Who will not be shaken out of God’s kingdom?
(Daniel 7:9-14; Hebrews 12:1-29; Revelation 11:15; 14:6-7) Blog Mar. 13-19, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: As our High Priest, Jesus, by himself, atoned for our sins and rose to heaven to begin his ministry there. His continual ministry there includes justification of believers, forgiveness of sins, and purification of good deeds. In his final ministry he seals believers, blots out their sins, and makes final purification of their good deeds. Since only believers benefit from Jesus’ heavenly ministry, Paul repeatedly urges us to maintain our faith in him. The entire 11th chapter of Hebrews describes and illustrates faith. By faith believers are accounted perfect before God and true faith always produces good works.
How to Avoid Fainting
1. What comes between where we are now and our receiving the promise of perfection? Between us & future glory we have a race to run (Heb. 11:39-40; 12:1-2).
2. As Paul begins Hebrews 12 how does he say that we are to patiently maintain our faith in Jesus? Paul says that to maintain our faith we must lay aside those unnecessary activities & the sins that hinder our Christian life (Heb. 12:1).
3. Why does Paul tell us to keep our eyes on Jesus while running the Christian race? Paul points to Jesus, the Author & Finisher of our faith, as an example of how to maintain our zeal (Heb. 12:2-3).
4. What helped Jesus maintain his zeal while facing opposition and suffering? Jesus maintained his zeal by remembering his goal of future joy & by not taking seriously the opposition he received (Heb. 12:2-3).
5. Who does Paul say is to strive against sin? It is we, Christian believers, who are to run the race, to obey the Father, & to strive against sin (Heb. 12:1, 4, 9).
6. How does God work with us in our battle against sin? God works with us in our battle against sin by strengthening us with his Holy Spirit, by the example of Jesus, & by discipling us (John 14:26; Acts 1:8; Heb. 12:5-10).
7. What is the goal towards which we run and toward which God disciplines us? Our goal in the Christian life is holiness (Heb. 12:10, 14).
Making Straight Paths
8. After emphasizing our need to live a godly life where does Paul turn in Hebrews 12? Paul next turns to our need to help others live a godly life & not fall from the grace of God (Heb. 12:12-15).
9. How does Paul say that we are to help others in the Christian race? We are to help others by lifting up the weak, by keeping our own feet in the right way, by pursuing peace with everyone, & by diligently eliminating those that bitterly turn from God causing others to stumble (Heb. 12:12-16).
10. To what does Paul point as an old, superseded reason for living a godly life and encouraging others to do the same? Paul points to the fearful events of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai as an old, superseded reason for Christian living (Heb. 12:18-21).
11. What are the readers of Hebrews to look to as a reason for godly living? We are to consider God’s final judgment in heaven as a reason to live godly lives for God will examine all our actions & determine our eternal destiny at that time (Eccl. 12:13-14; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 12:22-24).
Facing a Heavenly Pre-Advent Judgment
12. Where does Paul say that we will face God in judgment? Paul says that it is in the heavenly Jerusalem that we are to appear before Christ in judgment (2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 12:22, 26).
13. Who does Paul say is present in God’s heavenly judgment? Paul says that an innumerable company of angels, God, the spirits of just men, & Jesus will be present in God’s final judgment (Heb. 12:22-24).
14. Where in the Old Testament is a similar judgment picture portrayed? In Daniel 7:9-14 a similar picture of God’s final judgment is given mentioning thousands of angels, God, record books, & Jesus which results in the reception of an unchangeable kingdom by Jesus (Dan. 7:9-14).
15. When does Revelation say that Jesus will receive an unmovable kingdom? Revelation says that Jesus will receive an unmovable kingdom when the 7th trumpet sounds, after the Islamic invasion of the world & after God’s final earthquake judgment that occurs during the 7th church (see our blogs on Revelation at <LifeResearchInternational.org>) (Rev. 6:12; 9:14; 11:15).
16. How does Paul describe the formation of God’s immovable kingdom in Hebrews? Paul says that God’s heavenly judgment shakes out all the sinners in Zion leaving only true believers in Jesus to make up God’s eternal, immovable kingdom (Heb. 12:26-28).
17. For what reason do believers not need to fear & quake in God’s final judgment like Moses did before God’s judgment at Mount Sinai? Rather than facing God without a mediator, believers come to judgment with an Advocate who is also their Substitute & Judge & they come with their names written in the Lamb’s book of life & trusting in the blood of the Lamb (Luke 10:20; John 5:22; Heb. 7:22; 12:24; 1 John 2:1-2).
18. Who does David say will not be shaken out of God’s kingdom? David says that those who walk uprightly & trust in God’s mercy will not be shaken (Psalms 15:1-5; 16:8; 21:7).
19. What does Paul warn us not to do in light of God’s judgment? Paul warns us not to turn away from God’s call to judgment for if we refuse to enter heaven’s Most Holy Place we will be shaken out of God’s kingdom (Matt. 22:2-3; Heb. 12:25).