Readers may download free any of the material for personal use and limited handout, keeping the tag at the end, © 2008 Karl Roebling.

If material is to be SOLD or put into material that is sold, except for brief excerpts for review purposes, first obtain© permission from karl@karlroebling.com

HEBREWS, JESUS AND POWER
JUDEO-CHRISTIANITY AND HOW ABRAHAM'S
"SEED" COVERS THE EARTH
AT THE END OF EVIL

by Karl Roebling

Will "Abraham's seed" cover the earth, as the Bible states?

Yes, but as power Judeo-Christianity leading to the end of all evil as in Revelation 21:4, 7. Spectacular OT healings, protections and supplyings, which then vanished for a long time, were restarted by Jesus revealing spiritual identity and the spiritual Kingdom (the inspired sense of the Promised Land), teaching disciples, and starting his church. Early power-Christianity followed, but demised in the formal, indirect-worship churchdom that came in the centuries after Constantine. (Divine power and earthly results come from direct worship and encounters in the "Bible pattern.") The power has reappeared, and is today flowing worldwide. The overarching historic mission of the divine power to overcome all evil (Rev. 21:4, 7) had major interruptions, but wasn't terminated.

Those in Christ are called "Abraham's seed" (Gal. 3:7, 29)
Continuity between Jews and the new Christians was interrupted, but Gentile inclusion was intended to broaden, not break, the Bible's mission of overcoming all evil. For example, those in Christ are called "Abraham's seed" (Gal. 3:7, 29). Unity and the power therefrom will inevitably occur, and be much more advanced than we think.

The spiritual identity of Jesus will lead followers, under his overcoming instructions which include at least these references: John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Matthew 10:7-8; Mark 16:17-18; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:4, 7 -- KJV traditional edition.

Special lineage -- and continuum to the end of all evil
The Bible's "begats" from Adam to Abraham outline part of the special lineage. Abraham was then given new or refreshed directions, instructions, lands and a prophetic future. These were essentially repeated or shown to also apply to son Isaac and grandson Jacob/Israel. And "Abraham's seed," the prophecies said, would cover the earth (but those are the spiritualized, changed and empowered people, including the power-Christians in continuity with revived power-Judaism).

At least seven biblical elements and steps appear in the continuum to end evil

In power-Judaism in the OT, we find at least these three basic elements:

(1) monotheism,

(2) covenants (promises, divine instructions, protections), and

(3) beneficial results to humans from encounters with the divine — the "Bible pattern" of healing and related benefits.

Later, Jesus added four more elements, centered on overcoming (which power-Judaism definitely needed because despite its many unequalled results, it had suffered defeat after defeat, the land occupied, the people scattered).

(4) Jesus reoriented thought on Spirit, not the material,

(5) Jesus overcame all evil ("the world" -- Jn. 16:33b; "abolished death"
-- II Tim. 1:10; destroyed "death" and "devil" -- Heb. 2:14-15) in
the Cross and Resurrection and his other ministry. We can't over-
come (as assigned by Jesus) without his initial overcoming, and
without his use of the spiritual Kingdom and higher man.

(6) Jesus issued instructions that believers in him should do his works
(see Jn. 14:12; Acts 1:8; Mat. 10:7-8; Mk. 16:17-18; Rev. 2:7, 11,
17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:4, 7 -- KJV traditional edition.

(7) Jesus revealed spiritual man and the spiritual Kingdom, both "hid" --
the hiddenness being in our thought. I believe the message that Jesus
taught and showed openly is the "secret" (to our thought -- Matthew
13:35) which produces healing (Mat. 13:15) if seen, heard, and
understood. This message enables followers to do the works that
Jesus told them to do. The theme is in two eras. Back then, Jesus
taught it but we didn't grasp it fully (Jn. 16:12). Then he promised
that the Holy Ghost (or Spirit of truth) would repeat it in full (Jn.
14:26). (1)

Today, the Spirit on "all flesh" (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16-17) is
slowly being grasped, and used, by humans -- with much more for
them to learn and use in the overcoming of all evil in conjunction
with the divine, as in Revelation 21:4, 7.

Let's look further at this progression below.

Monotheism
Monotheism was in the special lineage Adam to Noah. Noah carried the line and worship forward after the Flood. Conditions once more became wicked, but the special-lineage monotheists stood out. The Bible's "begats" take us to Terah, Abraham's father, in two parts of Genesis.

