The Old Testament faith was a faith looking forward to the coming of Christ. The concrete OT expectation like the land had a little deeper and broader meaning. Hebrews 11 tells us the OT saints knew there is something deeper. Luke 24:26 Christ had to suffer. The NT is a fulfillment of Old Testament expectation. The event that appears as one is more than one. There is a first coming and a second coming separated now by 2000 years. Old Testament fulfillment has begun in the first coming. We are living in the last days. Jesus is gathering the nations. He has poured out His Spirit. All future hope and future dread is connected to Christ. What was promised in the OT has come to pass. Jesus enemies were defeated at the cross and even know He is growing His kingdom. He is now ruling. At the birth of Christ the scripture says it was the fulfillment. Mat 1:20 – Luke 2:29-30
Luke 2:29-30 (NKJV) 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation
The Christian life is eschatological. Once, once for all, the last days. Acts 2
Acts 2:16-21 (NKJV) 16 “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass [That] whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’
Hebrews 9:26 (NKJV) He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
1 Corinthians 10:11 (NKJV) Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
The tendency is to look at the OT and put it into a future millennium. This is Gods program and it’s unfolding. Enter into the kingdom by believing the gospel. If they believe He will pour out His Spirit on them.
1 Peter 1:10-13 (NKJV) 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace [that would come] to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven–things which angels desire to look into. 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest [your] hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Hebrews 11:13 (NKJV) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced [them] and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.