I studied the KJV for decades without the influence of Scofield's opinions. I recently obtained a 1909 copy of the SRB, and I am stunned at some of his comments. Anyway, I would like to participate in this thread:
First, the land promise was to a "seed", not "seeds," and that seed eventually became Christ and his children:
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." - Galatians 3:16
There was precedent for this interpretation with Moses. This was the first covenant with Israel, a blood covenant:
"And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." - Exodus 19:3-6
When they broke this first covenant (before the "ink" was dry), God said this to Moses:
" I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation." -- Exodus 32:9-10
God was going to destroy all of Israel and give the covenant to the single seed of Moses. Moses was a direct descendant of Abraham, so God would have kept his covenant with Abraham through Moses, both in the flesh and the spirit:
"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham... There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." -- Galatians 3:7,28-29
The land and "father of nations" covenants with Abraham were also to a single seed:
"In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:" -- Gen 15:18
"As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." - Gen 17:4-7
Therefore, the covenant with Abraham was fulfilled via a single seed--Christ. And there is little doubt that the "seed" of Christ has become like the "grain of mustard seed," with His "seeds" becoming both kings and nations.
The land in question belongs to all of Christ's children.
