“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, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”   (Heb. 12:22-24)

  1. A heavenly city awaits us – Mount Zion is the center of the kingdom and Jerusalem identifies the capital city as the perfect permanent home of God’s people (Rev. 3:12; 21:2).
  2. A heavenly choir awaits us – Myriads of super – beings (good angels) gather around the throne room to assist and accompany us in the worship of almighty God (Isa. 6:1-6; Heb. 1: 14; Rev. 5:11-12).
  3. A heavenly church awaits us – An “ekklesia” is a visible, tangible, local body which describes Bible – believing churches existing today. Here the writer presents the prospect of the future assembly including those early, first believers of the New Testament era who are in the realm of regeneration (Tit. 3:5; Lk. 10:20; Rev. 3:18). The word “apografw” (‘written’ in heaven) literally refers to a roll call, or roster of those redeemed.
  4. A heavenly Creator awaits us – Mount Sinai was a dreadful place because there was no approach to the great, eternal, holy Judge but only the condemnation of His perfect law. Redeemed sinners will actually have the hope of being in the presence of God, albeit with great fear and awe and only because of the merits of Jesus (Eph. 1:6; Heb. 4:14-16).
  5. A heavenly crowd awaits us – These ‘spirits’ of just men refer to both OT and NT Covenant persons who have had their sins atoned for by the blood and are made permanently and eternally holy (Jn. 17:23; Heb. 7:19; 11:40).
  6. A heavenly Chief Priest awaits us – Anyone entering the Tabernacle proper must have a sacrifice and a priest (Lev. 15:15). So with entrance into the heavenly Tabernacle we must have a High Priest qualified to stand in our place. Jesus alone has the credentials (Heb. 7:25; 9:11-28).
  7. A heavenly covering awaits us – When you meet the Judge of the universe make sure you have Jesus standing nearby on your behalf. Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance and proclaimed guilt (Gen. 4:9-11). When he was alive, Able, unlike Cain, offered up a required bloody sacrifice but it could only temporarily cover sin and was only good for Abel alone. But Jesus blood (His human name is used on purpose here) takes sin away forever and for everyone. What a difference! (Note: I John 1:7-9).

                                                                                                                                                                                — Pastor Smith