WE ARE APPOINTED ONCE TO DIE

By Pastor Mike Taylor

27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So 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 9:27-28)

Since the time that our first parents fell from grace, by sinning against God in the Garden of Eden, each of us have been subject to death at the end of our lives and we cease to dwell upon the earth. Then we are lowered into the earth at our own funeral. This is a fact, that none of us who are alive today will escape death, should the Lord Jesus tarry from returning for His church known as the Rapture. There are several undeniable facts when it comes to the end of one's life, known as physical death.

In the above opening verses, death is spoken of as unavoidable, as all mortal men and women will meet their Maker in the end of anyone's life. But the sad fact is, that most people act like they will never die. To the young, they feel they are immortal and take unnecessary chances and sometimes, this lack of taking care of our fragile existence leads to an early death. Most people live like death is unlikely and don't take seriously their final destination when they are the next to enter eternity. Others don't even believe in an after-life or the judgment that is coming, so they live their life devoid of God and could care less what is on the other side of the black veil that surrounds us all. Mankind has developed the means to prevent life, by birth control pills, but has never been able to remedy the problem by developing “death control”. The wisest man in the Bible, King Solomon gave the finality that each of are facing:

5 “Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:5-7)

And his father King David first came about with this fact that mankind is not immortal by any stretch of the imagination in this physical life, even if the young think so..

9” For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalms 90:9-10)

In the words "it is appointed for men once to die..." we have have another fact, that you only die once.

When Hebrews 9:27 says, "once" it brings home the fact that you don't get a second chance at life and death. It's a one-off deal that cannot be repeated.

When people say, "You only die once!" they usually mean that you might as well be reckless. But surely, since we live and die but once, we should make of our life what we were meant to make of it. Surely we should not waste our one life, but live it as pilgrims in this world 

13 “Go to now, ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:13-17).

The words "once to die" contradict the theory of re-incarnation (that we live successive earthly lives). The statement, "You must be born again" is not a support for re-incarnation. Jesus made it clear that the rebirth of which he spoke was spiritual not physical when he spoke to Nicodemus that came to him by night.

3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:3-7).

EVERY ONE WILL EVENTUALLY DIE, THEN WHAT?

The above facts are indisputable, and no one can say that they will live forever, but there is also another fact that men and women in this life do not want to think about, and that is their destination when they leave this life. In the above opening verses, the Apostle Paul reveals that after anyone dies, that it is not the end of life. Physical life may be over, but there is a continuation of life in the spiritual world.

When Hebrews 9:27 says, "after this" it puts life and death into perspective, and supplies the wonderful hope in what otherwise would be a fatalistic and depressing statement.

An old wireless advertisement used to say, "Death is so permanent!" But in one sense death is not permanent at all. There is something after death. This is why Christians speak of death as a "sleep" because it is a temporary state of existence. But thinking on that “temporary state” is the person oblivious to their surroundings in the spirit world, even though their physical body lies in the grave and goes back to dust and bones?

Many believe that a person knows nothing in a conscious state when lowered into the grave. There is much debate on what the person whose life has ended, what their existence is after dying on earth. The Bible gives many people ideas that death is nothing but soul sleep, or sleeping until the resurrection of the dead, and others who believe that a person's soul goes to one place or another, either heaven or hell, waiting for their final judgment.

The Bible confirms that there is a destination that all who experience death will be placed until final judgment. Some call it heaven:

6 “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2^nd Corinthians 5”6-9)

So that is the heads side of the coin, as Jesus spoke of hell, more than He did of heaven. When our Lord compared the two of hell and paradise of the parable of the rich man ending up in hell was He just making an illustration or something much more profound and permanent for those He was speaking of?. Since Jesus only spoke truth and made the fact plain by speaking in analogies of events that have taken place, we know that there is a place for the righteous, and one for the wicked.

THE RICH MAN IS EVERYMAN THAT HAS NOT JESUS AS SAVIOR!!

