The elders are the great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1),
which are enumerated in three groups of seven each
Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah (Hebrews 11:4-12)
- a list of seven
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Israel, Rahab (Hebrews 11:17-31)
- a list of seven
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David, Samuel, the prophets
(Hebrews 11:32) - a list of seven
God spoke to Israel in many parts and in many ways through
the witness of His prophets in times of old, but in the last days of prophecy He has spoken to them by His Son
(Hebrews 1:1 cf. Acts 3:22-24)
The message of salvation to the nations through Israel
(Acts 3:25-26) was confirmed to them through the visible miraculous witness of the
Holy Spirit through the apostles (Hebrews 2:3-4 cf. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:43)
Israel was warned by the Lord not to blaspheme the witness
of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32)
The stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58-59), a man full of the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 6:5,8), caused that generation in Israel not to receive the "times of
refreshing" (Acts 3:19-21) from the Lord's presence in "the age to come" (Hebrews 6:4-6)
The future generation in Israel is exhorted by this epistle
not the repeat the unbelief of their fathers and, thus, enter into His rest (Hebrews 4:7-11)
Faith provides us with the understanding that the ages
have been prepared by the " revealed words" (Greek, Rhema) of God (Amos 3:7; cf. Genesis 18:17-18; Genesis 20:7)
The "word of prophecy" will be Israel's light
in the dark tribulation day - the apostle Peter esteemed it a more sure foundation of hope than his own eye witness
account (II Peter 1:16-21 cf. Matthew 17:1-9)