Hebrews 12:25a
"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn from him that speaketh from heaven:"
Now to the casual reader those who will just gloss right over that, not having the foggiest notion of what he is talking about. But for us what’s he saying? You know that when God was dealing with the Hebrews in the Old Testament economy, and Israel would just simply spurn God; and they would go on their own marry way and go into idolatry, what did God do? God judged them! When they went into the depths of idolatry, He sent old Nebuchadnezzar (2Kings 24 and then again in 1 Chronicles 6 where both kingdoms [Northern and Southern] are carried away) from the east and Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple - and the city and the nation was uprooted and taken captive all the way out to Babylon for 70 years. Why? Because His wrath fell upon a disobedient and rebellious people. And over and over God would do that throughout Israel’s history. And He was speaking with them while they were, you might say, His objects of affection and everything, on earth. Because of His Oath and covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But now we’re under a far greater responsibility - now read on: "if they escaped not who refused him (God through Moses and the prophets) that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn from him (God through Christ) that speaks from heaven:"
We’ve got to look at the big picture. While God was dealing with The Hebrews in the Old Testament, almost exclusively, there were a lot of things that they didn’t have going for them that we do. For example, they didn’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit. Though He rested upon some of them who were or remained trusting of Him though limited in that trust. They didn’t have our benefit. All they had was that table of Law set in stone and the Levitical Laws written in a book of remembrance for them, all they could do was condemn them. Then they requested a king or government to rule them but God told that this was NOT in His program but He allowed it. Then they had the sacrificial system, which wasn’t always that easy to keep. But nevertheless, they didn’t have a lot of the advantages that we have today, and yet God held them responsible and accountable for their choices and actions of choice. God punished them when they turned in unbelief. Because of their vial and evil hearts. They quite literally turned their backs to Him. Don't fail to remember and realize that at the cross the religion of mankind and the Judaism of Israel was judged. When God laid on Jesus the sin guilt of not only the nation of Israel but also the whole world. From Adam until the end of time as man knows it. Alright so now the comparison is, if God would punish Israel back in those days when they didn’t have all this going for them, how much more will His wrath fall on those who reject Him as He speaks from heaven, now. And I have to add, in the enigma of the interim of the not yet, the period between Christ's first coming and that of His promised second coming as King of kings and LORD of lords.
When we say He speaks from heaven, let’s come all the way back so we get the big picture. You can’t just pick and choose, you have to look at the whole scenario. Back in Acts chapter 1, He has just finished His 40 days after the resurrection. He’s been with the Eleven and now they’re on the Mount of Olives and He was about to ascend back to glory. The Father is now beckoning Him to come and sit at His right hand. So, look at what it says: Verse 9.
Acts 1:9-11a
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; (we’re speaking of Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified, resurrected Christ) and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven (now have you got the picture? He is leaving earth and He is going up into heaven) as he went up, behold, two men (angels, messengers) stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,…"
That’s what I want you to see. So where is He? He’s in heaven! So from this point on whenever He speaks, He speaks from heaven! That’s obvious isn’t it? Alright, now then, the Apostle Paul is constantly letting us know that that’s where he got his marching orders; from the Christ in heaven. Let me stop while you’re still in Acts, let’s jump over to chapter 22 and this is just an example of how Christ spoke to him from heaven. Acts 22 verse 17.
Acts 22:17-18
"And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw him (Now Christ Jesus, the Christ, in heaven) saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me,"
Now just jump across the page to chapter 23, verse 11. And Paul is under all the pressure now from those hateful fellow Jews.
Acts 23:11
"And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."
Where is he speaking from? From heaven! Alright now come all the way up and stop with me at Galatians chapter 1 and again, he’s rehearsing his experience on the road to Damascus and he’s letting us know that everything that he’s writing now in the Pauline Epistles comes from the ascended Lord Who is in heaven. Galatians 1 starting at verse 11, and all we want you to see is that Hebrews says how that so much more responsibility is upon us in this Age of Grace because He’s speaking from heaven but through the Apostle Paul. Just as He will be doing shortly with John when he records His Revelation.
Galatians 1:11-12
"But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, (by men, but how did he get it?) but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
From where? From heaven! So everything now comes back quickly to Hebrews. Though we could look again at the time Peter by way of inspiration of revelation spoke saying in effect you are the Christ from heaven. And Jesus said that Peter had been shown this by His Father and that this would be the foundation upon which He would build His church. In the same way he received the revelation. Hebrews 12 again, verse 25:
Hebrews 12:25b
"…For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:"
Remember we were talking about how that, if God Who spoke while dealing with the Hebrews on earth was something to be feared, how much more we should respect that Voice that speaks from heaven. And of course, for the most part, for us today in this Age of Grace, that comes through the epistles of the Apostle Paul, to whom God revealed all of these doctrines that are for us today. Now that doesn’t mean the rest of scripture isn’t appropriate or that it’s not valid. All Scripture, even Paul himself writes, "All Scripture is profitable for reproof in instruction, in inspiration and so forth." But for those of us living in this Age of Grace, Romans through Philemon becomes our paramount place of instruction. But through the Holy Spirit ie...the Spirit of Christ and His working within the sons of obedience. Those who operate in the same faith accredited to Abraham are God's son by faith. For we're to live by faith and not by sight or what could be called the earthiness of man. He speaks Alright now in verse 26:
Hebrews 12:26-27
"Whose voice then shook the earth: (God was dealing from Mt. Sinai) but now he hath promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.' And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made(religion, governments, idolatry), that those things which cannot be shaken may remain."
Now, in my own mind, I couldn’t help but think of shaking and sifting grain. And whenever you sort grain with the sieve, the chaff and the junk falls through and the good remains. Well, I think you’ve got the same analogy here - that God’s just going to shake things and that which is superfluous and is unimportant will disappear and only that which counts will remain. This is the lesson that is so over looked by the church world because it wants to remain under the old system of religion and government or a mixture of both but even here we're told that is not to be so. The things made referees to the earthy, governments, the law, the Levitical Law and all the false religions that man has made for himself will be shaken. The heavenly or spiritual is not able to be shaken for those who have received Him are witnesses that He has indeed come in the flesh of redeemed men. Men made perfect by the ontological essence of Christ restored to them who walk by His faithfulness to do as He has promised. They'll not deny Him for their testimony is the testimony of Paul which we've been sharing here.(Galatians 2:20)
Of course, there are those who think Paul is probably making reference here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to what Peter writes more in detail in his little epistle of II Peter chapter 3. Now you might want to turn over to that passage, and we’ll start with verse 10 - and of course, this is way out into the future, but nevertheless, it’s coming when God is going to judge this planet.
2Peter 3:10-12
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"
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