the reason Abraham had to buy a burial place, in the very land God had given him, was that Abraham had that faith, and the faith was in the acknowledgement that God had a heavenly city prepaird. He knew God would resurrect Issacc if nessecary, and he knew God resurrects everybody unto judgement. The patriarchs all looked forward to being judged, looked forward to that promised mediator who could speak with both God and man. Its all over the OT that God would come in the flesh, Isaiah 53 jumps to mind, and this heavenly city would come to where Abraham would one day receive his inheritance 'in the land' with all his promised seed to be a nation of priests. This will happen.
Not one Jew would ever think of going to heaven. That secret wasn't revealed until after Acts 28, when 'salvation is now sent to the nations and they will hear it', we of the heavenly calling have a different hope. God has plans for people in the kingdom of heaven which He brings to the earth, and also in the kingdom of heaven which is far above all heavens.
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
The inheritance of which the hope of Israel has is measure by depth and breadth, but ours has measurments that are beyond comprehension:the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.
this chruch which is His body is the only company of men to hold such a glorious position as being seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
No other company are these words spoken to,
Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Israel's affection is in the earth, where her promise is,
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
You life is hid with Christ in God, is that not beatiful?,
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
No other company are said to appear, more acurately, to manifest with Him in Glory when He returns,which is why we are beseached to comprehend and acknowledge and walk worthy of this high calling of God.
