Daily Devotions
Hebrews
"The world to come?"
Text: Hebrews 2:5
THE WORLD TO COME (ten oikoumenen ten mellousan)
The author of Hebrews introduced a concept that at first reading is most puzzling.
“For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak,
in subjection to angels.”
Hebrews 2:5
What is “the world to come”? Let us carefully review Hebrews 1 so that we can catch another glimpse of what the text suggests.
1. “Of which we speak”
This phrase is the first clue to understand what the author is speaking about. (This has to be with reference to the earlier chapter).
a) The need to review the things spoken thus far.
b) The things that points to “the world to come”.
2. Significant statements that points “to the world to come”
a) It is a world where Jesus sits on the throne (Cf. Hebrews 1:8).
b) It is a world where all enemies would be put down- “in subjection” (Cf. Hebrews 1:13).
3. It is not this present world (Cf. Hebrews 1:10-12).
a) This present world will grow old like a garment (Cf. Hebrews 1:11).
b) There will be a dramatic change (Cf. Hebrews 1:12).
4. The place of angels in “the world to come”
a) We have another reminder of the place of angels (Hebrews 2:5).
b) The world to come would be “in subjection” but not to angels (Hebrews 2:5).
c) Angels would attend to Jesus as the Lord and Master (Hebrews 1:6-7).
IDENTIFICATION OF THIS WORLD TO COME
It would have to refer to a text that Matthew recorded in his Gospel. The following text sheds much light on the subject of “the world to come”
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory,
and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit
on the throne of His glory.”
Matthew 25:31