Interesting . . . This requires me to ask a question, in light of the following . . .
Isaiah 65:17, For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. KJV
Isaiah 66:22, For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. KJV
2 Peter 3:13, Nevertheless we, to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.KJV
Revelation 21:1, And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. KJV
Do you believe that the land, to which God directed Abraham's attention in Gen. 13:14-15 is exempt from the passing away mentioned in Rev 21:1?
I suspect that God was speaking to Abraham in "short hand," as it were. For Abraham's seed (Christ) was to become heir of ALL things, and the redeemed would be joint heirs with Christ, children according to that same promise.
Hebrews 1:1-2
1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. KJV
Therefore, those in Christ would become heirs, possessing, in Christ, all that is - be it earthly or heavenly. In this way is God working toward the fulfillment of all that He promise Abraham.
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 t
he 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.