Sabbath School Today, Volume 9 - Paul E. Penno

God's promise: "By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as
in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles [nomadic tents] with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which
hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:9-10). "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" (vs. 13).
E. J. Waggoner remarks on this passage that the patriarchs "plainly
declared, says Paul, that they looked for a country, and we have already
learned that that country was the whole earth; and since they were not
disappointed because the country was not given to them in their lifetime, it is
evident that they understood the promise to embrace the resurrection from
the dead." [1]
Paul testified of his faith before King Agrippa: "And now I stand and am
judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers; unto which
promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to
come. For which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why
should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the
dead?" (Acts 26:6-8).
God's promise contains the hope of the resurrection in order to dwell in
the new earth in righteousness. "Nevertheless we, according to His promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2
Peter 3:13).
But all of this is so much familiar ground. It was when Stephen spoke of
"the coming of the Just One" (Acts 7:52), that the Sanhedrin lost it and
murdered Stephen. Stephen virtually said that God did not dwell in their
temple (vss. 47-49). It was anything but righteous. God's covenant with
Abraham promised him a coming "Seed" [vs. 5, Descendant] in Whom the
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