The heavenly city is not promised to the church, the body of Christ. The city is prepared for the Hebrews, the believing remnant of Israel.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham looked for the heavenly city of God promised believing Israel (Revelation 1:9 Revelation 3:12 Psalm 48:1-2 Isaiah 52:1).
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
The Hebrews, just as Esau, could forfeit their blessing and inheritance in the Davidic kingdom on earth (Exodus 19:6 Daniel 7:18 Luke 12:32 Luke 1:32-33), and find no place of repentance to reclaim it (Hebrews 6:6).
Hebrews 12:22 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,
The church, the body of Christ, is not given place on earth in the city of the living God, but rather, heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). The Hebrews were given to know, they were to come unto the city.
Hebrews 12:23 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,
The Hebrews were urged to go onto perfection in Hebrews 6:1, and here they are perfected in Christ Jesus. The church of the firstborn is the church of Jesus Christ; Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18). Israel is called firstborn as well in Exodus 4:22.
Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
The Hebrews are the ones who come to Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant, made only with the house of Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 31:31 Hebrews 8:6-12). The Hebrews are the ones who come to the blood of sprinkling (Exodus 24:8 1 Peter 1:2 Hebrews 9:18-22 Hebrews 10:22).
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
The Hebrews are the ones to receive the kingdom on earth, and reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4-6 Luke 19:11-17). Believing Israel needs God's grace to remove their iniquity to serve (Hosea 14:2).
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Once again, the Hebrews, like their father Abraham, are seeking the new Jerusalem city of God.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus was raised from the dead to sit on the throne of David (Acts 2:30), which gave Israel assurance that Jesus, being alive, was going to return to establish their promised kingdom on earth.
Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep, which is only used to describe his people Israel (Psalm 80:1 Isaiah 40:11 John 10:11 1 Peter 5:4).
The Hebrews, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, would be perfect in every good work to do his will. Jesus shed his blood for the new testament for Israel, to redeem their transgressions under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15). The Hebrews would be caused to do the will of God in the new covenant through his Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34 Deuteronomy 30:5-6 Psalm 40:8 Ezekiel 11:17-20 Ezekiel 36:25-27 Hebrews 10:15-17).
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham looked for the heavenly city of God promised believing Israel (Revelation 1:9 Revelation 3:12 Psalm 48:1-2 Isaiah 52:1).
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
The Hebrews, just as Esau, could forfeit their blessing and inheritance in the Davidic kingdom on earth (Exodus 19:6 Daniel 7:18 Luke 12:32 Luke 1:32-33), and find no place of repentance to reclaim it (Hebrews 6:6).
Hebrews 12:22 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,
The church, the body of Christ, is not given place on earth in the city of the living God, but rather, heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). The Hebrews were given to know, they were to come unto the city.
Hebrews 12:23 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,
The Hebrews were urged to go onto perfection in Hebrews 6:1, and here they are perfected in Christ Jesus. The church of the firstborn is the church of Jesus Christ; Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18). Israel is called firstborn as well in Exodus 4:22.
Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
The Hebrews are the ones who come to Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant, made only with the house of Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 31:31 Hebrews 8:6-12). The Hebrews are the ones who come to the blood of sprinkling (Exodus 24:8 1 Peter 1:2 Hebrews 9:18-22 Hebrews 10:22).
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
The Hebrews are the ones to receive the kingdom on earth, and reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4-6 Luke 19:11-17). Believing Israel needs God's grace to remove their iniquity to serve (Hosea 14:2).
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Once again, the Hebrews, like their father Abraham, are seeking the new Jerusalem city of God.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus was raised from the dead to sit on the throne of David (Acts 2:30), which gave Israel assurance that Jesus, being alive, was going to return to establish their promised kingdom on earth.
Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep, which is only used to describe his people Israel (Psalm 80:1 Isaiah 40:11 John 10:11 1 Peter 5:4).
The Hebrews, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, would be perfect in every good work to do his will. Jesus shed his blood for the new testament for Israel, to redeem their transgressions under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15). The Hebrews would be caused to do the will of God in the new covenant through his Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34 Deuteronomy 30:5-6 Psalm 40:8 Ezekiel 11:17-20 Ezekiel 36:25-27 Hebrews 10:15-17).