Monotheism was reemphasized at Abraham. Still, polytheism was in the area populations and even in Abraham's ranks below the radar. Official monotheism characterized the later Israelite leaders, priests and so on -- but the general Israelite population hung onto various degrees of polytheism. We see the golden calf on the Exodus, and read that Solomon later "went after Ashtoreth" (I Ki. 11:5), the goddess of some of the hundreds of women of different religions in his harem. Were "dolls" in other references worship objects?

Jesus said God was Spirit, and he amplified monotheism by showing that the power develops as we go towards Spirit and the spiritual Kingdom or creation.

Covenants (promises), and "chosen"
Special lineage people (Adam forward) knew they were recognized by God and progressively under promises, instructions, covenants. In Abraham's time, these included at least the search for the Promised Land; also promises for ownership of lands; also promises for continuity of the "seed"; and that this seed would someday cover the earth.

"Chosen" implies relationship with Deity. It may actually be our choosing of our often various concepts of the One God, that makes the "chosen" connection.

Beneficial results to humans from encounters and relationships with the divine -- and backlashes

Beneficial results are the "Bible pattern" of healing and related benefits.

Spot encounters with the heights produce sometimes extraordinary results, as on the peak of prayer with revelations, but the Hebrews -- at least some outstanding leaders -- went farther and had an ongoing relationship.

But instances of overcoming evil bring backlashes from evil. We have to overcome the backlash/setbacks, then rise to new heights of overcoming. (This process is repeated and will be repeated until we scale the highest heights and in the process overcome the darkest oppositions.)

The Hebrews were backlashed catastrophically over centuries. Their general materialization of thought also took them downward from the spiritual heights, instead of upward to new heights necessary to overcome the backlashes. The backlashes against their many high peaks of inspiration and spectacular evidences of overcoming evil were so severe that as a people they have yet to overcome and move higher -- but this will come.

In the meantime, their special sense of identity has proved ineradicable despite defeats, scatterings, occupations, centuries of awesome persecutions in Europe and Russia, topped off by the Holocaust.

Jacob's change to "Israel"
Jacob was so radically changed by awareness of the divine that he was renamed "Israel." This type of major upgrade including many lesser stages, became embedded in the Jewish makeup, from generation to generation, whether newcomers experienced it or not. It stands for the manifest evidence of the overcoming of evil. It's like healing. Whether Jews are practicing this or not, it's in their soul, and is a threat to evil because whether latent or overt, it represents the God-backed capability for humans, in conjunction with the divine, to overcome all evil as in Revelation 21:4,7.

Evil attacks any capability to overcome it
Evil attacks (overtly and covertly) when it even senses this upgraded type, whether active or just embedded in the generational stream, even if not necessarily known to the people being attacked. Evil feels the potential challenge, even if latent, to its rule. Jews have suffered horribly from this, but in time will again be OT power-Hebrews, presumably united with NT power-Christians.

Israelites accepted their decline as coming justly from God -- even punishment -- for having gotten away from Him. When instead they will in time see Jesus' all-good God and that they can turn to get this higher power, and get back on the Highway.

Attacks on "Israel" today are indeed on the land, people and nation by that name, but mainly and essentially on the capability to produce tangible results -- like Jacob to Israel, which will be exceeded in many higher steps and stages -- in overcoming all evil. This is embedded in the Israelites by covenants, assignments and biblical proofs -- and further is interwoven in Bible prophecies.

At some point, the Jews will rise to heights of divine power exceeding their OT heights (which they have to do to throw off the ancient backlashes).

And now we come to the parts Jesus added
Everything he added was centered on overcoming. The Jews definitely needed these additional themes, practices and leadership because, despite their many great results -- few realized in this hour -- they have historically suffered terrible defeats. Their 1948 return to Canaan, and establishment of their nation -- with many more prophetic fulfillments such as the deserts blooming (and the certainty that Ezekiel's prophecies about the bones reconnecting referred to that nation's establishment), were the first evidences that their long downward direction had changed. And much more lies ahead -- deep challenges and some setbacks, but steady profound and permanent upward progress.

Jesus reoriented thought on Spirit, not the material
He said God was Spirit, and he amplified monotheism in this direction by showing that power develops as we go towards Spirit and the spiritual Kingdom or creation including higher man. He not only restored Bible power, but expected it to continue.

