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“See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.' Now this, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12.25-28).

The contrast in this passage is clearly between what existed then (during the Old Testament era), and what was coming into existence now (i.e. at the time the book of Hebrews was written)! This then and now comparison is of Divine origin and cannot be wrong to consider; in fact, it would be wrong not to consider the then and now of this passage.

Two great kingdoms are at contrast in this passage. These great kingdoms had a common thread that ran through them; the difference in the kingdoms was not the character of the King; it was in the character the kingdom! One kingdom had to do with physical things (Canaan, civil laws and regulations, literal Israel, etc.). The other principally had to do with non-material things (submission of the heart, faith, love, reverence, heavenly ordinances and appointments, etc.). The one who spoke from earth then is/was the same person who was speaking now. (as the author penned the epistle). A primary difference was in the place from which He was speaking. He spoke (past tense) from the earth, but He was speaking (present tense) from heaven. This distinction frames the background for the character of this now kingdom!

The nature of these two kingdoms speaks volumes to those who will listen. If it was important to fear Him when He spoke from the earth, how much more is it necessary to listen to Him as He speaks from heaven? That is one of the opening themes of the book of Hebrews. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast [the Old Testament ordinances] , and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2.1-4). “We must give the more earnest heed...” due to the nature of the kingdom, not due to the nature of the King!

The kingdom which could not be shaken (Hebrews 12.28) had been predicted repeatedly in the Old Testament and that by such worthies as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, and others. However, the voices from the shadows were nothing to compare with reality of the voice from heaven! The hope of Messiah and of the reality of forgiveness was a message that rang out from Jerusalem (Acts 2), permeated every region of Israel, and was joyfully received by every race and ethnicity. Then – a kingdom of material things that looked for Messiah. Now – a King and a spiritual Kingdom anticipated by every generation ever to inhabit the earth!

Questions:

1. Why ought we to hear Him who speaks from heaven

2. Why ought we to give the more earnest heed?

3. What is the nature of a kingdom that cannot be shaken? Is it possible to speak of an earthly kingdom in the way?

4. Who can be a citizen of this heavenly Kingdom? Citizenship does not come by bloodlines or paternal inheritances. How is citizenship in the heavenly kingdom achieved?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

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