Hebrews 9:26 “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Eschatology (the study of the end times) is a hotly debated theological study. I have no interest in entering that debate; for, I’m satisfied with what the Word of God teaches. As with all subjects, it is imperative that we examine every passage within the context in which it is used; for, if we pull passages out of their prescribed context, they can be cobbled together with other, out of context, passages to form whatever point of view a fertile mind might imagine. This passage tells us that “now once in the end of the world hath he [Jesus Christ] appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself”; that is, our Lord came “once”, and the purpose of Him coming was to “put away sin” from “his people” (Matthew 1:21). The putting “away” of “sin” required “the sacrifice of himself”; and, that is exactly what He did and He certified His completed work when, while yet alive on the cross, He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). When he had “put away sin”, He had Eternally and Entirely removed the “sin” and its eternal penalty from “his people”. His people are “All that the Father giveth” Him (John 6:37); that is, all the “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” (I Peter 1:2), which are the same as those whom God the Father (Ephesians 1:1-2) “hath chosen … in him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), and which are the same as His “sheep” (John 10:14). John was blessed to see the Children of God as “a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). Furthermore, the Lord points out that He only had to “sacrifice himself” “once”, not as the priests under the Old Testament Law Service who offered sacrifices continually and every year the high priest was required to enter into the Most Holy Place, before the Ark and the Mercy Seat. It is plainly declared that “after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12) and that “by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14). Therefore, we can endure all the tribulations that this present world can throw at us; for, we know that one sweet and blessed and holy day, we will hear to voice of the Son of God Command, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:34)!