---
title: Hebrews 9:28
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/hebrews-9-28/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/hebrews-9-28.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Hebrews 9:28
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Hebrews 9:28

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "so also the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many; and the second time that he appears it will be apart from sin, and he will be seen by those earnestly looking for him for their salvation."

## JW Usage

Affirmed as teaching that Christ's ransom was offered once and is fully sufficient. The Watchtower reads the second appearance in terms of Christ's invisible presence and the fulfilment of the Kingdom hope rather than a visible return, and salvation for those "earnestly looking for him" is understood to require ongoing faithfulness.

## Protestant Usage

The phrase that carries the argument is "once for all time," and it works alongside the preceding verse. Verse 27: it is reserved for men to die once, and after this to receive a judgment. One death, one judgment, and nothing named between them. Verse 28 then matches Christ's single offering to that single death — the parallel is the writer's own. So when the question of a second opportunity after death comes up, this is the structural answer rather than a proof-text battle. The writer of Hebrews has built his argument on there being one death and one judgment, exactly as there was one sacrifice. Insert a probationary period between the two and the parallel he is drawing breaks. Note also what he says the second appearance is not for: apart from sin. The sin question was settled at the first appearance. He returns to bring salvation to those waiting, not to reopen the matter. Compare Luke 16:26, 2 Corinthians 6:2, Revelation 20:5.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [One Death, One Judgment — No Second Chance in the Millennium](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/postmortem-salvation-rebuttal.md) — Hebrews 9:27 / Luke 16:26 / 2 Corinthians 6:2 — postmortem evangelism rebutted [Eschatology]