If we trace the teaching associated with this word, we are led on through participation

of the "gifts", which were anticipations of the world to come (6:), and from the shadow

to the real tabernacle "heaven itself", to the heavenly country, and heavenly Jerusalem.

Heb. 12: 18-21 speaks of Moses, verses 22, 24 of "Jesus, the mediator of the new

covenant". Connected with the latter is the perfecting of those who were sanctified.

There we see them, "the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven". These are

associated with "the spirits of perfect righteous ones" and the "innumerable company of

angels". How any can confuse such a description with the Right hand of God far above

all principality and power is beyond our understanding. So far as we are concerned we

see a decided difference and keep it so.

It was the consciousness of this "heavenly calling" that supported Abraham, Isaac and

Jacob, enabling them to "confess that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth". As

we have pointed out before, there is a close parallel of principle between Hebrews and

Philippians, and the consciousness of the "high calling" in Phil. 3: enables the believer

there to count all things loss, and make the same confession of faith.

Let us remember what is connected with "confessing to His name" (Heb. 13: 13-16)

and the many passages which link suffering with future glory.