In Hebrews 11, beginning with verse 22, the eye is fixed on the assembly of firstborn ones — the church. They did not always belong to heaven, as the angels did, but their names are written there; grace has inscribed them on heaven’s scroll according to God’s eternal purpose. Then it is to God we have come. He is seen as the supreme Judge of all, to whom every creature is responsible. Another company also has its place in this vast circle of glory — the spirits of just men made perfect, the blessed dead of a former dispensation who await the glory they shall share at the coming of the Lord. Finally, Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, is spoken of — that covenant yet to be made with the houses of Israel and Judah, and the blood of Jesus which is the basis of all blessing and glory for sinful men.
To all this we have come in contrast to mount Sinai, which justly demanded a righteousness we could never render, and as justly shut us up under condemnation and despair. But these things are so vast that we need to pray for enlargement and for that teaching which only God’s Spirit can give in order to take them in.
“But ye have come to mount Zion; and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads of angels, the universal gathering; and to the assembly of the firstborn who are registered in heaven; and to God, judge of all; and to the spirits of just men made perfect; and to Jesus, mediator of a new covenant; and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better than Abel” (Heb. 12:22-2422But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To 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, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22‑24) JND).
In saying that we have come to mount Zion, the Apostle does not mean the literal mount. We have come to that of which mount Zion speaks, in contrast to mount Sinai. Zion speaks of grace, of blessing, and deliverance from God when everything on man’s side had given way. We have come to that vast sphere of blessing yet to be established and which is named here in its various parts. Now, mount Zion is only the center of the earthly system; there is also the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. Our thoughts are thus taken to heaven, and there we find ourselves in the midst of the inhabitants of the unseen world, the innumerable company of angels.
Christian Truth, Vol. 14 (adapted)