As part of this power, he revealed his spiritual nature (higher than flesh) that knew Abraham (and vice versa) (Jn. 8:56-58), knew David (and vice versa) (Mat. 22:41-45), and followed Moses (I Cor. 10:4). He taught a spiritual Kingdom available now, but we just didn't see it (Mat. 13:44, see also the Lord's Prayer). He taught God as Spirit (Jn. 4:24) and man as spiritual (Jn. 3:8) (Paul reiterated this teaching by speaking of our life "hid with Christ in God.") (The One Son includes all spiritual identities or images and likenesses of Spirit, despite theologies which would limit this, when it's the very thing we're looking for as the way to get out of Adam, where all die.)

Paul made sure we realized that the inspired Hebrew sense tied in with the inspired Christian sense when he wrote that those of faith were the children of Abraham, and "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed" (Gal. 3:7, 29).

Jesus overcame all evil
Jesus overcame "the world" (Jn. 16:33b). (This referred to the "world" that hated him and the disciples -- John 15:18-19) -- not the world. He "abolished death" (II Tim. 1:10). He destroyed "death" and "devil" (Heb. 2:14-15). His Cross and Resurrection illustrated overcoming, not victimization. (2)

Jesus issued instructions that believers in him should do his works
(See Jn. 14:12: Acts 1:8; Matthew 10:7-8; Mark 16:17-18; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:4, 7 -- KJV traditional edition.)

Jesus overcame first. We as followers are supposed to overcome "last" (I Cor. 15:26) -- and do everything except what he did "once for all" (Heb. 10:10).

He won. He's with us "alway(s)."

We as followers can't overcome (as assigned by Jesus) (and in conjunction with the divine) without his initial overcoming (breaking our "prison" -- Isa. 42:7; 61:1; Lk. 4:18), or without his leadership, or without his teaching of the spiritual Kingdom and spiritual man both present, which we can see, hear, understand and use.

Jesus had a secret message (Mat. 13:35) that healed (Mat. 13:15)
He said we'd be healed if we saw, heard, and understood his message -- and this related directly to followers being able to do the works that he told them to do. He openly taught the "secret," but said we didn't get it fully. His references to the spiritual Kingdom were many, but we didn't grasp much of it, despite the Lord's Prayer, which uses its ever-present completeness as God's spiritual Creation including higher man in God's image, to correct earth right now. It wasn't "secret" in the sense of not being taught, but "secret" in the fact that we didn't get it. He expressed this plainly in Matthew 13:44, that the Kingdom is treasure that can be found, but is "hid" (hidden by our lack of seeing, not by God's lack of trying to show it to us). As for spiritual identity (Jn. 3:8 and other references), Paul spoke of our life being "hid" with Christ in God. Again, secret, but not because it wasn't taught (and illustrated over and over again by Jesus in his examples of healing, supplying, raising the crippled, restoring sight, making himself invisible, walking on the water, raising the dead) but secret in the sense that we just didn't get it. Even today, we seem to believe these works were personal wonder-working (which they were but much more), and don't see that he was teaching disciples and hopefully all believers (Jn. 14:12) to do these works based on the available Kingdom and spiritual identity for all.

Back then, Jesus taught it but we didn't fully grasp it (Jn. 16:12). Then Jesus promised that the Holy Ghost (or Spirit of truth) would restate in full everything he had taught (Jn. 14:26). Today, that Spirit is on "all flesh" (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16-17) -- slowly being grasped, and used, by humans (with much more for them to learn and use than they imagine).

In time we will experience healing and other evidences of power over evil in conjunction with the divine, on a scale that will overcome all evil as in Revelation 21:4, 7. This will take time, practice, setbacks, overcomings of backlashes, and personal changes.

LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT DEEP HEBREW TIMES

Abraham, his family, the "Bible pattern," and "Israel" status
After divine encounters and promises from angels, Abraham (100) sired and Sarah (90) bore Isaac. In Sarah's case, her lifelong barrenness was also healed spiritually, in the "Bible pattern."

Isaac, the son, was preordained and even prenamed by the angels.

Rebekah, his wife, was healed of barrenness.

Their son Jacob's character was so deeply changed spiritually by encounters from on High that he was renamed "Israel."

This new "Israel" status -- changed and empowered -- is super-important both then and now. With continuous upgrading, it's this "Israel" status which evil fears and hence attacks, because it has the potential and growing power to end all evil.

