Untitled article by J. B. GOODRICH

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 13, 1867

THE SAINTS' INHERITANCE.

By J. B. GOODRICH

“THE righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.” Ps. xxxviii, 29.

Here is a promise made to the righteous that they shall inherit the land. What land of promise is here referred to? Answer, That which was promised to Abraham. “And the Lord said unto Abraham, 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.” Here we find that God made a promise to Abraham and his seed. David therefore must have reference to the land promised to Abraham.

And did Abraham receive the promise when he died, or does he rest in hope of yet seeing the promise fulfilled? There is not one word in the Bible about Abraham dying and going off to a spirit land beyond the bounds of time and space, and receiving the promise at death; but the Scriptures plainly tell us that he died in faith, not having received the promise, but saw it afar off, and was persuaded of it, and embraced it, and confessed that he was a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. Again we learn in Acts, vii, 5, “And he gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set his foot on; yet he (God) promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” Here we can see that he did not receive his promise but it is yet future.

J. B. GOODRICH.