Chapter 13 - Regenerated Earth

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Despite the rebellion and destructiveness of His creatures during the “Tribulation” period, God promised the future regeneration of the earth. It was congruent with His eternal remedy to vindicate His nature in heaven and on earth.

Messianic Age

The divine regeneration of the earth will first necessitate the judgment of the degenerated earth. “… the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the [degenerated] heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the [degenerated] earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:7, 10) The fire of divine judgment will destroy every trace of angelic and human rebellion related to the degenerated heavens and earth.

After the fiery destruction of the degenerated earth, God will regenerate the earth in temporal form. “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13: cf. Matthew 19:28)

According to plan, the kingdom of God will be visibly manifested on the regenerated earth. (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13) It will accommodate the immediate, visible reign of Christ on earth and allow for the vindication of the divine nature through the restoration of national Israel. (cf. Psalm 2:6-9; Isaiah 2:2-4; 9:6-7; 11:1-12:6; Jeremiah 23:3-8; 33:9-26; Matthew 25:31-34) As revealed throughout the Old Testament, the restoration of Israel to the covenant plan of God and kingdom citizenship on the regenerated earth has long been their national hope. (cf. Psalm 24:1-10; 89: 3-4, 29, 34-37; Isaiah 1:26-27; 4:2-6; 9:6-7; 16:5; 27:12-13; 29:22-24; 30:18-26; 32:16-20; 33:20-24; 35:1-10; 43:5-7; 44:1-5, 21-23; 45:17; 51:3; 52:1-10; 55:12-13; 56:6-8; 60:1-14; 61:10-11; 62:1-12; Jeremiah 3:8, 17; 16:14-15; 31:1-40; 50:19-20; Ezekiel 11:14-20; 17:22-24; 20:40-41; 28:25-26; 34:25-31; 36:8-15, 24-38; 37:1-25; 40:1-43:27; 44:1-46:24; 47:1-48:35; Hosea 1:10-2:1; 14:4-8; Joel 2:18-32; 3:17-18; Amos 9:11-15; Micah 4:1-8; 7:18-20; Zephaniah 3:9-20; Zechariah 8:1-8; 10:8-12; 14:9-11)

Theologians refer to the rule of Christ over the restored nation of Israel as the “Davidic,” “Messianic,” or “Millennial” kingdom. “Davidic” because it is the fulfillment of the kingdom God promised to David (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 28:7; Daniel 7:27; Obadiah 15-21; Micah 4:1-8); “Messianic” because it will be ruled by Jesus the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:16; Psalm 89:20-37; Isaiah 2:2-3; 24:23; Jeremiah 33:15-17; Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 1:30-33; Revelation 20:4, 6); and “Millennial” because its duration is 1000 years (Revelation 20:2-7).

The reign of Christ on the regenerated earth with the full, willing cooperation of national Israel will provide a perfect, visible demonstration of selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice. Consequently, it will decisively vindicate the nature of God once and for all.

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The Messianic Age on the regenerated earth can be briefly summarized as follows:

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Category	Description
Primary Purpose:	The revelation of the authority of God for the benefit of human beings. The vindication of divine authority.
Plan:	The regenerated earth as a suitable habitat for human beings, predominantly from national Israel and unbelievers born during the "Tribulation" period. Kingdom repopulation by human beings.
Realm:	The spatiotemporal, regenerated earth.
Era:	For 1000 years following the regeneration of the earth.
Presentation:	Visible.
Citizenship:	Spatiotemporal human beings (predominantly from national Israel).
Character for Citizenship:	Glorious, holy, and eternal (concordant with the nature of the divine king).
Qualification for Citizenship:	Holiness, spirituality, and immortality achieved by divine justification and regeneration. Human cooperation by willing submission to the beneficent revelation of divine authority. By grace through faith alone.
Governance:	Theocratic; In cooperation with human mediation. Through union of life between God and the elect of the restored nation of Israel.
Outcome:	The fulfillment of all kingdom and covenant promises for the restored nation of Israel. By benefit of the past fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and the initiation of the New Covenant, the elect of national Israel justified and regenerated by grace through faith alone and consequently, made legally representative and organically representational of God. In accordance with the unconditional benefit of the Eternal and New covenants, the continued vindication of the divine nature and repopulation of the divine kingdom. Jesus Christ personally reigning over the earth with full cooperation from the restored nation of Israel. The judgment of all that remains contrary to the nature of God. The kingdom of God completely repopulated. The nature of God fully vindicated.

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