Hebrews later prayed to, "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

Jacob/Israel's 12 sons headed the 12 tribes of Israel (tribes noted even in Revelation's metaphorical description of the foursquare city or Kingdom).

The Hebrews had some success, but later catastrophic failures struck them. Many had left the spiritual vision and weren't climbing in that direction.

Jesus' four additional elements restored and expanded the power to overcome. But we're yet to use much of it, or even see our assigned mission.

Abraham's "seed" (and see Gal. 3;7, 29)
The "seed of Abraham" to cover the earth are spiritually-changed people, especially power Judeo-Christians active in overcoming evil. All elements connect-up in the present era, and begin to get traction for the end-time.

From pre-Flood forward
Were the pre-Flood people holy? Adam was cursed (yet apparently forgiven, living 930 years, second only to Methuselah's 969). God's sons got fascinated with the women of earth. Hmm. God saw such "wickedness" in His creation that -- the Bible says -- he killed everyone on the planet except Noah's group. Pre-Flood good spots included the longevity of many lineage men, Enoch's ascension, and Noah's group. (However, despite the awesome Flood and its supposed instruction for humankind, post-Flood sinning was worse than earlier.)

(For genealogy, see pre-Flood "begats" in Genesis 4:16-26; 5:3-32; and post-Flood "begats" down to Abraham's father Terah, in Genesis 10 and 11.)

Writing and accuracy
There was no Hebraic writing in the time of Adam (c. 4000 BCE), the Flood (c. 2500 BCE), or Abraham (c. 2000 BCE). Bible writing appeared about 1250 BCE. (Dates shown are guesses by scholars. There are many differing opinions!)

The early Bible writing became known as "biblical Hebrew" -- the only written Hebrew of the time. (Were there Hebrew scrolls any earlier? Some believe yes, fragments anyhow. It's not clear.)

We all know that Mesopotamian and Egyptian "writing" began maybe 3200 BCE -- TIME-LIFE puts it back that far -- but first were only marks or the earliest crude pictograms. Nothing supported Bible accounts (although maybe one mural in Egypt as early as 19th century BCE indicates the presence there of Hebrews).

Mesopotamian/Semitic writing went from marks to pictograms to ideograms to roundings (in the interests of speed) or partial cursives -- all with slow changes and plenty of overlapping of the concepts. From an early date, sound-symbols began to creep in, and this "alphabet" grew very slowly. With it, any idea or emotion could be expressed by combining the sounds, bypassing the thousands of stiff, clumsy 'grams and speed roundings of them. Egyptian "priestly" writing bypassing hieroglyphs is now thought to have appeared quite early.

Biblical Hebrew evolved amidst all this, somewhat unique for the unique people in touch with God. (Perhaps it had a basis in the divine tongue.)

Well after biblical Hebrew, Phoenician Script emerged with cursive writing and much of an alphabet. (Opinions vary on the development of all writing.)

("Phoenician" came from the area, not from "phonetics." The Phoenician Script went on to Greece, where more vowels were added, and then to Rome, where it further evolved into the European or "Romance languages.")

David's kingdom circa 1000 BCE produced written Hebrew accounts widely acknowledged today. After circa 850 BCE (after Solomon), the single kingdom split into Israel in the north, Judah in the south. Assyria in 722 BCE occupied Israel (taking 10 tribes which essentially became "lost"). From that time, the regional record is fully confirmed in other nations. And digging goes on.

The oral histories (from Adam to Moses) cover an approximate 2,750-year span. Can such histories possibly be accurate? Most believe a helping hand from above guided at the time of actual record-keeping.

Most believe that human reproduction by Bible people after Adam accounts for all humans on the globe, and that all humans after the Flood came from Noah's nucleus and major repopulation effort authorized by God (Gen. 8:15-17; 9:1). Still, others don't see how either scenario can account for all humans everywhere on earth. In any event, the post-Flood biblical account struggles in Mesopotamia, with descendants of Noah starting Babel and building Nineveh (Gen. 10:10-11). Biblical and regional times and accounts are sketchy at best.

(Since all the river cities and the Tower of Babel have been rebuilt up to several times over the millennia, precise times can't be identified. Any decision can meet vigorous questioning and a wide variety of opinions from religionists, archaeologists, historians with traditional and nontraditional views, professors with academic reputations, and so on -- both worldwide and indigenous.)

