There are many who may have a misunderstanding about the Jews, Jerusalem and Gods people. Many people and Christians are waiting for an earthly Temple to be built in the earthly Jerusalem in Palestine. Even now, the people in that area have completed the building of The Burning Alter which in scripture is used to sacrifice burnt offering unto the Lord which completely contradicts Hebrews 10:9-14. We will examine all of these points in order to understand what the focus is in our time and who the Jews to God are. We will also look at Jerusalem and if there is significance for us to the last days.
Is there something special about the Jewish nation?
let’s see why it is God chose to save Israel from Egypt. Let’s take a look at Exodus chapter 6:5 through 8 which says:
“ And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.”
We see here that Our Heavenly Father remembered a Covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to provide and bless their actual children from being wiped of the planet. It is not because the bloodline of Abraham has some kind of special spiritual significance, the reason why Father Calls out to them is because of His promise to their Fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Let’s look at another verse just to be sure. Let’s look at Deuteronomy Chapter 9 verse 5 which says:
“Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.”
Not only are the Jews not a special people by their own merit but like ALL men before coming to Christ, they are referred to as a stiff-necked and rebellious people. Again God reminds them the only reason He calls them at this time is because the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is why though He is using another people, He still calls them to repent.
What do I mean “another people” are being used by God?
Well did God use a people blood related to Abraham? YES. Were all the laws and blessings given to these blood related individuals only? NO. Let’s look at Exodus chapter 12 verses 48 to 49 which says:
“And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
One law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.”
The opportunity to accept by faith the death of Christ was given to all through the Passover and all people were able to partake after their conversion. Then they would be AS ONE BORN IN ISRAEL. The foreigner would become an actual Israelite or a Jew. We will touch more on this further in the study. Let’s first reveal the other people God will use. Let’s analyze a few verses in Hosea chapter 1 verses 9 and 10, also chapter 2 verse 23:
“Hos 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Hos 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Hos 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”
Because of the rebellion of Israel, God continues to call them to repentance but has moved on to ADD many to His people as to who are willing to follow no matter what background. God Graffs in people who were not from the original group. Its broken down in Romans chapter 11 to 31.
Then what is a Jew or an Israelite?
Well, actually a Jew is the name of someone from the Tribe of Judah. Jesus was from the line of David therefore from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is also called the lion of Judah and when He was on the cross they ridiculed Him because He was the king of the JEWS. If He is a Jew being from the tribe of Judah How does this make everyone a Jew?
According to what we read in Exodus, Israel or a Jew is anyone who is converted and has Faith in Christ and the one true God. Paul says this:
“Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”
Also Paul mentions who is a Jew in Romans chapter 2 verses 28 and 29 which reads:
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
A true Jew is one in the Faith and one who is converted in the Heart which is what circumcision represents. It is when the KING OF JUDAH is in you. This is what makes all believers a Jew INWARDLY. It’s when Christ resides INWARDLY.
Paul makes the same notion about being an Israelite in Romans chapter 9 verses 6 to 8:
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
These verses are quite clear. Blood relatives of Abraham do not make them children of God nor does it even make them apart of Israel. Many error on this part, thinking being apart of Abrahams bloodline makes them an Israelite or connected to God. Let’s see what does make you apart of Israel and a Child of God. We have to remember the verse says “IN ISAAC shall thy SEED be called” and it also says ONLY the “Children of PROMISE are counted as seed”. Let’s see what these mean to get a deeper understanding.
“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.”
The seed or Isaac was actually referring to Christ as stated in this verse, now lets see how we can be apart of Israel.
“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.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
These verses are extremely powerful and eliminate any idea that bloodline gives us an advantage. Not only are we considered Children of God when Christ is in us (John 1:12-13), but according to scripture we are considered ABRAHAMS DESENDANTS, and then heirs to the promises of God. There is no difference between any men on the earth from one another. Man may have put up barriers between each other but God breaks them down in Christ.
Gods people were never Israel based on Blood, but rather Faith. The title Jews never went to a specific nationality we see this in Acts chapter 2 verses 5 through 12.
Did not Jesus come for the Jews First?
Yes, Jesus did come to appeal to the Jews or the bloodline of Abraham First. It is consistent with scripture that based on the promise Father made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Course He would come to them first. Jesus Himself knew there were no difference among men and tried to teach this to them while He was on this earth, But they would not listen.
“Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.”
Jesus was correct in calling them Abraham’s seed, referring to blood relation. But when they said that Abraham was there Father, Jesus corrected them and said that “If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham” Jesus also says that Abraham is not their Father. Verse 44 says:
“Ye are of your father the devil…”
They are not of Faith and not only that they were persecuting and trying to kill the Son of God which revealed their RALATION to the devil.
