Two Dispensations and the Unshakable Kingdom (Hebrews 12:18-24)

The Old Way: Mount Sinai

“For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (For they could not endure what was commanded: ‘And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned [or shot with an arrow].’ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.’)” (Hebrews 12:18-21, NKJV).

Mount Horeb in the Sinai Wilderness (a.k.a. Mt. Sinai) is used as a symbol to represent the old-covenant system of Judaism. God’s presence at Sinai was intimidating and terrifying, manifested by fire, smoke, earthquake, trumpet blast, thunder, cloud, and darkness (Ex. 19:18-19; 20:18-20; cf. Deut. 4:11; 5:22 ff.). The sanctity of the mountain upon which God revealed himself was not to be compromised or touched by man or beast (Ex. 19:12-13).¹ The awesome power of God made even Moses tremble with fear (cf. Ex. 19:16; Deut. 9:19; Acts 7:32).

The New Way: Mount Zion

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

“But,” in contrast to the old dispensation, Mount Zion represents the new Christian system. The literal Mount Zion was the hill upon which the Jerusalem temple stood, representing God’s dwelling place among his people (cf. Psa. 9:11; 76:2; Isa. 4:5; 8:18; Jer. 31:6; Mic. 4:7). That “you have come to” this place is a subtle allusion to conversion to Christ’s new and better way.

The city of the living God is the spiritual city made by the living God, not by human hands (cf. 11:10, 16; 13:14). The heavenly Jerusalem is not Israel’s literal capital city in Judea, but the new, spiritual habitat prepared for God’s people (cf. Rev. 3:12; 21:2). The innumerable company (myriads) of angels is serving God and God’s people as ministering spirits surrounding the heavenly throne and active as agents of God’s providence on earth (1:13-14).²

The general assembly and church of firstborn ones [prōtotókōn] registered/enrolled in heaven is descriptive of the privileged status (cf. 1:6) of the Lord’s people whose names are written in heaven, symbolizing assurance and hope (cf. Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 21:27). God is the Judge of all, and we have access (cf. 4:16; 10:19) to the One to whom all must give account (cf. 4:13). The spirits of just/righteous persons made perfect are those who have died in faith, who have gone on to their everlasting reward (11:4–12:9), who belong to this heavenly community.

Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, enabling us to become part of God’s family and citizens of his kingdom (8:6–9:28). The blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than Abel is the covenant-blood of Jesus superseding the sprinkling of animal blood on the old sacrificial altar (cf. 9:18 ff.; 10:22), offering forgiveness and a clean conscience and therefore better than Abel’s blood which cried for vengeance. The way to the heavenly city is through Jesus, his blood, his covenant, and his church (cf. John 14:6; Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).

Further Warning

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.’ The words ‘Once more’ signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. ‘For our God is a consuming fire’” (Hebrews 12:25-29).

God, who speaks through Jesus (1:1-2), through the Spirit (3:7), and through his word (4:12), is speaking through this epistle (cf. 1:1-2; 3:7; 10:15). The Israelites did not escape punishment when they refused to heed the warnings he issued on earth (cf. 2:2; 3:8-11, 16-19; 10:28). Much more will we not escape if we turn away from the One who warns us from heaven (cf. 1:1-2; 2:1-4; 10:28-31).

In the past God’s voice shook the earth (cf. Ex. 19:18; Psa. 68:8), quoting Haggai 2:6 to point to the fact that this physical world will be destroyed and only the everlasting, incorruptible things will endure (cf. Col. 3:2). We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. The church (cf. v. 23) is God’s spiritual kingdom on earth (cf. Matt. 16:18-19; Mark 9:1; Acts 1:3, 8; 2:41, 47) which will endure on into eternity (cf. Dan. 2:44; 1 Cor. 15:24). Citizens of Christ’s kingdom now (cf. Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20) will inherit the eternal kingdom and heavenly city (cf. 2 Tim. 4:1, 18).

In view of all this, let us have “grace” (chárin) or “gratitude” (NASB) (cf. 13:15), through which we may serve [latreúō]³ God acceptably with reverence and awe/godly fear. “Remembering the majesty of God goes a long way toward checking digression and apostasy. He must be approached with reverence and awe. The two terms … express cautious reverence and suggest an attitude of intense devotion on the part of the worshiper” (N. Lightfoot, Jesus Christ Today 242).

“For our God is a consuming fire” (cf. Ex. 24:17) is the stern side of God’s nature and what his justice requires (cf. 10:31; Rom. 11:22; 2 Cor. 5:11). Let us not forget the severity of God demonstrated in the past, lest we fail to appreciate and embrace the enormous blessings he makes available in Christ.

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ The additional phrase “or shot with an arrow” (NKJV) is based on a few late manuscripts.

     ² Cf. Dan. 7:10; Psa. 91:11-12; 103:20-21; Rev. 5:11. See Questions About Angels

     ³ Cf. Heb. 8:5; 9:9, 14; 10:2; 12:28; 13:10; see also Matt. 4:10; Lk. 1:74; 2:37; 4:8; 7:7, 42; 24:14; 26:7; 27:23; Rom. 1:9, 25; Phil. 3:3; 2 Tim. 1:3; Rev. 7:15; 22:3; also latreía (“divine service rendered to God”) 9:1, 6; John 16:2; Rom. 9:4; 12:1.

Related Posts: The New Jerusalem: Heaven or the Church?, Heb 12:5-17

 

Image credit: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297554-d554874-Reviews-or10-Mount_Sinai-Saint_Catherine_Red_Sea_and_Sinai.html