Three Appearings of Christ

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 2

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

The Past

“Once in the end of the world hath He appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Heb. 9:26²⁶For 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. (Hebrews 9:26).

He has thus appeared, and He has done the mighty work for which He came from heaven to this earth. He will never thus appear again. The cross is eternal in its issues. What He has done can never be added to nor taken from. By the sacrifice of Himself, He has accomplished this most mighty work, and for His people, sin is put away, and it will be put away from the earth by virtue of that sacrifice, and then the Father's will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Present

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heb. 9:24²⁴For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24).

Risen from the dead, having put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus, the High Priest, has entered into the holiest by His own blood and now appears in the heavens, the Man Christ Jesus, in the presence of God for His people, for whose sins He died. He lives to die no more, and He Himself, once the sacrifice on earth, is now the Priest on high for His people. He appeared on earth to die for us; having died, He appears in God's presence to live for us. He abides there as our priest.

The Future

“Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without [apart from] sin, unto salvation." Heb. 9:28²⁸So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28).

On the great Day of Atonement, the High Priest of Israel took the blood of the sacrifice into the holiest of all; God accepted the atoning blood, and Israel was free. The proof to the people that all was well, was the fact that their high priest lived. And when he came out of the tabernacle, they saw in him salvation. He had made atonement, and, having made it, and it having been accepted, he appeared before them, a witness to salvation.

How graciously will the type be fulfilled! For the heavens, which now hide Him from our eyes, will presently open, and Jesus will come forth to bring His people into the full blessing of His accomplished work. He is coming to bring about the lengths and breadths of salvation—salvation from death, from the power of Satan, from this earth and its trials—and its tears salvation absolute and complete.

Christ has put away our sins by the sacrifice of Himself.

Christ lives in God's presence for us, and bears us up through this life's journey.

Christ will come and take us home to be forever with Himself. J.T. Armet.

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