The descendants of Noah were definitely in Mesopotamia, and maybe the writer in Genesis 10:10-11 felt he had to account for the existence of the river cities by having the descendants originate them. But descriptions could apply to restarting places wiped out by the Flood.

From Ur (near the head of today's Persian Gulf), Terah, Abram, Sarai and group went north and west to Haran (near today's Turkey). The God-instructions started at Ur (Gen. 11:31), and continued there and at Haran (Gen. 12:1-5) (see other references in Gen. 15:7 and Neh. 9:7).

From God's marching orders and the later covenants given in Canaan, emerged the Abrahamic Hebrews known soon as the Israelites. (The term Jew came later.)

In the region were many "Habiru," or "'Apiru" -- "Hebrew" -- says Daiches in Moses. But those weren't Abrahamic, special or changed. One source says "Hebrew" came from Shem's son "Eber" (Perry Stone, Jr.), which could be a fit for the special lineage people. Also in the area, or soon appearing, were Akkadians, Amorites, Aramaeans, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites and others -- TIME-LIFE.

The Habiru were said by some sources to be donkey-caravan people (camels came much later), trekking, caravaning, and trading between Mesopotamia and the coastal regions -- sometimes directly across the desert. Others call them raiders, but most say donkey-caravaners. No doubt there were some bad guys.

(Abraham was mainly a herder, but donkeys were his transport.)
(Daiches tells us camels weren't domesticated until between the 15th and 13th centuries BCE in Arabia, so earlier Bible accounts of camels are "picturesque additions." National Geographic December 2001 cites the archaeology department head at Tel Aviv University placing camels for Israel "after 1000 BC.")

(Note: Did Hebrews go back to Adam as Hebrews? No, see above.)
(Note: As readers know, Semitic people are the broad stock of the Mesopotamian and coastal Mediterranean "Fertile Crescent" area, including Jews, Arabs, and others. The major languages there -- Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabian -- are Semitic. Semites are also defined as "Mediterranean peoples.")

Nature gods
In those unscientific days, the population's sense of the various unexplained forces, spirits, deities -- or even of the One God -- was obtained from nature.

As an example, at Mount Sinai, lightning, thunder, and volcanic red fiery action -- even the mountain itself -- was associated with God. God was put in a nature-god framework. (In the movie, The Ten Commandments, when the mountain was quiet, Moses' wife said -- a little ambiguously about whether she thought the God was the mountain or only on it -- "He sleeps tonight." For more about volcanos as gods and as homes for gods, study such worship in the South Seas. Today's ceremonies are only festivals, but they give deep insight.)

Back again to thunder and lightning gods, we see Thor in Europe nearly into modern times -- the most terrifying of primitive nature deities or spirits. And any time in history, if the seas rose in a flood, it had to be caused by God. (Early nature forces didn't think, spirits maybe did think. However, as concepts of "God" developed, God had a supposed reason for negative action -- human misconduct, with accusation, blame, then death from above.)

God warned Noah, but was God just warning of nature's often destructive acts not his determination to murder everyone? I think God warns us about swamps by saying, "Don't go in, or you will surely die" -- that is, the reptiles will kill you. Our guilt-and-punishment-centered consciousness misinterprets those warnings.

Continuing with the nature-deity theme, the sun is the god Ra in Egypt. Apollo is god of the Sun. Zeus (Jupiter, Jove) is god of thunder and lightning (as was Thor). Poseidon (Neptune) is god of the Sea and also earth-shaker. Gaia is goddess Earth. (See Jean Shinoda Bolen's interesting books for consolidation of types and how they come forward under different names.) Countless humans even today perceive stars and constellations as deities or else forces influencing earth-people. And so on through hundreds of mythical nature figures small and large.

Most events of nature were explained in deific terms.

What?! Sex in the Bible???
Noah's tiny group was directly assigned (Gen. 8:15-17; 9:1) the task of repopulating the drowned world. A "whole lot of shakin'" must have gone on -- all God-ordained -- after the Flood. And yet sex, nakedness and such don't jibe with the Garden or most theology, where sex got us into trouble. (Yes-yes but No-no is still the great unresolved dichotomy in our religions, although some theology recently has been modified in light of the freer attitudes seen in Noah and much of the rest of the OT in contrast to post-biblical theology.)

Adam from dust (obviously not the image of Spirit), plus sex and Adam's offspring, all came under God's heavy Garden-type antisex negatives, resulting in time -- in the Bible narratives -- in His genocidal Flood. (There are different opinions on these subjects.)

