Shaken and Destroyed

“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.” (Hebrews 12:27)

In reading this verse it seems like a prophetic word of something that is to come, because of the words “Yet once more” which is mentioned in verse 26. But in reality, it speaks of what has happened. It’s necessary to read the verses prior to it. In verses 19-21 the author of Hebrews (scholars are uncertain if Paul or a companion of Paul wrote it) tells of when God spoke from the mountain, Mount Sinai in the desert, to the Israelites in their journey to the Promised land. It was a frightening event for them, even Moses was afraid. “And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:” (Hebrews 12:21) God came down to earth and shook the mountain. There were fire, blackness, and darkness, and tempest and the sound of trumpets and voice of words. That terrifying sight is explained in a few words that don’t even describe the frightening sight. “...thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.” (Exodus 19:16)

“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,” (Hebrews 12:22-23) Mount Sinai was the mountain of fear, but we are come to Mount Sion, the mountain of grace in Jesus. And the Lord says, “...Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” (Verse 26)

Jesus not only changed the earth but changed heaven. The earth and heaven moved in a new direction. And only those things which cannot be shaken, the things eternal, those things that come from God, His Promises and blessings and His Word, remain. All else will perish.

“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:” (Hebrews 12:25) And yet every day many avoid Him. We think of the Israelites and wonder how after seeing the miracles of God in bringing them out of Egypt and delivering them through all the perils in their flight, including the Egyptian army that God drowned in the Red Sea, where they passed on dry land, could they deny the LORD God. But as the Word says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:” (Matthew 7:13) This Scripture says many enter the wide gate, the easy gate. But it leads to destruction. It was true with the Israelites, true in Jesus’ time and it’s true now.

Yet the Lord’s desire is that none perish. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9) And like Noah warned his neighbors of the coming judgement, we are to warn our neighbors.

There is a time coming when this time of grace will cease and this earth and all the temporal things in it will be shaken and destroyed. There is a time for each one of us when all will cease. We don’t know the day nor the time. Those who are in Jesus know it will be joyful time of union with our Lord. But for those who have given in to the flesh, they will reap horrors. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8)