The Land as Our Inheritance
John Mark Hicks:When God called Abraham,
he promised blessings
through which all the nations would be blessed (Genesis
12:2-3).
Gen. 12:6
And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem,
unto the plain
of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
Gen. 12:7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said,
Unto thy SEED
will I give this land:
and there builded he
an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Gen. 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the
east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the
west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar
unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Included in those blessings is the land promise (Genesis 12:6-7). The promised land is part of the Abrahamic promise.
This land
promise is both overplayed as some identify
the contemporary state of Israel with this land promise and
undervalued as others see no fulfillment of this
promise in Israel’s Messiah who is Abraham’s seed.
2Cor. 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so am I.
Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Gal. 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.
He saith not, And to seedS, as of many; but as of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Gal. 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law?
It was added because of transgressions,
till THE seed should come to whom the promise was made;
and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal. 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Gal. 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid:
for if there had been a law given which could have given LIFE,
verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal. 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal. 3:23 But before FAITH [gospel. Spirit] came,
we were kept under the law,
shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal. 3:24 Wherefore the law was our SCHOOLMASTER to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
Gal. 3:25 But after that faith is come,Lamad (h3925) law-mad'; a prim. root; prop. to goad, i. e. (by impl.) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive):- [un-] accustomed, * diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach (-er, - ing).
Erasmus defines the legalist "teacher" as the clergy, monks, princes and the pope.
we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal. 3:26 FOR ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:27 For [enim what I mean is that]
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s,
then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.
John Mark Hicks: The former think that the state of Israel is the fulfillment (or at least the beginning of the fulfillment) of God’s promise to Israel while the later believe the land promise no longer obtains after Israel was returned from Babylonian exile. I would like to propose an alternative as I don’t think either of the above options are viable.
Israel is
described as the “people of [God’s} inheritance”
(Deuteronomy 4:20; cf. 1 Kings 8:53) The land was part of
Israel’s inheritance as the firstborn son of God among the
nations (Exodus 32:13; Leviticus 20:24; Deuteronomy 4:21).
One need only to skim the Torah, especially
Deuteronomy, to recognize the central role the land plays as
the inheritance Israel receives from Yahweh as God’s
children.
THIS WAS A COVENANT MADE TO ISAAC.
Rom. 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
Rom. 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom. 4:3 For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God,
and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Gen. 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee,Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that FEARETH him,
and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed,
I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath
which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Gen. 26:4 And I will make THY seed to multiply as the stars of heaven,
and will give unto thy seed all these countries;
and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Gen. 26:5 BECAUSE that Abraham
obeyed my voice, and kept my charge,
my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
and WORKETH righteousness, is ACCEPTED with him.
Diakai-osunê , hê,
A. righteousness, justice, dikastikê legal justice, Arist.Pol.1291a27;
Opposite. epieikeia, CLEMENCY, opposite strict law.
2. fulfilment of the Law, LXX Is.26.2, al., Ev.Matt.3.15, al.
II. justice, the business of a judge, Pl.Grg.464b, 464c (v.l. dikastikê), Clit.408b.
III. D., personified, AP9.164; Isis D. SIG1131 (Delos), IG3.203.
IV. Pythag. name for four, Theol.Ar.23.
V. dikaiosunê: hê choinix, mustikôs,
Only they can be SAVED by baptism which ASKS Christ for A holy spirit or A good conscience.
Rom. 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Rom. 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that FAITH was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom. 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? NOT IN CIRCUMCISION but in uncircumcision.
Jesus defined Holy Scripture as
the Prophets and other Prophecies Concerning Me
Amos 6:2
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see;
and from thence go ye
to Hamath the great:
then go down to Gath
of the Philistines:
be they better than
these kingdoms?
or their border
greater than your border?
Amos 9:1 Isaw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.
Amos 9:2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
Amos 9:3 And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
Even when their enemies drive them into captivity, from there I will command the sword to kill them. I will not let them out of my sight; they will experience disaster, not prosperity." Amos 9:4
The sovereign Lord who leads armies will do this. He touches the earth and it dissolves; all who live on it mourn. The whole earth rises like the River Nile, and then grows calm like the Nile in Egypt. Amos 9:5
"You Israelites are just like the Ethiopians in my sight," says the Lord. "Certainly I brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir. Amos 9:7
The Sinful Kingdom of Israel would be sent into captivity and
death because of the Instrumental-Trinitarian-Perverted idolatry
at Mount Sinai. They would be SIFTED to make certain that
no male would survive to reproduce. All of the "Jews" in
the lands of exile can be, using DNA, traced to a few
females. Jews are a religion and the nation was
destroyed. Judah was worse than Israel.
