The verse I now quote is what I call a classic. It is a scripture many preachers will quote to substantiate their belief that once a person dies they are immediately judged and then sent pronto to heaven or hell.
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27). Now here’s the way many read this verse, or at least this is what they THINK it is saying, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the immediate judgment,” or “after they so die they are immediately judged.” But the verse doesn’t say that at all. All the writer of Hebrews is saying is that NO ONE is appointed by God to die the second death. No one is predestined to go to hell. ALL born human will have at least one grand and golden opportunity to repent of their sins, submit themselves to Jesus Christ as their Lord and be granted eternal life.
I just watched a video on YouTube where Billy Graham gave the popular, but erroneous, interpretation of Hebrews 9:27. And he said once someone dies they go immediately into God’s presence and are judged right then and then sent immediately to hell or invited to enter into heaven and enjoy all its splendors.
The second great mistake many make is when they ASSUME the “judgment” spoken of in that verse is the time of judgment where one is judged for his, or her sins, or judged as to their Christian walk and granted rewards, if saved, or consigned to hell if lost. Billy Graham also said that, if lost, this judgment one faces immediately upon dying is to decide their place in hell. He didn’t expound any further after making that comment, so I don’t know if he meant who gets the lowest place in hell, or who gets the hottest place in hell, or who suffers the greatest torment. Billy Graham said lots of things without scripture support for his beliefs. He said that when he died an angel would take him by the hand and escort him immediately into God’s presence. No scripture says such a thing, yet Billy believed it – and Billy was America’s pastor. He ought to know, right? Well, he ought to have known better is what he ought to have known.
The judgment spoken of in Hebrews 9:27 is the same judgment spoken of in many other texts throughout the scriptures. “The meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach His way” (Psalm 25:9). “He (God) loves righteousness and judgment. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5). And note carefully the divine revelation given in these seven short verses of Psalm 67: “1) God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah. 2) That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among ALL nations. 3) Let the people praise thee, O God, let ALL the people praise thee (the Mayans, the Aztecs, the Babylonians, the Assyrians – ALL people). 4) O let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for thou shalt JUDGE the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. (Note well this time of judgment is when Satan has been bound and God Himself is governing the entire planet – all nations). 5) Let the people praise thee, O God, let ALL the people praise thee (nations formerly embracing Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, atheistic, etc.) 6) THEN (yes, then after Christ’s return and God is governing all nations) shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall bless us, AND ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH SHALL FEAR HIM.”
How about the people the prophets Elijah and Elisha raised from the dead? Didn’t they die TWICE. And how about the people Jesus raised from the dead? Didn’t they, after living somewhat longer, die again, dying TWICE?
Those who really don’t have a deep understanding of scripture, who don’t possess Spirit-touched memories whereby they can instantly recall each and every appropriate text will think some scripture is saying one thing quite clearly when that scripture is actually saying something diametrically opposed to their erroneous interpretation
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley