The Rapture in Hebrews 9

Dr. Couch, is Hebrews 9:28 a rapture passage? It seems that it is. Seems the same here as He delivers us from the coming wrath.

ANSWER: Hebrews 9:28 reads: "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."

Remember, context is important, and I'm convinced that the book of Hebrews is written mainly to the Jews who have not accepted Him as Savior; it is not written to the church but to the Jews. Note that the passage does not say "to us who await" but to "those who await." Also, the passage is about the two comings. Technically, the rapture is not a coming. We go up to Him; His feet do not touch the ground. We are caught up to Him in the clouds.

The verse is parallel to Luke 1 where it speaks of "two" salvations, one which is His death for sins and the other is a salvation from Israel's enemies, that is, it is the kingdom salvation, which kingdom He will reign and rule over.

First coming: "To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77).

Second coming: "God has raised up for us (the Jews) a horn of salvation in the house of David His servant … [Kingdom] Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of those who hate us" (Luke 1:69-71).

This is why the passage was not used as a rapture passage. But too, we did not give all the rapture verses in the book Perhaps Today. That was not our purpose even if Hebrews 9:28 was a rapture passage, which it is not. It is a Kingdom [Second Coming] passage!

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (5/11)

The Second Coming

Dr. Couch, I heard you say that the idea of Christ's Second Coming was in the Bible. Can you give me again that passage? ANSWER:  The passage is Hebrews 9:28. There the author of Hebrews writes "So Christ, 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."    His first coming was in reference to sin. He went to the cross for sinners. "Shall appear a second time" is almost the same wording as "Second Coming!" Christ's second coming is a salvation but it has to do with being rescued from the persecution of the world. We find this idea in Luke 1:68-72. The idea there is about Christ bringing a salvation, a redemption "for His people" that is a salvation "from our enemies." The second coming is Christ redeeming Israel from her enemies in the world. But His first coming is: "To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77). The two comings are clearly shown here in Luke and prophesied by the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias.    The Amil guys need to weep and cry. Boy, talking about the Amil guys having bad theology! Part of their problem is they just don't study their Bible!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)