Amos 9:8 Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD
are upon the sinful KINGDOM,
and I will destroy it
from off the face of the earth;
saving that I will not utterly
destroy the HOUSE of Jacob, saith the LORD.
con-tĕro , trīvi (rarely conterui, App. M. 8, p. 212, 12; Ven. Fort. C. 6, 4, 33), trītum, 3, I.v. a., to grind, bruise, pound, to crumble, separate into small
Amos 9:9 For, lo, I
will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all
nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not
the least grain fall upon the earth.
5128. Ao…wn nuwa{, noo´-ah; a primitive root; to waver, in a
great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (as
subjoined):—continually, fugitive, x make, to (go) up and
down, be gone away, (be) move(-able, -d), be promoted, reel,
remove, scatter, set, shake, sift, stagger, to and fro, be
vagabond, wag, (make) wander (up and down).
4617. sinia¿zw siniazo, sin-ee-ad´-zo; from sini÷on sinion (a sieve); to riddle (figuratively): — sift.
John
Mark Hicks: Psalm 37 is a good
example how the hope of inheriting the land, living in the
land, and experiencing the goodness of God in the land is
intergral to Israel’s joy in the Lord. Disturbed by the
prosperity of the wicked, the Psalmist assures Israel that
those who hope in and wait on the Lord will inherit the
land. Six times the Psalmist promises–and Israel liturgically
rehearses promise–that Israel will ultimately receive
its promised inheritance.
They will “inherit the land.”
Jesus himself practically quotes Psalm 37:11
THE MEEK WILL INHERIT WHAT THE EVILDOERS TOOK AWAY.
Psa. 37:1 Fret not thyself
because of evildoers,
neither be thou envious
against the workers of iniquity.
Psa. 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and
wither as the green herb.
Psa. 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Psa. 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off:
but those that wait
upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
g776 erets the ground confiscated by Civil-Clergy
Psa. 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not
be:
yea, thou shalt
diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Psa. 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth;
and shall delight
themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psa. 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just,
and gnasheth upon him
with his teeth.
Psa. 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword,
and have bent their bow,
to cast down the poor
and needy,
and to slay such as be
of upright conversation.
when he announces: “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Matt. 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit:
for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,
when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said,
The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
[Religious observations, SEE, Luke.17.Kingdom.Not.Observation
Operations claiming authority are LYING WONDERS by DELUDED.]
God is not worshiped in houses built by human hands nor the works of human hands.
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo HERE!
or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Luke 17:22 And he said unto the disciples,
The days will come, when ye shall desire to see
one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
Luke 17:23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there:
go not after them, nor follow them
Matt. 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matt. 5:5 Blessed are the MEEK: for they shall
inherit the earth.
Matt. 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled
John Mark Hicks: As part of the Abrahamic promise, the
land is not conditioned by the Mosaic covenant. This
means that the intent of God to fulfill his promise to
Abraham is not conditioned by Torah-obedience.
God saved the Hebrews by Grace
when they were Baptized unto Moses. As soon as they were save
they refused to listen to God. The Covenant of Grace was
Abrahamic and Patriaolic.
When Israel rose up in
Instrumental-Trinitarian-Idolatry
Amos 5:26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch
and Chiun your images,
the STAR of
your god, which ye made to yourselves.
Acts 7:41 And they made a calf in those days,
and offered sacrifice unto the idol,
and rejoiced in the works of their own hands
The practice in the wilderness, tyre and Jerusalem
Acts 7:42 Then God turned,
and gave them up to worship the HOST of heaven;
as it is written in the book of the prophets,
O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices
by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
Amos 5:27 Therefore will I cause you to go into
captivity beyond Damascus,
saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.
Acts 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
and the star of your god Remphan,
figures which ye made to worship them:
and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
Mark.10.They.Shall.Mock.Him.With.Music
Trumpet, drums, flute, cymbals and castinets
with buffoons
Psallo permits ONLY smiting a string with your FINGERS:
not a plectrum
Psallo and SOP have the same root meaning.
Revelation 18F: they are all called Sorcerers who HAD once deceived the whole world.
