The Everlasting Covenant

A World-Wide Kingdom

But the possession of the land of Canaan meant nothing less than the possession of the whole world, as we learn by comparing Genesis 17:7, 8, 11, and Romans 4:1-13. Thus: circumcision was the seal of the covenant to give Abraham and his seed the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession. But circumcision was at the same time a sign or seal of righteousness by faith; and “the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” That is to say, that which sealed to Abraham his right to the possession of the land of Canaan, was the seal of his right to the whole world. EVCO 422.1

In giving to him and his seed the land of Canaan, God gave to them the whole world. Not of course “this present evil world,” for “the world passeth away;” and Christ gave Himself for us that He might deliver us from it and its destruction; but “we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” ¹ It was not the temporal possession of a few thousand square miles of land tainted by the curse, that God promised to Abraham and to his seed, but the eternal possession of the entire earth freed from every vestige of the curse. The promise is “sure to all the seed” only through the faith of Christ. Christ is the seed, and we are heirs through Him. He cannot give us what He Himself does not possess, and He never had any possession on this earth. It is “the world to come” that is put in subjection to Him; and that is what He gives us. EVCO 422.2

Even though it were true that the little territory of Canaan constituted the whole of the promised inheritance, still it would be true that the Israelites never had it; for the promise which God confirmed was to give Abraham and his seed the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, that is, Abraham must have it for an everlasting possession, and his seed must also have it for an everlasting possession. But they all died, and in time even the country itself passed into the hands of other people. No temporal dwelling in Palestine could possibly fulfill the promise. The promise still remains to be fulfilled to Abraham and to all the seed. EVCO 422.3