It says that while they had not received before death, they saw from afar. Isaac is identified as the exception in verse 17, being the "one who had become dead" in verse 12, and whom "out of the dead God is able to raise up", "a seed called to thee." Isaac is identified as the "figure" of Christ received by Abraham.
Hebrews 11:4 parallels Matthew 22:30
Hebrews 11:17-19 further explains exactly what I'm telling you.
'Saw from afar ' ( Messiah's 1,000-year reign over earth would be ' afar ' in the future) Jesus proved to be that promised ' seed ' God raised up - Genesis 3:15
Didn't God promise Abraham ALL families and ALL nations of Earth will be blessed ? _______Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18
Blessed with the benefit of healing for earth's nations right here on Earth - Revelation 22:2
The ' tree of life ' was never in heaven. The return of the Genesis ' tree of life ' is found on Earth - Revelation 22:2
Doesn't Hebrews 11:4 parallel with Genesis 4:5; Genesis 4:4; Genesis 4:10; Matthew 23:35
Whereas Matthew 22:30 parallels or corresponds with Luke 20:35
Hebrews 11:17 corresponds with Genesis 22:1; Genesis 22:9; John 3:16
Hebrews 11:18 corresponds with Genesis 21:12; Romans 9:7
Hebrews 11:19 corresponds with Romans 4:17; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 Corinthians 15:20
Heaven was Not promised to all of Jesus' followers, but rather everlasting life on Earth was - Matthew 5:5; Psalms 37:11; Psalms 37:29; Proverbs 2:21-22
Only those who have a first or earlier resurrection are called to heaven - Revelation 20:6; Revelation 2:10 ; Revelation 5:9-10; Luke 22:28-30
They are a ' little flock ' - Luke 12:32, whereas the majority of mankind are the ' other sheep ' of John 10:16
Where is King David - Acts of the Apostles 2:34 - since David is Not in heaven? He can be a future ' prince ' on Earth - Psalms 45:16; Isaiah 32:1; Ezekiel 34:24
So, besides heaven, Jesus will have earthly subjects - Psalms 72:8; Psalms 72:12-14- resurrecting dead people to healthy physical life on Earth - Revelation 1:18
The living ' sheep ' of Matthew 25:31-33 are Not Jesus' brothers of Matthew 25:40; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 2:11
Those ' sheep ' are alive on Earth at the soon coming ' time of separation ' on Earth.
Those ' sheep ' can remain alive on Earth, and continue to live on Earth, right into the start of Day One of Jesus' millennium-long day of governing over Earth.