"For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation" (ASV). - Hebrews 9:24-28.

In these five verses, our author reveals the surpassing superiority and glory of Jesus Christ over that revealed by the Levitical economy by laying out the entire scope of his priestly work. He does so by considering three unique, historical, and physical appearances of Jesus Christ, all of which contribute to our understanding of redemption accomplished for his people and applied to his people. These three comings are: in heaven before God's tribunal as our great High Priest; on earth at his First Advent as the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world; and at his Second Coming at the conclusion of human history at which time he shall consummate our salvation and judge the nations.