Study of the Bible Community Group
The Bible unfolds like literature, and we follow the instructions like marching orders. The last orders supersede the previous ones. So the New Covenant (Testament) gives the design of who we are, what we do, and how we meet. What do you see in it, that can help us live better?
“And THE LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever”. Genesis 13:14-15
“And in thy (Abraham’s) seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”. Genesis 22:18
“Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, 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;” Genesis 26:3
We can see from this reference that one of the promises that make up the gospel (Galatians 3:8) was that Abraham and his seed would inherit the promised land – the land of Israel – forever. We can also see that not just the promised land is related to these promises but in fact the whole earth and all the nations in it who will be blessed through Abrahams promised seed, the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16). We read in the Bible that these promises have not yet been fulfilled:
“These (Faithful people of old of whom Abraham is mentioned in verse 17) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”. Hebrews 11:13
So this future blessing of all the nations of the earth being blessed, and the promised land being given to Abraham and his seed forever, are still future. It is a plain Bible teaching that God’s purpose is with the earth – consider these references:
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. Matthew 6:10
“…all the earth shall be filled with the glory oF THE LORD”. Numbers 14:21
“For thus saith THE LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited…” Isaiah 45:18
“…THE LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” Zechariah 14:9
These promises will be fulfilled in a future Kingdom which is to be set up on the earth by Jesus Christ at his second coming.
“And in thy (Abraham’s) seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”. Genesis 22:18
“Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, 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;” Genesis 26:3
We can see from this reference that one of the promises that make up the gospel (Galatians 3:8) was that Abraham and his seed would inherit the promised land – the land of Israel – forever. We can also see that not just the promised land is related to these promises but in fact the whole earth and all the nations in it who will be blessed through Abrahams promised seed, the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 3:16). We read in the Bible that these promises have not yet been fulfilled:
“These (Faithful people of old of whom Abraham is mentioned in verse 17) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”. Hebrews 11:13
So this future blessing of all the nations of the earth being blessed, and the promised land being given to Abraham and his seed forever, are still future. It is a plain Bible teaching that God’s purpose is with the earth – consider these references:
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. Matthew 6:10
“…all the earth shall be filled with the glory oF THE LORD”. Numbers 14:21
“For thus saith THE LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited…” Isaiah 45:18
“…THE LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” Zechariah 14:9
These promises will be fulfilled in a future Kingdom which is to be set up on the earth by Jesus Christ at his second coming.
I think we also have to understand the language of the bible too. It is not written 100% literal. There are so many plays on words and meaning. I wish it was 100% literal, it would be easier to understand. But I think it is written like that so we can "search out" God. I think God wants to see people "seeking" Him out, not just in what they do, but also trying to understand scripture. Do we read the bible for face value, or do we try to look up Hebrew and Greek words to really understand what is meant here. Do we use our concordances? Or do we just say, "I think that's what it means" and just go with that...
16 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Verse 15, no opportunity to return to any earthly type kingdom.
Verse 16, Heaven. With a city already there.
"Thy Kingdom come, they will be done, on earth, as it is done in heaven".
Abraham, never recieved his promises. He has to be raised first to recieve them. He will inherit the land forever. David's throne will be built up again. Where? In heaven? No, on earth.
"And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."
They are not dead, but living. In him they live and he is their God. Now.
2 Corinthians 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
No Tom, that's not right. They are dead in the grave. Christ will judge the risen dead at his return. Dont you read the New Testament? And what does the OT say about death?
1. In death you cannot praise God.
2. The living know that they will die, the dead know nothing.
Wow, alittle different from you beliefs, eh?
[There are terrestrial bodies and there are celestial bodies. ]
Yes, that's right. It's talking about man and angels.
[We know if this one we now inhabit were dissolved, we have (now) another in heaven.]
Tom.... I"m trying to help you. Re-read that chapter again, slowy, verse by verse. It' s not saying what your saying..... It has nothing to do with going to heaven.
.....Pulling out singular verses to make a fit of ones deemed logic is an invalid proof!
....The Patriarchs and God's people are all sleeping in dust?
.....Who made an appearance next to Jesus in the New Testament?...But these are in dust?
....Revelations....The chosen of God who got hacked to death cry out..."How much longer?"....And these are given a white robe and asked to wait just a bit longer so the full number comes in......According to your beliefs Israel.....These people are in dust, dead, yet with ability to cry out.....As God is handing out white robes to dead dust people in earth?....
.....Somehow he has gotten to you Israel......I am sorry!
[Pulling out singular verses to make a fit of ones deemed logic is an invalid proof!]
I dont do that. I look at all scripture.
[.....Who made an appearance next to Jesus in the New Testament?...But these are in dust?]
Doesnt Jesus also tell them that was a vision?????
[According to your beliefs Israel.....These people are in dust, dead, yet with ability to cry out.....]
My beliefs are bible based. Revelation is symbollic. God has hear the cries and prayers of his saints in their troubles before they died. He makes a symbollic point.
[As God is handing out white robes to dead dust people in earth?....]
No King... it's talking about the future at the return of His son. When we are made immortal, we will be made glorious, rightous being.
[Somehow he has gotten to you Israel......I am sorry!]
Who? All of my beliefs I can back up with scripture. So who is getting me?
....An example.....Jesus did not exist before he was born a man on earth......Jesus is not God the Father but the Son of God, God the Fathers first born offspring......ETC>>>>>>>
.....Plus you have been zinging around with the Kingdom thingy.......
....And you are way confusing me on how those who are dead in dust; asleep; can cry out to God and be given a robe to wear while waiting in a asleep condition in the dust of the earth.
I've been zinging around with this Kingdom thingy? Actually I havent, I"ve been very direct about it. The bible says that Jesus will set up a Kingdom on earth at his return. And it's not a Kingdom thingy too.
[And you are way confusing me on how those who are dead in dust; asleep; can cry out to God and be given a robe to wear while waiting in a asleep condition in the dust of the earth.]
I never said that. Re-read my post. The dead cant do anything. They are dead. There are tons of verses on that. Read carefully what people write.
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
2Cr 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
(the dead know nothing)
1Cr 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed,
2Cr 5:6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Cr 5:8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ok, I guess we'll start on that one first. Even the verses that say a Kingdom on earth is wrong? Jesus will restore David's throne? All nations will gather up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord when he's here is wrong? Abraham will inherit his land at resurrection and we have a part of that? Israel will be restored? The Lord will king over all the earth forever and ever is wrong? Wow!!! King, that IS biblical!!! And it's all thru out scripture.