Hebrews chapter 12

vs 21

It has to be pretty scary if Moses is scared by it.

vs 22

This is substantially better than coming to a flaming mountain. This is the dwelling place of God - an eternal dwelling place, not just a place where he reveals himself. This is where God actually lives.

vs 23

It's also where the church will live. I assume the thing about the spirits of the righteous is to do with martyrs or something? Why they exist as spirits is beyond me. It is possible, I guess, that this is talking about them that way because the resurrection has not yet taken place - that would sort of line up with the picture in Revelation (which I assume hasn't been written yet though).

vs 24

Well, most blood would speak a better word than Abel's, you would think. But perhaps the idea is that Abel's blood spoke against Cain (and sin) because of his murder. Christ's blood could just as easily call out against us because of his own unjust death. But it doesn't, because his blood speaks of life and peace and reconciliation. Much better message.

vs 25

Who is he who speaks? God. Possibly in terms of Christ and his blood, as in the last verse. Who are they who refused him? Israel, I think. Or pretty much anyone. I say Israel because of the quote of Haggai in the next verse. The idea, perhaps, is that God came to earth (on the mountain, or even through the words of the prophet) and gave his warnings. Jesus did this too, sure. But Israel was kinda trapped here on earth. They built their heaven out of a tent.

But our warning comes from heaven, because we have ascended into heaven, we have come to the holy Zion, as it said a few verses ago.

vs 26

So we see that the voice is going to now be all-encompassing. It will be an end of days voice, a Day of the Lord voice.

vs 27

While I was focused on the voice going through earth and also heaven, the author was focused more on the "once more" - the idea that it will be one last time. That which can be shaken will be shaken - only what cannot be shaken will stand.

vs 28

When it says we are receiving a kingdom, I don't think it means as kings. I think it's like receiving a suburb to live in, not to rule over.

Our response to this is to be grateful, and to worship God (pretty much what we will do in the kingdom we receive to live in).

vs 29

It would seem he consumes all that can be shaken, and it is only what stands - Christ, and his work and hence us because we are part of it - that is not consumed. Our sinful natures will be consumed, though, along with our sinful works. Hence the reverence and awe.