- Mar 9, 2004
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Hi msortwell
I believe what we see in the Bible is the fulfilling of this promise to Abraham. The promise is actually fourfold. God promise to,
1. Make Abraham the father of a great nation
2. To make him the father of many nations.
3. That all nations would be blessed through him, and
4. That he would inherit the land.
Galatians 3 is a summary of the entire Bible. Gd did make Abraham the father of a great nation, Israel. He also made him the father of many nations. Through Christ all believers are Abraham's seed. God is also blessing all nations through Abraham via Christ. The final part of the promise is the land inheritance.
Regarding the passages you quoted about the new heavens and new earth, let me say, when we today, think of the word new, we think of another one. A different one. However, in Scripture we are told that God will renew existing things.
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:20-21 KJV)
Peter speaks of the restoring of all things. John, writing the words of God does the same. Notice further in Rev 21.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Rev. 21:4-5 KJV)
Notice God said, "I make all things new". He didn't say I make all new things. This is a restoration that God is speaking of. He's talking about restoring the creation. Also, note that the heavens are the atmosphere. Remember Gen. 1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". There are also passages that imply this even though they don't state it outright. For instance, Isaiah prophesies about the New Jerusalem.
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. (Isa. 65:17-19 KJV)
Notice that God said there will be no more weeping and crying in the New Jerusalem. This implies that there was previously weeping and crying in Jerusalem. This implies that the New Jerusalem and the present Jerusalem are one and the same.
Likewise God promised David that the fruit of David's womb would sit on his throne forever. David's throne was in Jerusalem. Christ will sit on David's throne in Jerusalem.
Here's another, Zion is Jerusalem,
13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. (Ps. 132:13-14 KJV)
This implies that Jerusalem will continue to exist. So, I submit that it's not that the new heavens and earth are not different ones , but rather the present ones restored. When the inheritance in mentioned in Scripture it is the land. This earth is Christ's inheritance, and as joint heirs, Christians too will inherit it.
So, I submit that it is the Christian's destiny to inherit the land and to live on it. That is a a part of the Abrahamic Covenant and the Christian's hope.
But sometimes new means truly new . . . See Matt 9:17 where the same term is used for NEW wine skins. It even seems that John is attempting to emphasize that the new heavens/earth are truly new by stating that the old is passed away.
But WHATEVER exists at the time of Rev 21, it will be Christs and the possession of all that are in Him - the redeemed of all ages. The land promise too . . . Is fulfilled in Christ.
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