What does Hebrews 1:11 teach about the temporary nature of the heavens? Setting the Text in Context Hebrews 1 opens by showcasing the supremacy of the Son. In vv. 10-12 the writer quotes Psalm 102:25-27 to contrast the unchanging Christ with a created universe that is headed for dissolution. Hebrews 1:11—The Key Statement “They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.” • “They” = the heavens and the earth mentioned in v. 10 • “Perish” = come to an actual end, not merely a makeover • “You remain” = Christ’s eternal, uncreated nature • “Wear out like a garment” = inevitable decay leading to disposal Three Vivid Pictures of a Temporary Heaven 1. Perishing—creation’s life span is finite, set by its Creator. 2. Wearing out—like clothing that frays with daily use, the heavens steadily age (cf. Romans 8:20-22). 3. Rolling up (v. 12)—a deliberate act of folding and setting aside, signaling finality. Confirming Witnesses from the Rest of Scripture • Psalm 102:25-27 – identical imagery, grounding Hebrews in OT revelation. • Isaiah 34:4 – “The sky will be rolled up like a scroll.” • Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” • 2 Peter 3:7, 10-12 – heavens reserved for fire; elements will melt. • Revelation 6:14 – sky recedes like a scroll. • Revelation 21:1 – a new heaven and a new earth replace the old. Why the Temporary Heavens Matter • Highlights the Creator-creation divide: Christ is eternal; the cosmos is not. • Affirms Scripture’s literal accuracy—prophecy spoken, prophecy fulfilled. • Reinforces the certainty of coming judgment and renewal. • Comforts believers: our eternal inheritance cannot decay (1 Peter 1:4). • Warns against attaching ultimate value to a world already slated for replacement. Living in Light of a Perishable Sky • Hold possessions loosely and invest in eternal treasures (Matthew 6:19-21). • Refuse idolatry of nature or science; worship the unchanging Son instead. • Find courage when creation itself groans—its end ushers in a better beginning. • Share the gospel urgently; time is limited for repentance. • Fix hope on the promised “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). |
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