Hebrews 9:26
For 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. For 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.
Unlike the earthly priests who enter yearly with the blood of others, He did not offer Himself often, which would have required repeated suffering since the foundation of the world, but offered Himself once in a single sacrifice that was sufficient and is never repeated. He appeared at the close of the ages to put away sin by that self-sacrifice, bearing the guilt of humanity on Calvary and obtaining eternal redemption for all who will be obedient. That one offering was the fulfillment toward which all earlier offerings pointed, ending their value when type met antitype, and by virtue of it He entered heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for humanity as representative and intercessor. By that blood He ministered for eighteen centuries in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary for repentant believers, then at the end of the 2300 days in 1844 entered the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary in the final atonement and investigative judgment. His sacrifice brings pardon and cleansing to transgressors without changing God's changeless law, and places the present in the solemn antitypical Day of Atonement that calls for repentance, heart-searching, and purity in preparation for the judgment and His coming.
Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice
Unlike the earthly high priests who enter the holy place every year with the blood of others and offer repeated animal sacrifices, Christ did not offer Himself often, for to do so would have required Him to suffer often since the foundation of the world. He appeared once in the end of the world, at the close of the ages, and His single sacrifice was sufficient and is not repeated. By virtue of that once-offered sacrifice He entered heaven itself to minister for humanity, first presenting His people's prayers, repentance and faith before God purified by His merits, and then entering the most holy place to make atonement for sin and cleanse the sanctuary in the final atonement that completes the plan of redemption. In appearing the second time He declares there is to be no more sacrifice for sin, for He took the blood of His own atonement into the holiest of all and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat and upon His own garments and blessed the people.
He appeared once in the end of the world, at the close of the ages, to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. His death opened access to God for all without a human priest or ruler and enabled Him to declare, It is finished. The Old Testament sacrifices centered on Him, and His atoning sacrifice gives transgressors of God's law peace and pardon.
He is the true High Priest in contrast to the false and corrupted Caiaphas, pure and undefiled without a taint of sin. As the Son of God made flesh He came into the world to remove sin by sacrificing Himself on the cross of Calvary, and in human nature He was tempted in every way as humans are yet without sin. He overcame by prayer and strong supplication and perfected a character after the divine likeness.
By giving Himself on the cross of Calvary He bore the guilt of humanity, including that of Caiaphas, and redeemed humanity from the death caused by disobedience. By a life of perfect obedience to every requirement of God He obtained redemption for all who will be obedient, so that those who receive and acknowledge Him as Saviour have the divine nature imparted to them to overcome Satan. His sacrifice did not change or set aside God's law, but by giving Himself He showed the law is changeless and eternal and vindicated God's character as expressed in it.
That one offering perfected forever those who are sanctified and obtained eternal redemption. After that one sacrifice for sins forever He sat down on the right hand of God, having entered once into the holy place, and He ever lives to make intercession as humanity's representative and advocate sympathetic to human weakness and is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him. His death opened a new and living way, removing the division between Jew and Gentile and opening access to God for all without a human priest or ruler.
His death was the one great sacrifice foreshadowed by the earlier offerings and the center of the Old Testament sacrifices. Type met antitype when Christ, the Lamb slain for the world, offered Himself and made a perfect atonement. His sacrifice ended the value of the Jewish sacrificial offerings, and He now serves as High Priest and Intercessor in the most holy place, while believers seek pardon through Him and await His glorious return.
The Jewish system of types and ordinances was appointed by God to keep faith alive and pointed forward to Christ its antitype. The animal sacrifices taught that disobedience brings death and pointed to the promised Redeemer, through whom people could receive pardon and escape the penalty of past sin while God's law remained honored. They also taught humility about humanity's fallen condition, repentance, and trust in God alone. Unlike those shadows, the Ten Commandments are not a shadow but an enduring reality.
Heavenly Ministry and Final Atonement
He did not enter holy places made with hands but entered heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for humanity as its representative, advocate, and High Priest sympathetic to human weakness. By virtue of that once-offered sacrifice the risen and ascended Christ began ministry in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, presenting His people's prayers, repentance, and faith before God purified by His merits. For eighteen centuries He ministered in the first apartment pleading His blood for repentant believers and securing their pardon and acceptance while their sins remained recorded.
At the end of the 2300 days in 1844 He entered heaven's most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary and carry out the final acts of His ministry, including the investigative judgment and atonement for those shown to be entitled to its benefits. This work corresponds to the yearly atonement in the typical service, and this coming before the Father is not His second coming to earth. In that priestly work He took the blood of His own atonement into the holiest of all and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat and upon His own garments and blessed the people. He now serves as High Priest and Intercessor in the most holy place, and His high-priestly work completes the plan of redemption through the final atonement for sin.
The same humanity hidden on earth as a man of sorrows will appear robed in glory, triumphant and exalted in descending from heaven and revealing His priestly character. In appearing the second time He declares there is to be no more sacrifice for sin. The rites and ceremonies of the earthly tabernacle find their true meaning in His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, and that mediatorial work once completed leads to His coming again in power and great glory to establish His kingdom on the earth.
His once-for-all sacrifice and closing work of atonement in heaven prepare the people to abide the day of His coming. That sanctuary work is nearing completion, when confessed sins are placed on the scapegoat and borne away. This ministry is connected with the proclamation of the third angel's message and the preparation of God's people for His coming. The work of proclaiming present truth is accomplished through His ministry working through His ministers.
Pardon, Law, and Readiness
Appearing once at the close of the ages to remove sin by offering himself, Christ made his atoning death the center toward which the earlier sacrifices pointed, and for breakers of God's law that death secures peace and pardon. Coming as the Son of God in flesh to the cross of Calvary, in human nature tempted in every way as people are yet without sin, he overcame through prayer and earnest supplication, formed a character after the divine likeness, and by a life of perfect obedience to every divine requirement obtained redemption for all who will obey. Those who receive and acknowledge him as Saviour have the divine nature imparted to them so that they can overcome Satan, and his blood cleanses the soul from defilement.
His giving of himself once as a sacrifice for sin redeemed humanity from the death brought by disobedience, yet it did not alter or abolish God's law. By that self-giving he demonstrated that the law is unchangeable and everlasting and vindicated the character of God as revealed in it.
His work belongs to the antitypical Day of Atonement, understood as the present solemn season with eternal consequences in which each person's case comes up in judgment. That cleansing by his blood is the essential preparation for standing in that judgment. It therefore calls churches and individual believers to repentance, humility, deep searching of heart, turning away from sin, and living in purity before God.