Heir of the World

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 20, 1896

Heir of the World

“Heir of the World.”—In Rom. 4:13 it is taken for granted that God had promised that Abraham “should be the heir of the world,” but it is asked, Where is it promised? It might be replied that it is promised in the land of Canaan, which is typical of the whole earth. Compare Gen. 13:14–16; 17:8; Ps. 72:8. A seed so numerous must occupy the whole earth for its inheritance. But, further, in Gen. 22:17 we read that Abraham’s “seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” His seed is, primarily, Christ. All that are not for, and therefore, of Christ are against him. If he then possesses the gate, the power, the dominion, of his enemies, he will rule over all the earth, now cursed by sin and ruled by the wicked. Gen. 22:17 is therefore a promise that Abraham in his seed should be the heir of the entire world. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”