They WILL BE CAST ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
John
Mark Hicks: Whether the nation of Israel at
any particular time or individuals within Israel at any
particular time possess the land is conditioned on
Torah-obedience,
but the ultimate
fulfillment that Israel would inherit the land is unqualified.
It is as unconditonal as
the promise of the Messiah is.
Rom. 4:1 What shall we say then
that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath
found?
Rom. 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath
whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom. 4:3 For what saith the scripture?
Abraham believed God,
and it was counted unto
him for righteousness.
Gen. 26:3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee,Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that FEARETH him,
and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed,
I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath
which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
Gen. 26:4 And I will make THY seed to multiply as the stars of heaven,
and will give unto thy seed all these countries;
and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Gen. 26:5 BECAUSE that Abraham
obeyed my voice, and kept my charge,
my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
and WORKETH righteousness, is ACCEPTED with him.
John Mark Hicks: On the analogy of Paul’s argument in Galatians 3, the promise was before the law and is therefore not ultimately conditioned by the law. Israel will inherit the land as God promised Abraham. It is a divine promise and God keeps his promises. More explicitly, Paul notes that “it was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise” (Romans 4:13).
John Mark Hicks: This is a
significant point–a critical juncture. The Abrahamic promise
belongs to the children of Israel.
The land is part of the
Abrahamic promise.
The children of Israel
will possess the land; it is their inheritance.
But who is Israel? Who are the
children of Abraham? Paul is, I think, clear. Since the
“promise comes by faith,” it is “guarenteed to all Abraham’s
offspring–not only to those who are of the law” (e.g.,
Torah-obeying ethnic Israel) “but also to those who have the
faith of Abraham” (e.g., including the nations). In this sense
Abraham is the “father of many nations;” he is the “father of
us all” (Romans 4:16-17). The Gentiles (nations) have been
grafted into Israel through faith (Romans 11:17).
Those who belong to
Messiah–those in Christ–are the children of Abraham and thus
heirs of the promise (Galatians 3:29).
Gal. 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law?
It was added because of transgressions,
till THE seed should come to whom the promise was made;
and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal. 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Gal. 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid:
for if there had been a law given which could have GIVEN LIFE
verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Gal. 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal. 3:23 But before FAITH (the gospel) came,
we were kept under the law,
shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal. 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
Gal. 3:25 But after that faith is come,
we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:27 For [enim what I mean is that]
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
IN Enduo of clothes, put on, “endune khitōna” enduesthai assume the person e. tais psukhais tōn akouontōn insinuate oneself into their minds,
27 hosoi gar eis Khriston ebaptisthēte, Khriston enedusasthe:
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:27 For [what I mean is that] as many of you
as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON on Christ.
27 hosoi gar eis Khriston ebaptisthēte, Khriston enedusasthe:John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time;Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
the only begotten SON,
which is in the bosom [FOLD and hidden] of the Father,
he hath DECLARED him.
Jesus always said that He was not God but His Works were done by the FATHER.
g1834. exegeomai, ex-ayg-eh´-om-ahee; from 1537 and 2233; to consider out (aloud), i.e. rehearse, UNFOLD: declare, tell.
Gal. 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.
Gal. 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal. 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons
But does this include the land?
Yes, indeed. As Paul phrases it, Abraham was the “heir of the
world” (kosmos)….not just the land of
Palestine (Romans 4:13). The inheritance of the children of
Abraham is the world–the whole cosmos.
kosmos , ho, A.order, kata kosmon in order, duly, “eu kata k.” Il.10.472, al.; ou kata k. shamefully, Od.8.179; “maps atar ou kata k.” Il. 2.214: freq. in dat., kosmō kathizein to sit in order, Od.13.77, cf. Hdt.8.67; “ou k. . . eleusometha” Il.12.225; “k. theinai ta panta” Hdt.2.52, cf. 7.36, etc.; “diathes tade k.” Ar.Av.1331;
kathizein 4. cause an assembly, court, etc., to take their seats, convene, “agoras ēmen luei ēde kathizei” Od.2.69; hotan kathesōsin agōnagenerally, of things, natural order, “ginetai tōn tetartaiōn hē katastasis ek toutou tou k.” Hp. Prog.20.