As Jesus spoke of this nameless, nobody who was called a “rich man” arrived in a place of torment:

22” And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” (Luke 16:22=24)

Here Lazarus was the bosom of Abraham, which is called Paradise, before the cross of Calvary, and the rich man was in torment of hell. So believing that Jesus never spoke an untruth, even to make a point, there is proof within the Bible that those who die end up in one of two places, either in torment of hell, or with other Christians who have believed in Jesus are in a state of eternal bliss and comfort, called by men, heaven. In what state are these two existences of those departed, we are not told. 

No one has received their immortal, spiritual body, but we can't believe that both body and spirit know nothing when delivered to the grave of death. The physical body knows nothing, as it is mortal made of dust, that is true, but the spirit of man goes back to God who made it, and where that spirit is placed, the Bible states that those who in Jesus are comforted, and those who are in disbelief and have not Jesus within their mortal lives are separated from God, much as the demons banished to Tartarus and are dwelling in a pit in chains till their final judgment. 

So is unrepentant mankind who await their final judgment and receive their immortal bodies. Each of those mentioned are given eternal oneness with God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, OR eternal destruction being separated from God for all eternity and being denied all hope of escaping the horror of the lack of joy, love, hope, light, freedom, or the goodness of God in every aspect of their damnation of existence. 

They are banished from God's presence. It is not what God wanted for them, but they had a choice and they chose it, so God gave them what they chose, separation. Sadly, some believe there is no hell, no eternal punishment for rejecting the only payment for the sins of mankind, but is that true? What does the Bible says about this awful place? Let us quote a few verses that just jump out a person who reads and has ears to hear, let them hear.

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:1-2)

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.” (Matthew 18:7-9)

31 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”...and dropping down a little..........

41 “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:31=34, 41=48)

I believe the above verses, and there are many more, proves that those who enter eternity without the forgiveness of sins that comes from simple faith in the finished work of the cross of Calvary and have not repented of their sins, will face a most horrific eternity.

NO SECOND CHANCE

In the words "and after this the Judgment" we find a final fact, that death is your destiny’s door.

There is no second chance after death. Hebrews 9:27 is telling us precisely what there is after death -- "the judgment". But those found in Jesus Christ, as Paul wrote in the beginning of Romans chapter 8:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Sin leads to death, but death in this regards is not physical death that we all must endure this side of the rapture, but the spiritual death, which is the second death that awaits those not found in Jesus Christ and their names are not found in the Book of Life opened at the Great White Throne judgment. Many try to hypothesize that there is a second chance and one I want to address at this point.

Universal Reconciliation, the lie from hell

We had a debate on a Chrisitian forum I sponsor, about the possibility that God is just, (which He is) that He would not allow mankind to be damned to a devil's hell, and that at the end of mankind's existence on this earth and just before eternity, that each man and women ever born would get a “second chance” at accepting Jesus as personal Savior. 

Now this is after a 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ who has ruled the earth in justice and righteousness, and those raised at the Great White throne are judged, but not sentenced, but given a chance to make that decision for Christ. Now I ask you, who would not make that choice when given the same, of either heaven or hell. Only an insane person would choose hell. But according to this hellish doctrine, all men will be saved in the end of the world as we know it, and God will save everyone. 

When I read this statement and went and looked it up on Google, my mouth just about fell to the floor. This is nothing but a Unitarian Universalism of thought, that no matter how you have lived, God gives you a another chance at salvation. 

“Let us party, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die, but we get a second chance at salvation”....I can imagine Satan whispering this lie into each of those who buy this nonsense and live as wickedly as they want thinking they will get another chance. Let us look at the definition of this Universal Reconciliation found in Wikipedia:

“In Christian theology, universal reconciliation (also called universal salvation, Christian universalism, or in context simply universalism) is the doctrine that all sinful and alienated human souls—because of divine love and mercy—will ultimately be reconciled to God.[1] The doctrine has generally been rejected by Christian religion, which holds to the doctrine of special salvation that only some members of humanity will eventually enter heaven.”

