Search Tools


 
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.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

12:22 mount Sion. In contrast to the frightening scene at Sinai is the wonderful glimpse of the heavenly Zion (Hebrews 12:22-24). This assemblage is now gathered in heaven, but will all become a glorious reality on earth when the “heavenly Jerusalem” descends out of heaven to the new earth (Revelation 21:2-7).


12:22 innumerable company of angels. Even though a third of God’s created angels followed Satan in his rebellion (Revelation 12:3,4), there still remains an innumerable host of heaven in the faithful angels, presumably associated with the innumerable starry hosts of heaven (Jeremiah 33:22).


12:23 church of the firstborn. The “church of the firstborn” will have all Christians of all times as its members. It will have its first full “assembly” in the future age, but presumably does meet on occasion even now, with the “spirits of [justified] men made perfect” coming together for fellowship and testimony.


12:24 than that of Abel. Compare Genesis 4:10 and Hebrews 11:4, on the “voice” of Abel’s blood.


About the New Defender's Study Bible