3. in later Gr., = oikoumenē, the known or inhabited world, OGI458.40 (9 B.C.), Ep.Rom.1.8, etc.; ho tou pantos k. kurios, of Nero, SIG814.31, cf. IGRom.4.982 (Samos); “ean ton k. holon kerdēsē” Ev.Matt.16.26.4. men in general, “phanerōson seauton tō k.” Ev.Jo.7.4, cf. 12.19; esp. of the world as estranged from God by sin, ib.16.20, 17.9, al., 1 Ep.Cor. 1.21, etc.5. houtos ho k. this present world, i.e. earth, opp. heaven, Ev.Jo.13.1; regarded as the kingdom of evil, ho arkhōn tou k. toutou ib.12.31.V. Pythag.name for six, Theol.Ar.37; for ten, ib.59.
This is not a land we possess
by violence or by purchase. Rather, we receive it by faith in
the Messiah and on the ground of the faithfulness of the
Messiah.
The “faith(fulness) of Jesus”
secures the inheritance for Israel and we participate in it
through faith (Galatians 3:22). The Messiah is the heir of the
all things and we are co-heirs with the Messiah through faith
(Romans 8:17).
Gal. 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Gal. 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal. 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal. 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Gal. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
The creation is the inheritance
of the people of God. We yet await, according to Romans
8:18-25, the full adoption into the family of God when we our
bodies are redeemed (resurrection)
Rom. 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom. 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom. 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom. 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom. 8:17 ¶ 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.
Rom. 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom. 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom. 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom. 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
2937. κτίσις ktisis, ktis´-is; from 2936; original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, literally or figuratively): — building, creation, creature, ordinance
2936. κτίζω ktizo, ktid´-zo; probably akin to 2932 (through the idea of proprietorship of the manufacturer); to fabricate, i.e. found (form originally): — create, Creator, make.
2932. κτάομαι ktaomai, ktah´-om-ahee; a primary verb; to get, i.e. acquire (by any means; own): — obtain, possess, provide, purchase.
crĕo to bring forth, produce, make, create, beget (very freq. in every period and species of composition).
crĕātus , a, with abl. (masc. or fem.), sprung from, begotten by, born of; or subst., an offspring, a child, Ov. M. 5, 145; 11, 295; 11, 303 al.—Subst.: crĕāta , ōrum, n., things made: “servare,” Lucr. 2, 572.—
Eph. 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
165. αἰών aion, ahee-ohn´; from the same as 104; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity (also past); by implication, the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): — age, course, eternal, (for) ever(-more), (n-)ever, (beginning of the , while the) world (began, without end). Compare 5550.
Rom. 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Rom. 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Rom. 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
and the creation is liberated (new heaven and new earth of
Revelation 22:1-4). That is our inheritance. John reminds of
the whole Abrahamic trajectory (Genesis 17:8) with this
language himself in Revelation: “Those who are victorious will
inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my
children” (22:7).
Rev. 22:1 ¶ And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev. 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev. 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Rev. 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Rev. 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev. 22:6 ¶ And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev. 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev. 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev. 22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
4352.proskuneo, pros-koo-neh´-o; from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): — worship.
Rev. 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Rev. 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
The Abrahamic promise was first given to ethnic Israel but, by faith and because of the Messiah, it includes the nations as well. Perhaps on the new heaven and new earth the redeemed of ethnic Israel will dwell in Palestine–in the land between the rivers of Egypt and Babylon–but the whole earth will belong to the people of God as they again reign on the earth with God. The kingdom of God will fill the earth!
I think this accounts for Paul’s language about inheritance. He writes about inheriting “the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5; cf. James 2:5). He praises God for the gifting us with the Spirit as a downpayment of our inheritance which will arrive when God has fully redeemed his possession (people; Ephesians 1:14–that phraseology is loaded with Hebraic expression and thought). Through faith, Paul writes, we are “qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12).
The fullness of the kingdom of God, which is yet future, is our inheritance. It is the ultimate fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise through which God will make Israel a great nation, a great name and bless all the nations. That promise includes the land–the whole cosmos, and it belongs to all those who place their hope in Yahweh’s Messiah.
Consequently, the new heaven and new earth as the renewed (new) creation is integral to the plot line of the story of God from Abraham to the eschaton. The earth is the inheritance of God’s people and one day the reign of God will fill it from the east to the west, from the north to the south. The whole earth, unlike its present condition, will be “Holy to the Lord.”
May your kingdom come, may your
will be done, on earth as it is heaven!