This heresy denies that God is a God of judgment, as He is only a God of love and mercy. But know one thing, in the final summation, the Lord of Creation is also Holy. He will not allow sinful mankind into His presence, and the only way to come back to God the Father, is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, his death, his burial, and His resurrection. All who come to Jesus in this life are forgiven and a deposit of God's Holy Spirit is imparted to them, waiting for the future event of our glorification. As is written in Roman's chapter 8:

“16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:16-19)

At the time of the 1^st resurrection, which Jesus was the beginning of that event and continued at the rapture of the church, and it will be completed at the end of the Millennium when all have died in Jesus will be raised to new life and be conformed completely to the image of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1^st John 3:1-3)

But to the man or woman standing in front of a Holy God, who has not got the blood of Jesus covering their lives, the judgment is quick and it is deadly.

23 “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:23-29)

FINAL JUDGMENT OF THOSE RAISED TO DESTRUCTION

11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)

Some denominations believe that when a man is cast into this Lake of Fire, that the spirit, soul, and body are annihilated, or burned up in a flash, never to be seen of again...Is that true? My Bible speaks of a place burning with fire, brimstone and sulfur, that burns and torments those who are cast into this inferno to be tormented for all eternity.

9 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)

And the Old Testament bears witness of this eternal punishment of those who are cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth:

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.”(Isaiah 66:22-24)

Both passages speak of an eternal destination of those who defy and rebel against a Living God, and who reject the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, as being the only Way back to fellowship with God our Father. It is an eternal separation from God, and will be that man's eternal destruction and torment.

IF UNIVERSALISM IS TRUE, THEN WHY WITNESS?

The end result of this Universal Reconciliation is why witness to a lost person in the first place? “God is not willing that any should perish, so He will give everyone a chance at salvation in the end, so why tell anybody about Jesus Christ? It will be all good at the end of time.” they each say. What a dangerous doctrine that makes to none effect of the Love of God to share with others the hope found in you.

If you go into any of these churches such as the Unitarians, Church of God from the old World Wide Church of God, to the off-shoot branches of today, not to mention Methodist and those who don't give an altar call at the end of their church services, you will find a complete lack of the great Commission given by Jesus. I've often wondered why and now I know for sure that it is because they erroneously believe that God will save everyone, so they just sit on their hands or fold them in pious self-righteousness and ignore this great Commission..

“18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”( Matthew 28:18-20)

Conclusions: YOU MUST MAKE A CHOICE.

We know that we are mortal. We know that all of our loved ones, our neighbors, our co-workers, and even ourselves will eventually die...that's a given. We know from scripture that each of us die once...and there is no second chance at choosing either life or death....life found in Jesus, or death without Jesus. It is one place or the other, and we have no chance if we are in the 2^nd resurrection of the damned who stand before a Holy God at the Great White Throne, as each who stand are judged for their sins in their lives based on the clear words of your Holy Bible.

 Their names will NOT be seen in the Lamb's book of Life, and they will be cast away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, gnashing of teeth, and where the worm dieth not, nor the fire quenched. So it depends on what you make of this life, as it is the rehearsal for the next life, and the where you will spend eternity. Those who are raptured at the beginning of the Tribulation, those who are raised to life being martyred for Jesus in the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation and those who accept Jesus as personal Savior in the Millennium, will all be with Jesus Christ, and God our Father for all eternity. Those who neglect the main focus of why you were even born, that is “what will you do with the man/God, Christ Jesus?” IS A DEFINITE CHOICE...Will you accept or reject the only way to salvation?

Brethren, or my reader, you have a choice as spoken, and there is a simple remedy to avoiding what is promised in the Bible for all who reject the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is SO simple, children are able to make that decision, by responding positively to the calling of God's Holy Spirit...you say HOW? 

As mentioned it is so easy. By believing the Gospel that is found in two passages, that are the microcosm of the whole Bible and the reason God wrote it those who live in this generation, the final generation, before Jesus comes back for His Church and brings judgment on this earth and it's dwellers of the nations.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)

and again.....confess your sins before a Holy God...............

8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”(Romans 10:8-11)

Those who refuse or neglect that, are counted as ungodly, irreligious, and unprepared. They have everything to fear........... 

26 “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:26-29)

I implore you in all love and caring to make that decision for Jesus Christ today, while you have the chance to do so. Remember, we will all appointed one day to die, then the judgment, so don't neglect so great a salvation.

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying for your salvation found only in Jesus Christ. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com. God bless you all,

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET