The epistle of the Hebrews was written in the context of the establishment of the kingdom of God. The purpose of God was, and still is, to fulfill all the OT prophesies concerning Jesus Christ and to establish Israel as the chief nation through whom Jesus Christ will reign. This generation of Hebrews that were addressed in the epistle were key to that taking place without delay. They failed in this purpose because they would not be saved. It is required that every Hebrew be saved before this, the establishment of the earthly kingdom, can take place. Eventually the kingdom will be established with Jesus Christ reigning on the throne of David in Jerusalem, and few Hebrews left when it happens, but they will all be saved collectively as one, something that did not occur in that generation because of unbelief.
I would like to prove this statement that I have highlighted with the scriptures so there can be no doubt that it is true.
First of all, it is important that one understands that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and his ways above our ways, Isa 55. Therefore we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, must learn God's ways and to think like he thinks. He gives us specific words that are chain links in his thinking all through history, from one generation to the other. Therefore the words are the most important thing for the Christian with the Holy Ghost living in him. This in itself is one of the ways of God because he, God, requires TWO witnesses to establish understanding. So, the word of God is one and the indwelling Holy Ghost is the second. See 1 Cor 2 and see this truth laid out in real time. One without the other cannot get the job done.
Second, a consistent way of God is to always illustrate his spiritual end goals with a physical type. Always! While the scriptures are literally full of this truth, I will briefly mention two in this post.
One, God looks upon his people Israel, those who were born of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, as one man. While there are only two men in the OT scriptures who are ever called "the son of God," Adam and Jesus, Israel is to be understood collectively as his firstborn son. God birthed him in Egypt, (the type of the world in scripture), in the flesh, like all others are born in this world. He will need to learn of Jesus Christ and be born again through faith in him like any other lost man.
Jesus said in John 3 that except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. All indicators in scriptures teach us that all citizens of this kingdom will be born again before it is established in it's physical form. This would be this collective man as well as each individual.
Exodus 4:21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.
This gives a clear meaning to those born of Abraham, born in the flesh. They are not the children of God. They must be born again.
Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8
That is, (the explanation of his comments)They which are the children of the flesh, (of Abraham) these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise (Isaac - Abraham had other children) are counted for the seed. (this is typical)
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
So, in the first or natural birth of Israel in the OT God illustrates his need to be born again because he has no power against sin. He typifies all men born of Adam.
In the NT, God has made it possible through Jesus Christ for them to experience this second birth.
To show very briefly that God intended for this people to be born again as one man immediately after he had paid for their redemption through Christ, and two passages are need, so I will give two.
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them,
Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren,
what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I have underlined the key phrase in this instruction. Only about 5000 out of a million + obeyed.
Act s 3:22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you,
in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Alas, Jesus the prophet lead them up to their rest and they would not enter in, just like in the time of Moses. So, there were 40 years and they were purged out of their land and reckoned dead because they still would not enter in at that time. The gentiles thus have been receiving the blessings since then.\
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Well, I am out of time and space in this post, but I will give the second proof in the next post and shine light on the "generation of Jesus Christ" and the responsibilities of Israel during that time.