The Bloodline of Israel does exist, and there is no question because God is continuing to keep His promise and appeal to them. On the other hand heirs to the Promises of Abraham are not by blood but Faith.
What of Jerusalem and the Land God promised His people?
“Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
We see Here the promised land was promised to Abraham as an inheritance and to the Families of the earth. We read in Galatians 33:28-29, in order to become the family of Abraham you MUST have Christ in your Heart. This same Promise was given to the Israelites when they left Egypt in Exodus 23:20-23 and in the book of Joshua it shows them receiving the land from God. But just like Isaac was a symbol for Christ, this earthly land was a symbol for something greater.
Joshua chapter 1 verse 15 says that Father in Heaven would give them REST when they possess the land. This is clear until we realize a deeper meaning which is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 8 and 9:
“For if Jesus(Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
There is still a land Gods people must possess. Many are teaching that Jesus will come and reside in Israel (Middle East), and rule there over the same Jews that did not believe. But what does Jesus have to say about this?
“Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Jesus tried to receive Jerusalem into His arms but instead, He tells the disciples this:
“Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Earthly Jerusalem would be destroyed and left empty(without Gods presence). But these men were caught up with a earthly temple they did not know Father was offering them something greater. Abraham understood this.
“Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
“Heb 11:13 These 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.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
“Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received NOT the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
This is quite a bit of scripture but all really clear. Though there is a earthly Jerusalem and Earthly promised land, the actual land promised was a heavenly. This is what Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob UNDERSTOOD. They waited for the promised HEAVENLY COUNTRY and in turn they all died not receiving the promise EVEN though they dwelt in the earthly land of promise. Something very important to understand also is that the promise is also given to us and according to verse 40, Our Father did not want to give it to them WITHOUT giving it to us also. What a wonderful non partial God we have. Jerusalem is an earthly place but we wait for a heavenly Jerusalem which is mentioned in Galatians 4:25-26. Hebrews 12:22-23 also seconds this truth.
“ But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
We see here that by faith we are citizens of the HEAVENLY Jerusalem and we are apart of the Heavenly church also. It also mentions we have also come to Jesus our mediator. We are no longer looking to possess an earthly land nor is Christ going to reign on a earthly city. But by faith we possess the Heavenly and we will receive this inheritance with our ancestors Abraham Isaac and Jacob when Christ comes and receives us unto Himself. If we keep our eyes on Christ and a heavenly country as did our Fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob we to can become heirs to this promise and be apart of the great scene in Revelation 21:1-3 which says:
“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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
Is there something special about the Jewish nation?
let’s see why it is God chose to save Israel from Egypt. Let’s take a look at Exodus chapter 6:5 through 8 which says:
“ And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.”
We see here that Our Heavenly Father remembered a Covenant that He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to provide and bless their actual children from being wiped of the planet. It is not because the bloodline of Abraham has some kind of special spiritual significance, the reason why Father Calls out to them is because of His promise to their Fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Let’s look at another verse just to be sure. Let’s look at Deuteronomy Chapter 9 verse 5 which says:
“Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.”
Not only are the Jews not a special people by their own merit but like ALL men before coming to Christ, they are referred to as a stiff-necked and rebellious people. Again God reminds them the only reason He calls them at this time is because the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is why though He is using another people, He still calls them to repent.
What do I mean “another people” are being used by God?
Well did God use a people blood related to Abraham? YES. Were all the laws and blessings given to these blood related individuals only? NO. Let’s look at Exodus chapter 12 verses 48 to 49 which says:
“And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
One law shall be to him that is home born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.”
The opportunity to accept by faith the death of Christ was given to all through the Passover and all people were able to partake after their conversion. Then they would be AS ONE BORN IN ISRAEL. The foreigner would become an actual Israelite or a Jew. We will touch more on this further in the study. Let’s first reveal the other people God will use. Let’s analyze a few verses in Hosea chapter 1 verses 9 and 10, also chapter 2 verse 23:
“Hos 1:9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Hos 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Hos 2:23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.”
Because of the rebellion of Israel, God continues to call them to repentance but has moved on to ADD many to His people as to who are willing to follow no matter what background. God Graffs in people who were not from the original group. Its broken down in Romans chapter 11 to 31.
Then what is a Jew or an Israelite?
Well, actually a Jew is the name of someone from the Tribe of Judah. Jesus was from the line of David therefore from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is also called the lion of Judah and when He was on the cross they ridiculed Him because He was the king of the JEWS. If He is a Jew being from the tribe of Judah How does this make everyone a Jew?
