Unlike Israel, the spiritual offspring of Abraham have not been given deed promises to be fulfilled in the flesh. That's not to say that there aren't earthly similarities, however. Like Israel, the Church is a chosen people from among all the families of the earth, set apart to be a royal priesthood and a people for God's own possession; having the privilege to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness and into light (1 Pet 2:9). Not only does the Church walk in light, but they are a light to the world. And so, this is one of the their expectations; to walk in light and not in darkness and to be a light for those still walking in darkness (Matt 5:14).
Again, unlike Israel, the spiritual Church, being universally indwelt with the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9, John 14-17), is inerrant and without sin. This is certainly not to say that individual members of the Church do not sin or fall away from the faith into unfruitfulness, but rather that the Church itself, as holy nation of God, is without sin before God. It recognizes Jesus as the rightful ruler of God's kingdom and serves Him (Matt 16:15-19).
What has been promised to the Church, it terms of a realm, has been declared a far better thing than some place on earth, which is perishable and open to corruption (1 Pet 1:18). What they've been promised is a place within God's heavenly kingdom. When asked by Simon Peter where He was going (Jn 13:36), Jesus gave an expectation in response by telling Peter that He is going to prepare a place within God's heavenly mansion for His people to join Him at a later time (Jn 14:2-3).
Far from a promise of a nation of their own here on earth, the spiritual offspring are called sojourners and exiles ( 1 Pet 1:17, 2:11). Therefore, what the citizens of the Church expect is not an earthly dwelling place, but a heavenly one. In fact, what they can fully expect from the world is trouble and persecution (Mat 10:24-25; Php 1:29; 2 Th 1:4-5; Jas 5:10-11; 1 Pet 4:13-14, 5:10).
As we've seen, Israel does not yet recognize that their king has come, but God has unconditionally promised them that they will see and know Him. To this end, He has designated a future time of great tribulation in order to prepare the nation of Israel to repent and receive by faith her most earnest expectation; her returning victorious Messiah, the Christ (Duet 4:30-31, 30:1-3; Isa 2:5-11; 4:3-4, Isa 12; Jer 30:7-11; Ezek 39:25-26; Hos 5:14-15; Zech 12:10-13:2; Matt 24:32-34; Luke 21:25-28). This time is also a time in which God will pour out His divine wrath upon the earth (Matt 24:4-28; Rev 3:10 Rev 6 Rev 8, Rev 9, Rev 16).
What the Church expects in all of this, however, is to be kept from the coming trial (Rev. 3:10). This is to take place in the form of an imminent and instantaneous resurrection and removal to Heaven by the returning of Jesus prior to the great tribulations on earth, which is most commonly known as the rapture. (John 14:1-3; 1 Cor 1:7, 4:5, 15:51-53; Phil 3:20-21; 1 Thess 1:10, 4:13-18, 2 Thess 2:1; Titus 2:13; James 5:8; 1 Pet 1:7, 1:13, 5:4; 1 John 2:28, 3:2; Rev 3:10). This will by definition conclude the earthly ministry of the Church, in which they are fulfilling their expected duties by acting as a light into the world, calling out to the chosen elect from among all the nations (Matt 5:14-16, 10:27 Acts 13:47).
Upon being raptured physically and spiritually, all citizens of Heaven have been promised rewards based on their service to Christ (Rom 14:10-12, 1 Cor 3:11-15, 4:5, 9:27; 2 Cor 5:10, Eph 6:8, 1 John 2:28) and given positions of authority in the kingdom ( 2 Tim 2:11-12; 1 Cor 6:2; Rev 2:26-27; 3:21).
Specifically, the areas of divine evaluation will be based on individual works (1 Cor 13:13, 2 Cor 5:10), words (Eph 4:29 cf. Matt 12 :36, Ps 141:3), thoughts (Phil 4:8), and motives (1 Cor 4:5 cf. 10:31, 13:1-3; Eph 6:5-8; Col 3:17, 3:22-23).
As adopted sons of God, the Church is now fellow heirs with Christ (Rom 8:14-17). What this provides is an expectation of a glory which has not yet been seen and an inheritance of valuable spiritual treasures that can never tarnish, be corrupted, or taken away (Mat 6:10; 1 Tim 6:19; 2 Tim 1:10). The spiritual children of God understand that they lose much on earth, but gain back whatever they lose one-hundred fold to enjoy for an eternity (Mat 10:29-30, 19:29).
In Israel's promised kingdom, as wonderful as it has been promised to be, still maintains the expectation for the need of shelter, food, work, reasons to call for help, and even death (Isa 65:17-24). The Church, however, is promised an eternal life (Jn 6:54,58, 10:28; Acts 13:48; Rom 2:7, 5:21, 6:22,23; 1 Tim 1:16) and an eternal end to pain, hunger, thirst, and trouble (Jn 6:35; Rev 21:6 22:3-5).
All of the expectations of the Church, of course, have been provided as promised to all the nations of the earth through the nation of Israel in that from Abraham's physical children came Jesus, from the root of Jesse, through David (Rom 15:12; Rev 22:16), the promised messiah and eternal king.
