That was until they realized they should instead be looking for "a city which hath foundations, whose builder and make is God" and not men. They realized they should be looking for "a better country, that is, an heavenly".
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
What about this verse, though?
Ezekiel 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
God is obviously speaking through Ezekiel here. Obviously, since God is not a liar nor do any of us think He is, thus God knows what He is talking about here, shouldn't we at least be asking ourselves some questions here based on what God said, before we decide how to interpret what He said?
Questions, such as.
And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt
What land that He gave unto Jacob His sevant? Literal land with literal borders? Or meaning land in some other sense, IOW not meaning in the literal sense? Why this might matter is simple. Look what the text goes on to say--wherein your fathers have dwelt. Where is that meaning? In some literal land with literal borders somewhere on this planet? Or is it meaning land in another sense, IOW anything but literal land since literal land can't be meant here?
With all of the above in mind, what does the text go on to say?
and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever
Obviously, more questions are required since this is obviously pertaining to the very same land wherein their fathers have dwelt.
The first question that comes to mind, who's fathers? Fathers of Gentiles? Surely not, right? Therefore, the fathers of Jews have to be meant here. If we take this to be meaning literal land, for instance, and take it to have been fulfilled once Jerusalem was rebuilt prior to Christ coming, well what about 70 AD, though? How can what happened in 70 AD equal this--and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever?
Obviously, and even you wouldn't dispute this, for ever simply can't fit a finite period of time, such as up until 70 AD. No one in their right mind would argue that that is the same thing as saying for ever. No it isn't. For ever obviously requires a literal undending age, something this present age can never be, ever.
How can Amils even suggest they are interpreting this passage correctly if to interpret it correctly means it has to be involving literal land with literal borders, thus can't even fit with how Amils view things over all?
