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When He shall again appear upon the world's surprised or expectant vision, He shall appear without sin. All those remedial agencies which during the past millenniums have been lifting the moral world out of darkness and superstition into the light of God's truth, mercy, and love, having served their purpose in the salvation of untold multitudes, find no longer any scope or occupation. He comes, not to present a sin-offering and provide more comprehensive remedies than Calvary saw or the Scriptures predicted. He comes no longer as an object of doubt, to be spoken against, to be written against, and to be followed with an interrogation mark wherever His name appears upon the pages of the world's literature. Criticism has expended its force and finished its work; its quiver is empty, its pen broken. He comes no longer to stand and wait as a suppliant, His garments moist with the dews of the night (Revelation 3:20). But He comes without sin unto salvation to those that look for Him. He comes to complete salvation. Great and immediate results wait upon His reappearance upon this orb of ours. The righteous dead shall first be raised. Their bodies sleeping in the dust of the earth shall hear the voice of resurrection, and come forth into newness of life and beauty. Nor shall the living members of His Church on earth be neglected. Everything in its own order, and in the beautiful harmony established by the Scriptures (1 Thessalonians 4:17). He comes to assume the judicial character, to manifest His royalty with unclouded splendour, and to award to every man according as his works, words, and thoughts. Now, too, shall be indicated the moral government of God, and all shall see how deeply its foundations have been laid in justice and truth, in mercy and love. Now, too, shall be unfolded the dread or glad realities of the great books of judgment, of life, and of remembrance. And now, too, the Church shall put on her garments of beauty. The Church triumphant shall become the pure gold that has been tried and refined by the fires of purification. But this day shall be to some a day of sorrow. All the impenitent shall call upon the rocks to hide them from judicial wrath, or to fall upon them and crush them. But unto them that look for Him shall His coming be with joy and unto full salvation. Those who have laid the foundation of faith and expectation in His first appearance as their sin-bearer, and have cast forward their hope as an anchor within the veil, where Christ now appears, will find themselves sustained in a day that to all others will prove one of lamentings and woe.

(Lewis O. Thompson.)

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

WEB: Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,