An Unshakable Kingdom
God has announced that He will “shake” the heavens and the earth,
which means that He will destroy enemy nations. There are some
things, however, that will not be shaken, that will not be destroyed.
Compare Psalm 15:5, Psalm 16:8, Psalm 21:7, Psalm 62:2, Psalm
112:6, and Hebrews 12:27. What are the things that will not be
shaken?
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Many modern translations of Hebrews 12:27 suggest that the shak-
ing of the heavens and the earth means that they will be removed and
forever gone.
The Bible is clear, however, that God will create new heavens and
a new earth (Isa. 65:17, Rev. 21:1–4), and we will be resurrected and
have new bodies (1 Thess. 4:13–17, Phil. 3:20) on this earth. Thus,
the “shaking” implies the cleansing and renovation of creation, not its
complete removal. What is here will be re-created, and it will be where
the redeemed live.
There are some things, however, that will not and cannot be shaken.
They include the righteous. They will not be shaken because they trust
in God. The Creator sustains them and guarantees their survival.
Note that in Hebrews permanence and stability are associated with
Jesus. Hebrews 1:10–12 says about Jesus:
“ ‘You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and
the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you
remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll
them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same,
and your years will have no end’ ” (ESV). Hebrews also says that Jesus’
priesthood remains forever (Heb. 7:3, 24), as does the inheritance of the
redeemed (Heb. 10:34). In the final judgment, those who hold fast “in
Jesus” will not be shaken (Ps. 46:5).
Hebrews 12:28 also says that we will receive “a kingdom that cannot
be shaken” (ESV). This is a reference to Daniel 7:18, which says that the
saints will “possess the kingdom forever.” This is the kingdom that “shall
never be destroyed” mentioned in Daniel 2:44. This kingdom belongs to
the Son, but He will share it with us. Revelation 20:4 says that we will
judge with Him the evil powers that persecuted us (see also 1 Cor. 6:3).
How well do you do now, in terms of being shaken? If not so well,
what choices can you make in order to get help in this important
area? (See Eph. 4:14.)