rise on Judgment Day and be cast into the Lake of Fire, that is “die the second death” from which there is no resurrection:
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:13-15 NKJ)
END NOTE
QUESTION—What is the significance of the lack of the definite article with κρίσις ‘judgment’?
1. The noun is qualitative, emphasizing what it is [ICC, Lns, Mil, My, NIC, WBC, Wst; NASB, NIV, NJB]: it is judgment.-Greenlee, J. H. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of Hebrews (2nd ed., p. 343). SIL International.
While some interpret it as the final judgment (KJV), many do not (ASV, CEB, CSBO, ERV, NASB, NIV, NLT, MIT, RPTE, etc.).
Lenski says:
“To say that this pronouncement of judgment comes only at the time of the final judgment at the end of the world contradicts Scripture. No one needs to wait until the last day to know God’s verdict; he receives it at the instant of death. -Lenski, R. C. H. (1938). The interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews and of the Epistle of James (p. 319). Lutheran Book Concern.”
The context puts the application of Christ’s sacrifice BEFORE the Final Judgment, those who died receive its benefits BEFORE HIS SECOND COMING, for they “eagerly wait for Him”.
Scripture cannot be broken. The writer is speaking about Judgment after physical death: “INASMUCH as its appointed for men to die and after this comes judgment:
26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Heb. 9:26-28 NASB)
These folks came back before their “Life Review” was completed, so they never heard the gospel of Christ at the end of the review:
Rethinking Death: Exploring What Happens When We Die
https://endtimenews.net/does-the-bible-teach-a-second-chance/