All of that overlooks the pre-Adamic creation account in Genesis chapter 1 plus v. 1-3 of chapter 2 -- apparently an effort to tell us of spiritual creation in the image of Spirit (which spiritual creation is the Kingdom featured later by Jesus). The "Bible pattern" that beneficially changes the flesh and human circumstances shows that encounters with this higher realm or its inhabitants, lifts our "natural man" -- or "man born of a woman" or Paul's "old man" -- out of his mortal pickle.

(We're instructed in that first or spiritual account to "multiply," but mightn't that mean simply to see the spiritual creation and identity everywhere?)

Continuing With Deep Hebrew Times:
The Spiritual Land Sought

The first of many promises
"Get thee...unto a land that I will shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Gen. 12:1-2). That was apparently the first of the many promises God made to Abraham.

The famous verse, "He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God," isn't in the OT, but in Hebrews 11:8-10, 16a. He sought "an heavenly" land. Those verses direct our attention to the goal being a spiritual one. Isn't this Jesus' kingdom "hid" (as in Mat. 13:44)?

(Abram was "seventy and five" years old when he left Haran. We know Sarai was some ten years younger -- Genesis 17:17 -- but when they went to Egypt, the ruler was much smitten by her, so she, and Abram, must have been much younger on that trip. She was still called Sarai -- 12:10-20 -- so did they make that particular trip to Egypt very early when she was still young enough for her age to fit the narrative? In Genesis 20:1-18 is a similar story with Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech, king of Gerar near Gaza. Also, it's much the same story again in 26:6-14, but this time with Isaac, Rebekah and Abimelech, again in Gerar.)

Probably the majority of the growing number of Israelites calling Abraham their ancestral father, were quite material of mind. They didn't pay much attention to the three main themes of monotheism, spiritual covenant (later partly reduced to a material male-phallic rite), and tangible benefits from spiritual encounters. Most adhered to the genetic, ethnic and racial sense of Abraham's seed.

Additional promises, and discussion
The Bible lists promises to Abram/Abraham and his seed (and later to Isaac and Jacob/Israel and their seed) but all the promises essentially comprise one overarching promise. Then we have to look behind the material promise to see the spiritual.

The promises relate to (a) the land in general; (b) the land to which Abraham was to go; (c) the land for him specifically; (d) the land for him and his seed jointly, or just for his seed; (e) "for ever"; and (f) the seed in time covering the earth in numbers as the dust, also as sands of the seas or stars of the heavens.

These are written in Gen. 11:31 through chapters 12 and 13; also 15:5-7, 18; 17:1-9. And surely I have missed one or two of these promises and restatements.

As for (a), the land in general: see Genesis 12:7 and many others. In 12:1-2 we read, "I will make of thee a great nation." Later, God said to Abraham that he would be "a father of many nations" (17:4). Are these typical "nations," or are they groups of people as in the "nation of Israel" in its desert travels. Or do the references apply to transforming world nations? Or some of all concepts?

As for (b), the land to which he was to go: Those instructions plus the NT verses emphasizing the spiritual land (Heb. 11:16a; 11:10) are shown above.

As for (c), the land belonging just to Abram: This was promised after the return (or one of the returns) from Egypt, when he and Lot divided the land. (See 13:14-15 for what was given to "thee," that is, to Abram.) (But to that was quickly added, "and to thy seed" -- moreover, "for ever" -- and that the seed would be as numerous as the dust of the earth.) But this bestowal was local.

As for (d), land given to the seed: The local bestowal was expanded from what Abraham could physically see, to the greater region, "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river Euphrates." That "river of Egypt" isn't the Nile but the wadi El Arish between the Nile and Canaan (M. Gilbert and R. E. Friedman; also called the "Brook of Egypt" by F. Bruce). As for the Euphrates, is this the part that was at the northern border of David's Kingdom, as some say, or east across the desert into Mesopotamia, as others say?

As for (e), "for ever": The local bestowal is so stated, but not the regional?

And finally (f), regarding the eventual size of the seed: See Gen. 13:14-17; 15:5, for dust and stars; also the promise to Jacob at the "Ladder" (28:13-14).

