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The promise of the Lord to Abram as to the number of his progeny is astonishing. Certainly, to some unbelievable. Nevertheless, it is the promise of the Lord that his descendents would be as numberless as the stars of the heavens. Abram may not have been able to see the vast number of stars which are made visible today, thanks to powerful telescopes, but the Lord knew their number. Not only their number but He also knows their names. Ps. 147:4 The promise is from the Lord and He knew exactly what He was saying to Abram, though Abram may not have known the vastness of the promise. His promise to Abram opens up tremendous possibilities for the new heavens and the new earth and their being populated by a new race of people.
The universe in which we live is made up of some one hundred billion galaxies. Each galaxy contains billions of stars, or suns. Even this is not an established number for the farther out into space man is able to see, the more he finds yet other galaxies. We do not yet know the extent of the universe nor the full number of the stars of the heavens. The Lord knows their exact number and in the evening hours brings them out one by one (makes them to be visible) and He also knows their names, because He has named them. Isa. 40:26 If the total number of human beings from the first man Adam down to the very last were all included and granted entrance into the new heavens and earth, their number would be but a small fraction of the existing stars. We know that will not happen. Only the yet smaller fraction of the redeemed will enter heaven. Where will the Lord find such a tremendous volume of persons? He promised it and He will keep His promise.
The prophetic utterance of Jeremiah declared the impossibility of numbering the stars of the heaven. Adding that the seed of David would fit into this numberless category, and the Levites which minister before the Lord would likewise be as numberless. The reference to David elevated his prophecy into a Messianic prophecy. Jer. 33:22 The Lord Jesus is proclaimed to be the root of David therefore has the authority to open the seven seals. Rev. 5:5 As the root of David He is also the bright and morning star. Rev. 22:15 His presence upon the throne makes it to be an eternal throne, an eternal kingdom, populated with a vast number who bear His star like brilliance. They will all shine as the stars for they will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Dan. 12:3.