crossnote said:
I find it interesting that land promises were not given to the Church but given to Israel, it just strengthens the notion that the two have different agendas in Gods scheme of things.
Second Temple Judaism generally understood the promises to Abraham to be an inheritance of the entire world, not just a tract of land in the Middle East. When the promises to Abraham would have been fulfilled, Israel would take possession of and rule the world. This is seen in numerous 2nd Temple and biblical writings.
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Sirach 44:21 And so the Lord made him a solemn promise that his descendants would be a blessing to the world; that their number would be countless, like the dust of the earth; that they would be honored more than any other people on earth; and that their land would extend from sea to sea, from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
Jubilees 19:21 Let thy hands be strong
And let thy heart rejoice in thy son Jacob;
For I have loved him far beyond all my sons.
He shall be blessed for ever,
And his seed shall fill the whole earth.
4 Ezra 6:55-59: All this have I spoken before thee, O Lord, because thou madest the world for our sakes. As for the other people, which also come of Adam, thou hast said that they are nothing, but be like unto spittle: and hast likened the abundance of them unto a drop that falleth from a vessel. And now, O Lord, behold, these heathen, which have ever been reputed as nothing, have begun to be lords over us, and to devour us. But we thy people, whom thou hast called thy firstborn, thy only begotten, and thy fervent lover, are given into their hands. If the world now be made for our sakes, why do we not possess an inheritance with the world? how long shall this endure?
Dan
7:13 I was watching in the night visions, “And with the clouds of the sky
one like a son of man was approaching.
He went up to the Ancient of Days
and was escorted before him.
7:14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.
All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him.
His authority is eternal and will not pass away.
His kingdom will not be destroyed.
7:27 Then the kingdom, authority,
and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven
will be delivered to the people of the holy ones of the Most High.
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
all authorities will serve him and obey him.’
Ps
2:7 The king says,“I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me
‘You are my son!This very day I have become your father!
2:8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,[SUP]
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Ps
110:1 Here is the Lord’s proclamationto my lord:
“Sit down at my right handuntil I make your enemies your footstool!”
110:2 The Lord extendsyour dominionfrom Zion.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
110:6 He executes judgmentagainstthe nations;
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It's against this background and understanding that Paul says:
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Rom
4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world...
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This promise of Israel inheriting and ruling the world is realized in and through the messiah, Jesus who sits at the right hand of God exercising all authority.
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Rom
8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.
8:17 And if children, then heirs namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ
Rom
11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever!
Col
2:9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form,
2:10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Mark
14:62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see
the Son of Man sitting at the right handof the Powerand
coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Matt
28:18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Luke
10:22 All things have been given to me by my Father.
John
5:27 and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment
John
3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority.
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The promises to Abraham have been realized in Jesus. There is no land promise left to fulfill, if for no other reason than Jesus is Lord over all land, which includes the tract of land in the Middle East.
2 Cor
1:20 For every one of God’s promises are “Yes” in him;
This should be pretty good news. Not only has God acted for the salvation of Jew and Gentile alike, and not only does the people of God include Jew and Gentile, but it also entails as a logical consequence that we don't have to support or promote any necessary or divinely appointed violent conflict between Arabs and Jews. Jesus is Lord and he will work it out. We are to spread the good news and promote justice, peace, and righteousness under his Lordship, not promote the idea that it's the divine destiny of Jews and Arabs in the Middle East to destroy each other.
