Chapter 13 - Regenerated Earth

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Despite the extent of the rebellion and destruction associated with the “Tribulation” period, God promised the future regeneration of the earth. It was congruent with His eternal plan to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom 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 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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Summary

The “kingdom of God” is “the sovereign authority of God manifested within the realm of both eternity and space-time for benefit of His creation.” The primary purpose of the kingdom of God manifested on the spatiotemporal regenerated earth during the Messianic Age will again reveal the authority of God, vindicate His nature from angelic accusation and repopulate His kingdom.

According to plan, the regenerated earth will serve as a habitat for human beings, predominantly from national Israel and unbelievers born during the “Tribulation” period. Concordant with the initiation of Israel’s New Covenant, the kingdom of God will be visibly manifested on the regenerated earth. It will accommodate the immediate, visible reign of the Christ over the restored nation of Israel and consequently, allow for the vindication of the nature of God and the repopulation of His kingdom.

Like the citizens of the kingdom before them, the elect who comprise national Israel will be justified and regenerated by grace through faith alone and thereby, restored to a state suitable with the nature of God. Made glorious, holy, eternal, and alive to God, they will also be legally representative and organically representational of God and provide for His authority to be recognized on earth. The Messianic Age on the regenerated earth will last for 1000 years following the regeneration of the earth.

During the Messianic kingdom on the regenerated earth, the redeemed of national Israel will be theocratically governed by Christ Himself. In submission to Christ by grace through faith alone, they too will serve to mediate divine authority on the regenerated earth.

In the Messianic kingdom, Jesus Christ will personally reign over the regenerated earth. By benefit of the past fulfillment of the Eternal Covenant and the initiation of the New Covenant, the nation of Israel will be restored and all of its kingdom and covenant promises will be fully satisfied. Further, all that is contrary to the nature of God will be judged. Consequently, the nature of God will be fully vindicated and His kingdom completely repopulated.

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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.
Citizenship:	Spatiotemporal human beings (predominantly from national Israel).
Realm:	The spatiotemporal, regenerated earth.
Character for Citizenship:	Glorious, holy, and eternal (concordant with the nature of the divine king).
Era:	For 1000 years following the regeneration of the earth.
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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