The size of the physical land cited in these promises, also who gets it, and the "for ever" factor, are major issues in the world today, considered by Jews to be law, but contested by Arabs. (Even in OT times, giving the land implied displacement of existing populations. The Exodus Hebrews approaching the land knew it wasn't vacant. They entered in warlike fashion -- according to the Bible account -- capturing and burning the cities, slaying even the women and children. But Hershel Shanks' book, Ancient Israel, says there's no archaeological evidence of any such devastation or burning. If indeed no evidence -- and I hope there was no slaughter -- perhaps the Bible writer used literary license, and a style acceptable in those days to express victory. Like a basketball game today in which we slaughter, ruin, annihilate, crush and destroy the opposing team, but the loser isn't physically damaged. After 1948, the Jews literally displaced the people who had occupied and farmed the land for centuries and built homes and cities there -- a sore point still.)

(More notes on the area: "Canaan" was a general term for land between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan River. "Palestine" was somewhat the same, even some to the east of the Jordan River. Hence the indistinctness in old descriptions -- and even in new. Later, though, Palestine became the name of the precise post-WWI British mandate. Jerusalem, the key place in world affairs today, goes back to Abraham's time. Melchizedek -- a very spiritual man and priest "made like unto the Son of God," see Genesis 14:18, also Hebrews 7:1-3 -- blessed the patriarch at Salem, probably the later Jerusalem. More on the area: Even in Abraham's time, there were the two general trade routes -- one coastal and internal with main roads and connectors, the other east of the Jordan River more nearly one main road. These connected prosperous ancient Egypt -- which went back long before Abraham -- to Mesopotamia by the arched or "crescent" route east, or to Anatolia [Turkey], north. The eastern or "King's Highway" also connected south to the Gulf of Aqaba, and to routes from Arabia. There were towns and people, but some Bible writing gives the impression of unpopulated open grazing land and hills for the taking. The "kings" fighting Abraham were chiefs of towns.)

Returning to the subject of promises, there were promises to Hagar regarding Ishmael her son fathered by Abraham (promises believed to be fulfilled in the Arabs) which also speak of a great nation, and uncountable seed (Gen. 16:10; 17:20; 21:13, 18). But God told Abraham, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" (Gen. 21:12). But Ishmael's seed was blessed. Also, we can take some comfort from the Bible telling us of later unity, when "Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance" (Isa. 19:21-25).

The mother factor?
What of the mother factor in the era of patriarchal rule? God says Sarah shall be "a mother of nations; kings...shall be of her" (Gen. 17:16). And in 16:10, God tells Hagar about "thy seed" becoming innumerable, and in 17:20, a "great nation."

The terms Jew, Judaism, and Israelite
"Jew," also "Judaism," came later from Judah -- one of Jacob/Israel's 12 sons (by four women -- two wives and two womenservants of those wives, with the wives' permission). The 12 tribes of Israel were named after, and led by, those 12 sons, but Judah, one son, was given by great-grandfather Abraham his staff, signifying headship of the tribes (Perry Stone, Jr.) and of the assigned mission. "Israelite" came from Jacob/Israel, the father of the heads of the 12 tribes.

Not all the 12 sons, or their origins, were exemplary, but the 12 tribes are repeated in prophecies such as the holy city coming down, and the 144,000 in heaven -- indicating great spiritual importance (not yet fully explained).

The tribes divided Canaan/Palestine, except that Levi (the priestly or spiritual), got no physical land, and Joseph's share went to Manasseh and Ephraim his sons (Gen. 46:20; TIME-LIFE, Emergence of Man, The Israelites, p. 82, and others).

When the divided areas later became David's one kingdom, and still later (after 850 BCE) two, the northern was named "Israel" -- apparently the first piece of land so named. It was also called the "house of Israel," or "Ephraim." The ten tribes taken from there by Assyria were "lost" (but see H. W. Bennett and Rev. Karl Schott). (Some speak of an earlier naming of land "Israel." Also of note, unlanded Jews on the move in the Exodus were called "the nation of Israel.")

The Assyrians left the southern kingdom of Judah (also called the "house of Judah"), with Jerusalem, somewhat autonomous. The Babylonians later captured it, destroyed the Temple, and forced the two remaining tribes -- "Jews" (from "Judah") -- into captivity, where they were productive (not typical slaves). The term "Jew" then spread to Russia, Europe, and the world, as Jews spread.

"Israel" As The Spiritually-Upgraded Human Condition Or Status
With Power And Potential Power

In all the valid but varied meanings of "Israel," the basic and original meaning is the spiritually upgraded human condition (in body, character or situation) from encounter with the divine -- as Jacob to Israel.