According to what we read in Exodus, Israel or a Jew is anyone who is converted and has Faith in Christ and the one true God. Paul says this:
“Rom 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:
Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”
Also Paul mentions who is a Jew in Romans chapter 2 verses 28 and 29 which reads:
“For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
A true Jew is one in the Faith and one who is converted in the Heart which is what circumcision represents. It is when the KING OF JUDAH is in you. This is what makes all believers a Jew INWARDLY. It’s when Christ resides INWARDLY.
Paul makes the same notion about being an Israelite in Romans chapter 9 verses 6 to 8:
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
These verses are quite clear. Blood relatives of Abraham do not make them children of God nor does it even make them apart of Israel. Many error on this part, thinking being apart of Abrahams bloodline makes them an Israelite or connected to God. Let’s see what does make you apart of Israel and a Child of God. We have to remember the verse says “IN ISAAC shall thy SEED be called” and it also says ONLY the “Children of PROMISE are counted as seed”. Let’s see what these mean to get a deeper understanding.
“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.”
The seed or Isaac was actually referring to Christ as stated in this verse, now lets see how we can be apart of Israel.
“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.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
These verses are extremely powerful and eliminate any idea that bloodline gives us an advantage. Not only are we considered Children of God when Christ is in us (John 1:12-13), but according to scripture we are considered ABRAHAMS DESENDANTS, and then heirs to the promises of God. There is no difference between any men on the earth from one another. Man may have put up barriers between each other but God breaks them down in Christ.
Gods people were never Israel based on Blood, but rather Faith. The title Jews never went to a specific nationality we see this in Acts chapter 2 verses 5 through 12.
Did not Jesus come for the Jews First?
Yes, Jesus did come to appeal to the Jews or the bloodline of Abraham First. It is consistent with scripture that based on the promise Father made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, of Course He would come to them first. Jesus Himself knew there were no difference among men and tried to teach this to them while He was on this earth, But they would not listen.
“Joh 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Joh 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Joh 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.”
Jesus was correct in calling them Abraham’s seed, referring to blood relation. But when they said that Abraham was there Father, Jesus corrected them and said that “If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham” Jesus also says that Abraham is not their Father. Verse 44 says:
“Ye are of your father the devil…”
They are not of Faith and not only that they were persecuting and trying to kill the Son of God which revealed their RALATION to the devil.
The Bloodline of Israel does exist, and there is no question because God is continuing to keep His promise and appeal to them. On the other hand heirs to the Promises of Abraham are not by blood but Faith.
What of Jerusalem and the Land God promised His people?
“Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
We see Here the promised land was promised to Abraham as an inheritance and to the Families of the earth. We read in Galatians 33:28-29, in order to become the family of Abraham you MUST have Christ in your Heart. This same Promise was given to the Israelites when they left Egypt in Exodus 23:20-23 and in the book of Joshua it shows them receiving the land from God. But just like Isaac was a symbol for Christ, this earthly land was a symbol for something greater.
Joshua chapter 1 verse 15 says that Father in Heaven would give them REST when they possess the land. This is clear until we realize a deeper meaning which is mentioned in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 8 and 9:
“For if Jesus(Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
There is still a land Gods people must possess. Many are teaching that Jesus will come and reside in Israel (Middle East), and rule there over the same Jews that did not believe. But what does Jesus have to say about this?
“Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Mat 23:38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Mat 23:39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Jesus tried to receive Jerusalem into His arms but instead, He tells the disciples this:
“Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Earthly Jerusalem would be destroyed and left empty(without Gods presence). But these men were caught up with a earthly temple they did not know Father was offering them something greater. Abraham understood this.
“Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
“Heb 11:13 These 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.
Heb 11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Heb 11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb 11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
“Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received NOT the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
This is quite a bit of scripture but all really clear. Though there is a earthly Jerusalem and Earthly promised land, the actual land promised was a heavenly. This is what Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob UNDERSTOOD. They waited for the promised HEAVENLY COUNTRY and in turn they all died not receiving the promise EVEN though they dwelt in the earthly land of promise. Something very important to understand also is that the promise is also given to us and according to verse 40, Our Father did not want to give it to them WITHOUT giving it to us also. What a wonderful non partial God we have. Jerusalem is an earthly place but we wait for a heavenly Jerusalem which is mentioned in Galatians 4:25-26. Hebrews 12:22-23 also seconds this truth.
“ But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
We see here that by faith we are citizens of the HEAVENLY Jerusalem and we are apart of the Heavenly church also. It also mentions we have also come to Jesus our mediator. We are no longer looking to possess an earthly land nor is Christ going to reign on a earthly city. But by faith we possess the Heavenly and we will receive this inheritance with our ancestors Abraham Isaac and Jacob when Christ comes and receives us unto Himself. If we keep our eyes on Christ and a heavenly country as did our Fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob we to can become heirs to this promise and be apart of the great scene in Revelation 21:1-3 which says:
“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. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”