The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress

Abraham to be Heir of the World

Tracing the brief record down to the tenth in descent from Noah, we have the call of Abraham, to whom the Lord said, “All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” ¹¹ Notwithstanding this promise to Abraham that he should possess the land, the Lord assured him that he would die. Paul says he went out into “a place which he should after receive for an inheritance.” ¹² This question of the fulfillment of the promise was undoubtedly made plain to Abraham in a vision from God, for he “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” ¹³ In Romans 4:13 it is stated that the promise was “that he should be the heir of the world;” not in its present state, but sooner or later, after he should live again. GSAM 41.2

From a human standpoint Abraham failed to see how the seed promised could be his own offspring. He therefore suggested the calling of Eliezer, his steward, the seed. The Lord said, Not so; but it will be one “shall come forth out of thine own bowels.” Now the Lord begins to reveal to him that the final work of his seed is not to have an immediate accomplishment. He said to Abraham, “Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.... And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.” ¹⁴ GSAM 42.1

Abraham’s wife proposed an unwise plan for hastening the fulfillment of the promise; but after Isaac was born, a real son of Abraham and Sarah, his lawful wife, the Lord said of Ishmael and his mother Hagar, “Cast out this bond-woman and her son.” GSAM 42.2

In the test of Abraham’s faith in the offering of Isaac upon the altar, he learned a lesson upon the subject of the resurrection of the dead. It is said of him, “Accounting that God was able to raise him [Isaac] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” ¹⁵ GSAM 42.3