seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Hebrews 12:18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire".
Here's the link to the commentary.But you have come to Mount Zion: We are in a different place. Our relationship with God is not modeled after Israel’s experience on Mount Sinai. We come to God’s other mountain: Zion, the name of the hill upon which Jerusalem sits. The law came to Sinai; the cross was on Zion.
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven: What God gave at Mount Sinai was mainly for Israel; what God gave at Mount Zion is for all and it spans all the redeemed, both the church and the general assembly of the redeemed, all together.
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks: As described in the previous verses, God holds the goodness and glory of Mount Zion before us — the perfect and finished work of Jesus and the New Covenant through Him. If we choose to refuse this from God, we can’t ignore the consequences.
It’s easy — and dangerous — to think that God was severe and mean in the Old Testament and somehow became nice in the New Testament. This is so simplistic that it is deceiving — there is more mercy in the Old Testament than many imagine, and there is more judgment in the New Testament than many imagine.
Check this out.... from verses 27-29. I would really suggest you read the commentary. It's really informative.Indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken: God promises to shake things again to take away (the removal) reliance on the material — as in material things, materialism.
That the things which cannot be shaken may remain: God shakes things to test them, and then to take away the things that can’t take the test.
This is our stability in an unstable world. We don’t yet full have this kingdom; it is yet to come. Yet we are receiving it. Griffith Thomas noted that the ancient grammar and phrasing indicates “We are constantly and perpetually (Greek) receiving a Kingdom that is incapable of being shaken.”
My Online Bible titled these verses "The mountain of fear and the mountain of joy". That seems to fit.The mountain of fear is Mount Sinai and the mountain of joy is Mount Zion.
Mount Sinai is where Moses saw the burning bush. This is where the Israelites, fleeing from Egypt, received the Ten Commandments.
Mount Zion is the base for Jerusalem. This is where Jesus taught the Two Commandments to the Priests in the Temple, who were quite impressed.
What happened around Mount Sinai was instruction for the Israelites.... and what will happen on Mount Zion will be for everyone, including the Israelites, who choose to accept Jesus as their Messiah.
Moses climbed Mount Sinai by himself. Everyone can climb Mount Zion... if they so choose.
Choose your mountain!
