“18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 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 away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:18-29

Verses 18 through 21 remind the reader of Mount Sinai and the terrible presence of Holy God. See Exodus 19:12-20. But those that had put their faith in Christ as the church was birthed, and all Christians, have come to mount Sion, the city of the living God, and to the heavenly Jerusalem. The heavenly Jerusalem is no comparison to the earthly. It’s the most excellent presence of the living God who dwells there, and those who God has called are already citizens, having entered into eternal life at the moment of the new birth.

Verse 25 says that you are to refuse Him not. How terrible was it for those that knew the truth and rejected Him on earth both under Moses and in the first century? Don’t turn away from Him that now speaks from Heaven.

You are to be salt, not honey. The word of God is sweet to the ear but bitter to the belly (Revelation 10:9), dividing both heart and soul asunder (Hebrews 4:12). But Christians won’t bare the sword of truth as they are supposed to by speaking righteousness into the world. Everywhere they are turning away. How can you refuse Him that speaks from Heaven? How shall you escape the damnation of God?

Christians, if that’s what they are, have been taught that the Kingdom of God is in some far-flung distant future only dimly lit, and to rest upon their ease, they will be raptured away. They learned this from the men taught in the American University system, which should rightly be called cemetery schools. They are where faith goes to die under the weight of the doctrines of men.

Look what God has given you: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant…” You should be filled with all joy to overflowing that you desire to tell all men of Christ and what great things He has done that they too may enter into the glorious presence of God; to know the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.

The heavenly Jerusalem is now. Hebrews 12 says that it’s right now and available to all who would put their faith in Christ. Why have you turned away? You’ve been misled or lied to perhaps that Christ’s blood was insufficient. The blood of righteous able cried out unto God from the ground (Genesis 4:10), but verse 24 in our text says how much better is the sprinkling of the perfect blood of Christ that when applied by your belief through faith Christ’s blood cries forgiven, redeemed, and clean unto the Father in your stead. Why have you turned away? Why have you come short of the glory of God?

In verse 22 specifically, we see that the heavenly Jerusalem is now. Flee from your false teachers; turn back to your first love, the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness. Now, are we come to Sion, the city of the living God, great and terrible is He, for our God is a consuming fire, how will you escape the wrath having turned away!?!

Return to Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant; your teachers are false; your Kingdom is not later, for Christ rules and reigns from one end of the heavens to the other that you might be filled with the truth to serve Him by building the city, this Kingdom, by the Spirit of God which is the Almighty in you. Judgment is now, from day to day, but you looked away and followed after another master. Lies, comfort, and ease are not better than the living God.

How can Hebrews 12:22 exist now and Revelation 21:2 be later? The Bible doesn’t contradict. Indeed He comes again, and the final order with Him, but these things were to have shortly come to pass in Revelation some two thousand years ago, or Hebrews 12 isn’t true. If the Holy Spirit is God, and surely He is, and you have the Holy Spirit, then why are you waiting for another generation to build His kingdom? His kingdom cannot be moved, so why have you left it?

Jesus said in the gospels that he would do no great thing because faith was lacking. In your shrinking away, you’ve reduced your faith and thereby the power of God in you. The Kingdom awaits and with it a Christian a country, but you don’t believe because devils have told you that it can’t be done, the Kingdom is not yet, while they tell you to wait for The Antichrist (the which there is no such person), to stand in a temple that no longer exists! Why do you seek antichrist instead of the heavenly Jerusalem? Who do you actually worship?

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” – Hebrews 12:28

You are to be salt, not honey; the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not a social gospel, and the declaration of His truth in righteousness, not a weak and beggarly defeat. This is the building of the Kingdom now. What’s wrong with you that you won’t serve the living God? Why do you shrink back from the mark of the high calling of Christ Jesus for you? Who has told you to be a consumerist of Christianity, for they are false!

Why are you not now being made meet for the Master’s use? Why won’t you consume the Bible as a ravenous child crying out to the Father for sustenance that you may live? Why won’t you pray down the power of God that you might bring forth fruit by the thousands to conversion at the foot of His cross? Why have you once believed and turned away from He that now speaks from Heaven? What’s wrong with you, are you converted to the way or not?

Christianity isn’t about an experience, you narcissistic feelings seekers. It’s not about you at all. It’s about Him, the mediator of a new and better covenant. It’s not better because it’s easier; it’s a better covenant because He is better than the blood of dumb animals. Christ having been made sinful man, yet without sin, so that you might be made the righteousness of God in Him, He speaks now from Heaven. When you see Him, you will know just how small you are? It’s about His Kingdom, His designs, and His purposes. Why are you not trying to fulfill the full measure of all that He called you to? Do you seek to feel good now to stand before Him later with nothing to show? That’s not Christianity.

“And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” – Hebrews 12:27-28

Why are you shaken when you’ve been brought forth out of darkness into the glorious light of Christ Jesus? You are to have been the fruit that remains, being part of the Root, which is Christ; you are now a branch to bear fruit to glorify His holy name. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

The same Christ that forgave and saved you can forgive and restore you now. You may be willing to die for Christ, but will you live for Him?