3. How have spiritual Israelites “approached” something more awesome?

³ However, spiritual Israelites​—anointed Christians today—​are in “a new covenant.” (Hebrews 8:8-11) And now they have “approached” something far more awesome. What is that? Paul answers at Hebrews 12:22: “You have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem.” That approach had started with the Kingdom heirs of Paul’s day, as these were “built up a spiritual house” on the foundation, Christ Jesus, now laid in Zion. (1 Peter 2:4-9) Other anointed Christians would continue this approach to the heavenly Jerusalem until all 144,000 are gathered to the Lamb, to stand with him upon that heavenly Mount Zion.​—Revelation 14:1-5.

4. In connection with the Messianic Kingdom, what other features have anointed Christians “approached”?

⁴ Here in Hebrews 12:22-24, Paul describes also other features to which Christians have “approached,” and which have a relation to the Messianic Kingdom and its purpose. He speaks of the presence of “myriads of angels,” which both Daniel 7:9-14 and Matthew 25:31 indicate are on hand when the One “like a son of man” receives the Kingdom. Paul refers also to “the congregation of the firstborn” who inherit the Kingdom. He magnifies God as “the Judge of all,” who declares these ‘firstborn sons’ righteous or just, that they may be taken into the new covenant that Jesus mediated by means of his own precious blood. (Hebrews 9:13-15; Romans 5:1, 9) And Paul mentions also ‘the spiritual lives of these righteous ones,’ the Kingdom heirs, who now walk in “a newness of life.”​—Romans 6:4; 8:16.

5. (a) How does Hebrews 12:28, 29 bear out that the “heavenly Jerusalem” is the Messianic Kingdom? (b) How does Hebrews 13:14, 15 point to this “city” as being yet future?

⁵ That the “heavenly Jerusalem” of Hebrews 12:22 refers to the Messianic Kingdom to which anointed Christians “have approached” is further borne out by the following Heb 12 verses, 28 and 29, where Paul encourages these, saying: “Wherefore, seeing that we are to receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us continue to have undeserved kindness, through which we may acceptably render God sacred service with godly fear and awe. For our God is also a consuming fire.” Such admonition to zeal in ‘approaching’ the heavenly Jerusalem, or Messianic Kingdom, continues on to the end of Paul’s letter, as we read in the last chapter, namely, Hebrews 13:14: “We do not have here a city that continues, but we are earnestly seeking the one to come.” Now that Kingdom has come​—in the epoch-marking year 1914! How earnest the remaining anointed ones on earth should be in ‘seeking first the kingdom’ and in always offering to Jehovah “a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to his name”!​—Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 13:15.

7. How does the “New Jerusalem” differ from the “heavenly Jerusalem”?

⁷ However, there is a slight difference between the “New Jerusalem” described in Revelation and the “heavenly Jerusalem” of the book of Hebrews in that the “New Jerusalem” is made up of the 144,000 who are betrothed to the bridegroom, whereas the “heavenly Jerusalem” comprises 144,001, this “one” being the bridegroom King.

And now, as these redeemed ones make their final approach to the “heavenly Jerusalem,” the Messianic Kingdom, what joy there must be among the throngs of loyal angels of “the Jerusalem above”!​—Isaiah 62:11; Revelation 19:7.