Heb. 12:25, “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.”
It is a dangerous
thing to refuse the admonition of God. “See that ye refuse not him
that speaketh.” God has spoken to this world through His Word and
His messengers. In the most recent years the population of earth has
grown more and more indifferent to anything related to Christianity.
God has spoken in the churches and called us to righteous living but
so called Christians bristle at the thought that they are lacking in
any sense. The Word was given to us to rebuke, reprove, exhort and
instruct. The Holy Spirit of Christ was given to convict of sin and
lead into all Truth. And that is what He is doing, convicting and
teaching. His light will dispel the darkness. If we walk in His
light, we will experience His constant, loving correction. Correction
means that we have to make an adjustment or change our course of
direction. The Holy Spirit is our faithful, loving companion and will
help us to walk in the Truth of God.
This reference in
Hebrews 12, is to a prophecy given by the prophet Haggai in 2:6-9.
God's promise was for a shaking of all things that can be shaken, all
things earthly so that things eternal shall remain. Both point to a
yet future time when all things created will be separated from those
things eternal.
Haggai 2:6, “For
thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while,
and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry
land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of
all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith
the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold
is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this
latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of
hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Haggai was the first
prophetic voice to be heard following the exile of God's people in
Babylon. His ministry was to call the people to finish the Temple.
Work on the Temple had been delayed for 15 years, because of fear,
apathy and opposition from the heathen tribes that had settled in
Jerusalem after the Jews were taken to Babylon. Haggai chided the
people for living in their “ceiled houses” while the Temple was
left unfinished. His call was “consider your ways.” God's warning
was that He would bring their prosperity to naught because His house
laid waste. The Lord stirred them up and they finished the Temple in
four more years.
But this Temple was
nothing compared to the Temple that Solomon built. God reiterated His
covenant with Israel when He brought them out of Egypt in v.5. Now He
is looking into the future in v.6 when He will fully restore the
nation in their promised land given to their father Abraham. Once
again “...I will shake the heavens, and the earth...” This
prophecy points to the future fulfillment and restoration of Israel
at the second coming of Jesus Christ. “I will shake all nations,
and the desire of all nations shall come:..” Jesus Christ will
establish the Kingdom of God on the earth and “The glory of this
latter house shall be greater than of the former...” Former things
will pass away and all things will become new in Him.
The shaking referred
to by Haggai and the writer of Hebrews refers to a time of
separation. A time when the earthly will be separated from the
eternal, the good from the bad, the wheat and tares, the harvest and
the chaff. The end result being the establishment of the literal,
eternal Kingdom of God to be ever present with the redeemed.
The followers of
Jesus expected Him to set up a literal ruling government at which
time He would rule from the throne of David in Jerusalem. As we know,
that has not happened yet! Christ pointed to a yet future time when
that will actually take place.
Paul wrote to the
Church at Corinth reminding them that “...the fashion of this world
passeth away,”
1 Cor. 7:31. He was
speaking concerning temporal attachments and being held captive by
them. Though they are good in themselves we are not to be constrained
by them. We need to be free from any and all encumbrances that would
restrain us from hearing and being obedient to the voice of Christ.
Let us always follow the Lord Jesus closely, not to be guilty of
following afar off. Our conformity to Him will be the sustaining
power when all else has failed. The outward form of this world and
everything in it will pass away.
The words “Yet
once more,” point to the final change which will initiate the
removal of all that can pass away. The removing of created things
that the things not shaken can remain...that is the Kingdom in us,
not anything of material creation. It is to that end that Christ
prepares the Church.
Matt. 28:18, “And
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Christ has given the
ministry of bringing in the Harvest to the Church. The Holy Spirit
within us will equip and empower us to rise to the challenge in the
midst of darkness and evil. The light shines brighter the greater the
darkness. We have already entered into an extended time of sensual
depravity and spiritual hypocrisy. The Body of Christ has an enormous
task to reach the lost in face of great opposition. The affront to
the Gospel is growing strong every day. The mere mention of the name
of Jesus will insure persecution. But God is greater. “Greater is
He that is within me than he that is in the world...” God will use
the Church to do great things in the name of Christ. That is why
Satan fights so hard against the message of Jesus. There is power in
that name (Jesus). Christ will reveal His power, His grace, and His
glory through us as we submit to His leadership. He will use the
trying times ahead to discipline and train us. Do not resist. Do not
question the Lord's WAY. Yield to Him and allow Him to do His work in
you even during all this shaking as the Bride makes herself ready.
God has a plan. He will protect His Church and preserve His people.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
More to come on this
subject.
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