This upgraded condition or "Israel" continues upward by many steps for each individual (it's not a one-time thing -- see, for example, II Cor. 3:18, from inspiration to inspiration until completely exchanged for God's image, now and hereafter).

This status is empowered, and the power to overcome increases with use and experience.

The spiritual power and presence (in conjunction with which we as progressing humans work, and which includes our higher identity), overcomes the evil -- does battle, defends, supplies, guides. It's a higher awareness and mutuality.

Abraham's "seed" and end-time power
Abraham's "seed" covering the earth at the end of evil, is the changed or "Israel" status in anyone anywhere in "all flesh" -- successful in power-Judeo-Christian overcoming in conjunction with the divine, that leads to evil's end (as in Rev. 21:4, 7).

As the Judeo-Christian power develops, evil has to react, or be finished off.

Interestingly, all the evils of ancient empires which hated Israel are predicted to rise again -- in new forms, or maybe reruns of old.

Whereas the outward manifestations of ancient evil empires fell, their evil lives on. Advanced overcoming will nail that core evil as well as outward evidences.

Evil's attacks are already overt and covert, internal and external, seductive and destructive, physical, mental, emotional, rolling and climactic.

There will be the prophesied physical war against physical Israel, but the real target is the worldwide "Israel" status with end-time capabilities of overcoming.

All who were slain for this "Israel" Bible status from past to present, will be justified (even seen again). (The Bible tells us the dead in Christ will rise -- or reappear in higher forms. We don't know the full meaning of these references yet.)

Israel the nation is one example of the "Israel" condition
Today's nation of Israel is the result of divine partial transformation upward. Metaphorical dry bones have risen, reconnected. The desert blooms.

And more will come.

In Summary

Abraham's followers had the three elements of (1) monotheism, (2) covenants (promises) including recognition by God, and (3) the "Bible pattern" of beneficial results from encounters with the divine. These were augmented by four more elements from Jesus, adding overcoming dimensions: (4) refocusing on the spiritual, not material, (5) himself as Victor (not victim), opening our prison (see my book, Not Jesus' Death -- His Overcoming Of Death), (6) that believers should do his works (Jn. 14:12; Acts 1:8; Mat. 10:7-8; Mk. 16:17-18; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:4, 7 -- KJV traditional); and (7) a secret message of how to do those works. This last element came in two phases -- (7a) his teaching of the message (Mat. 13: 35; 13:15, but it not being fully understood by us at the time [Jn. 16:12] or even today), and (7b) the reiteration of the full message he promised by the Spirit (Jn. 14:26), particularly today, with the Spirit on "all flesh" (Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17).

Thus, power-Judeo-Christians will cover the earth in time, and (in conjunction with the divine) be the harvest workers on earth (there will be a heavenly army too) helping to end all evil on earth as prophesied in Revelation 21:4,7.

1. The difficult area to understand is in using the spiritual Creation or Kingdom (Mat. 10:7-8; 6:9-13) and higher man (Jn. 3:8, for example) to correct the material realm of the carnal mind harmlessly. It doesn't seem possible, but divine love, care, assistance in upward transformation (not negation) are the healing elements. Eliminated is only the evil (and then only in tares which no longer have any claim to identity). And replaced is all the old -- by our consent -- as we bit by bit recognize the present but unseen Kingdom and all that it includes. All human identity is gradually brought upward.

2. We're still interpreting the Cross as victimization in a separation-from-a-tough-God framework, when instead Jesus, at-one with the all-benevolent God, showed us the power of oneness (Jn. 17:20-23). His in-conjunction-with type relationship with his all-powerful God -- not imputing sins but instead healing them, not excluding, not requiring connection through death -- revealed Victory not victimization. He broke our "prison" (Isa. 61:1; Lk. 4:18) of death at great personal cost, being bloodied in battle on our behalf. This opened the way for followers to aspire to do the mighty works which he said they should do (Jn. 14:12; Acts 1:8; Mat. 10:7-8; Mk. 16:17-18; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:4, 7 -- KJV traditional).

© 2008 Karl Roebling. All Rights Reserved

Readers may download free any of the material for personal use and limited handout, keeping the tag at the end, © 2008 Karl Roebling.

If material is to be SOLD or put into material that is sold, except for brief excerpts for review purposes, first obtain© permission from karl@karlroebling.com

Website by DWPD