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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Future Salvation, #6
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27,28—NIV)
We know the promised salvation is not to go to Heaven. People go to Heaven when they die, not at the coming of the Lord. The majority of God's elect, from Abel forward, already are in the spirit Paradise. Therefore the statement "to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him" cannot possibly be referring to going to Heaven.
A related thought is expressed in the following:
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39,40—NIV)
Those who "were all commended for their faith" are the heroes of faith of the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews. We have no doubt most if not all of them are in the spirit Paradise above. I think you would agree with this.
But notice that "none of them received what had been promised." They are in Heaven but they have not received the promise. Therefore residence in Heaven is not the promise. Obviously, from the two verses, the promised salvation is to come in the future.
We submit that the promised salvation is deliverance from sin. The Lord Jesus will come in the last days to remove sin from His people in Heaven and on the earth.
We are not qualified to comment on the manner in which judgment takes place in the spirit realm. We do know from the fourth chapter of First Peter that we are in the last days and that judgment has begun in the household of God. Also that God is judging the living and the dead. How God judges the dead we have no idea.
We do not believe the heroes of faith are sinning in Heaven. It is our point of view that the Presence of God is so strong that sin is prevented even if it is latent in the personality.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to behave righteously when you are in church and the Spirit of God is present in power? You are lifted out of yourself. You are carried on eagles' wings. You love everybody. You are ready to repent of all your sins.
But in the cold, gray light of Monday morning you begin to yell at your wife and children. You weren't delivered from anger just by being in a glorious service.
The sin was present in your personality while you were in church but the Presence of God overrode it in some manner. Is this a fact with you?
The Presence and Glory of God will be a hundred times as strong in the spirit Paradise in Heaven above as it is in our church services at their best!
We know most believers die with numerous aspects of their personality unjudged. They die filled with bitterness, hate, a tendency to gossip and slander, jealousy, and every evil work.
To be continued.