The Bible offers profound insights into events that have shaken the world and those that will bring all things to completion. Hebrews 12:26-29, along with Matthew 27:50-53, point to the significance of these moments—when heaven and earth are shaken—and what they reveal about the ultimate purpose of God’s plan for humanity.

The Earthquake at Calvary: “It is Finished”

Matthew 27:50-53 describes the final moments of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) earthly ministry, culminating in His sacrificial death on the cross:

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:50-53, KJV)

At the moment Jesus declared, “It is finished,” an earthquake occurred that shook the earth but not the heavens. This seismic event signified the fulfillment of His mission—His death as the Lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world. The veil in the temple, representing the separation between humanity and God, was torn, allowing direct access to God through Yeshua. The earth quaked, graves were opened, and many of the saints were resurrected, foreshadowing the future resurrection of believers.

Notice the Order

The sequence of events in Matthew 27:50-53 is important, as it reflects the process of divine fulfillment:

1. Loud voice – Jesus cried out with a loud voice, His final shout of victory. This echoes authority and finality, marking the end of His earthly ministry.
2. Earthquake – The earth shook in response to His death. This physical shaking mirrored the spiritual shaking that had occurred with the breaking of sin’s power.
3. Resurrection of Saints – As a result of the earthquake, graves were opened, and many saints were resurrected.
4. Saints enter the Holy City – After Jesus’ resurrection, these saints entered the holy city, Jerusalem, and appeared to many, signifying a foretaste of the greater resurrection to come.

This order is significant. First, the loud voice signals that the work is finished. Then, the earth quakes, representing a physical response to this cosmic event. The resurrection of the saints is a direct result, as the power of death is broken, and those who were dead in the faith are given new life. Finally, they enter the Holy City, a foreshadowing of the ultimate entrance into the New Jerusalem, the eternal city of God.

This foreshadowing of the saints entering the Holy City after their resurrection parallels the final resurrection of believers when all things will be made new. It illustrates that death is not the end, but the beginning of the eternal life promised in Christ.

The Shaking of Heaven and Earth: “It is Done”

Hebrews 12:26-29 expands on this theme of shaking:

“Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:26-29, KJV)

Here, the writer of Hebrews refers to a future event when God will not only shake the earth, as He did at Mount Sinai and at the crucifixion, but also the heavens. This future shaking will mark the removal of everything that can be shaken—things made by human hands, temporary and fleeting things—so that what remains will be eternal and unshakable.

This shaking is a clear parallel to Revelation 16:17, where a voice from the throne says, “It is done!” at the pouring out of the final bowl of God’s wrath. This event is not merely about judgment; it is about the complete transformation of creation, where the old order of things passes away, and what is unshakable, eternal, and of God’s Kingdom remains.

The Removal of the Shaken and the Standing of the Unshakable

As Hebrews 12:27 indicates, this shaking is not arbitrary. It serves a purpose: to remove what can be shaken—things that are temporal, sinful, and corruptible. In contrast, those who are part of God’s Kingdom, those who have received His salvation, will remain. They are part of the “kingdom which cannot be moved.” In this final shaking, all that is not rooted in God will be swept away. Only those aligned with God’s eternal purposes will remain standing.

In Matthew 27, when the earth shook at Jesus’ death, the graves were opened, and many saints rose from the dead. This foreshadowing hints at the greater resurrection to come, where the dead in Christ will rise incorruptible, remaining unshakable in the coming kingdom. Just as the saints were resurrected after Jesus’ death, the final shaking will bring about the ultimate resurrection and restoration.

“It is Finished” vs. “It is Done”

When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” He was speaking of the completion of His atoning work on the cross. His death paid the price for sin, allowing all who believe in Him to be reconciled to God. The accompanying earthquake was a sign that the power of sin and death had been broken. However, this was not the final shaking of heaven and earth.

The phrase “It is done” refers to the culmination of all things at the end of the age. This is when God will fully establish His Kingdom, and heaven and earth will be renewed. Revelation speaks of a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain. The final shaking will bring about the completion of God’s plan—a world where only what is eternal and righteous will remain.

Conclusion

The shaking of the earth at Calvary signified that Yeshua had accomplished His mission: the redemption of mankind. Yet, this was just the beginning of God’s unfolding plan. The future shaking of both heaven and earth, as foretold in Hebrews 12 and Revelation, will mark the completion of God’s redemptive work when all things are made new. Those who remain are those whose lives are built upon the foundation of God’s Kingdom—unshakable and eternal.

Notice again the divine order revealed in Matthew 27: first the loud voice of triumph, then the earthquake, followed by the resurrection of saints, and finally their entry into the Holy City. This serves as a pattern, pointing us to the final resurrection and the entrance into God’s eternal Kingdom.

As we reflect on these profound truths, let us take to heart the exhortation in Hebrews 12:28, “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” For our God, indeed, “is a consuming fire,” and only what is rooted in Him will endure when heaven and earth shake.