Old Testament faith looked forward

Anthony Hoekema describes the eschatological outlook of Old Testament believers in his book, The Bible and the Future.

But we must say again that the faith of the Old Testament believer was eschatological through and through. He looked forward to God's intervention in history, both in the near future and in the distant future. It was, in fact, this forward-looking faith which gave the Old Testament saint courage to run the race that was set before him. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews, as it looks back at the Old Testament heroes of faith, particularly makes this point. Of Abraham it is said, "He looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (v. 10). Of all the patriarchs it is said, "These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar..." (v. 13). And of all the Old Testament saints taken together the following is said: "And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (v. 39-40).(1)

(1) Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, Eerdman's Publishing Company, 1979, pg. 12.