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And as (καθ᾽ ὅσον) it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (κρίσις). (Heb. 9:27 KJV)
If you ask Bible scholars “Will there be a second chance for salvation after death?” many answer “No” and cite Hebrews 9:27 for proof:
“While the idea of a second chance for salvation is appealing, the Bible is clear that death is the end of all chances. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that we die, and then face judgment. So, as long as a person is alive, he has a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc. chance to accept Christ and be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31). Once a person dies, there are no more chances.”-GotQuestions.Org
The Bible does not indicate that people get an opportunity to repent or to put faith in Jesus after they die. Hebrews 9:27 says, “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”- Andrew McClurg, Ph.D, Grand Canyon University Instructor, College of Theology.
Their interpretation is eisegesis, taking the verse out of context to make it a pretext for the opposite of what Paul says: Christ came to save sinners, not just the lucky ones born in the right era or country. His sacrifice is offered to every man appointed to die and be judged for their sins since the foundation of the world (kosmos):
“Inasmuch as” (καθ᾽ ὅσον comp. Heb. 3:3; 7:20) it is appointed humans die and then judged is why Christ offered Himself that He may put away the sins since the foundation of the world (1 Jo. 2:2; 4:14; John 1:9, 29; 4:42; 11:51-52; 12:32; 2 Cor. 5:18-21;Col. 1:20):
24 For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own,
26 or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 Inasmuch as (καθ᾽ ὅσον) it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment (μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο κρίσις) (Heb. 9:24-27 Revised Patriarchal Greek Orthodox New Testament)
That is what Paul is revealing in context. Unlike the temporally and geographically limited Old Covenant, the New Covenant “has made the first obsolete” (Heb. 8:12). Unlike the Old Covenant whose earthly sacrifices for the sins of the people and priests had to be repeated often “Christ came as High Priest…of the greater…tabernacle…not of this creation…and with His own blood entered the Most Holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption…through the eternal Spirit” (Heb. 9:1-23).
Corresponding to the High Priest who went alone offering sacrifices “for himself and for the peoples sins committed in ignorance” which was “symbolic for the present time” Christ as High Priest entered “the greater and more perfect tabernacle” so through the Eternal Spirit all who died in ignorance of the Gospel of Christ could be saved (Heb. 9:7-15).
7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance;
8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience–
10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Heb. 9:7-15 NKJ)
The New Covenant flows from Christ in the Most Holy and therefore transcends time and space. Unlike the old covenant on earth where sacrifice for sin was repeated often, Christ offers Himself once at the end of the age and need not suffer repeatedly “since the foundation of the world” to cover all born into it:
24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.
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. (Heb. 9:24-26 NAS)
Therefore, all who repent and believe the gospel of Christ that is preached “also” to the dead (1 Pet. 4:5-6; comp. 1 Pet. 3:18-22) 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;
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)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, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Heb. 9:27-28 NAS)
Confirming this judgment concerns unbelievers only, Jesus said Christians have already passed from death into life, and do not come under judgment that could result in spiritual death (John 10:27-30; Rom. 8:1, 28-30, 33-34; 1 John 3:14).
“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 Bible reveals Christians immediately enter into the presence of Christ when they physically die (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:6), therefore it is impossible they are being judged if Christ’s sacrifice applies to them:
All who die without Christ, everyone from Adam and Eve onward who did not commit eternal sin can repent, and eagerly wait for Christ’s second coming for the rapture/resurrection in Hades:
It would be unbalanced God limit the infinite value of Christ’s sacrifice only for those lucky enough to hear the Gospel and believe it after the 1st century forsaking billions of potential believers from Adam and Eve onward. The availability of God’s offer of salvation is implicit throughout the NT:
16 “For God so loved the world (2889 κόσμος kosmos) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 “For God did not send His Son into the world (2889 κόσμος kosmos) to condemn the world (2889 κόσμος kosmos), but that the world (2889 κόσμος kosmos) through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18 NKJ)
In John 3:16-18 “world” (2889 κόσμος kosmos) appears four times, contrasting the kosmos from whence God’s Son came with “the kosmos of humanity.” Therefore, it is impossible His Son saved only some in the kosmos — excluding all born before Christ came or didn’t hear the Gospel of Christ after the 1st century.
Why? Because that is like saying God sent His Son to save the house, but He didn’t save the basement. The basement is part of the house just like the other rooms.
God sent His Son to save the entire kosmos (Jn. 1:9, 29; 4:42; Rm. 5:10; 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:19) whether living or dead (Jn. 5:24-25, 28-29; Heb. 9:27-28; 1 Pt. 4:6) , all born into it since the world began. (Col. 1:20; Heb. 9:24-26; 1 Jn. 2:2; 4:9-10; 8:32)
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)
Everyone saved since the foundation of the world owes their salvation to the blood of Christ. There is no salvation apart from Christ:
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 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)
Some testify they experienced a “Life Review” after they died. Fast forward to Frame 25:03 to hear their accounts. Only Holy Scripture is 100% true. I do not say the same about any other source of information:
Rethinking Death: Exploring What Happens When We Die
For more:
https://endtimenews.net/does-the-bible-teach-a-second-chance/