Chapter 14 - New Earth

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After one thousand years of Messianic reign on the regenerated earth the vindication of God's nature and the repopulation of His kingdom will finally be complete. Thus, the spatiotemporal heavens and earth will have fulfilled their purpose.

Re-Creation

God will then re-create the heavens and earth as promised. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17; cf., Isaiah 66:22) The Apostle John adds, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away.” (Revelation 21:1) The divine re-creation of the heavens and earth will make them suitable once again for existence within the eternal, holy kingdom of God.

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Existing within the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) the new, eternal heavens and earth will constitute a proper habitation for God to enjoy the immediate presence of all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, the faithful from both national Israel and the Gentile nations will rejoice together in the ever-present reality of life shared with God in His kingdom and the enjoyment of His glorious nature manifested in fullness of Spirit and truth.

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 in the new, eternal heavens and the new, eternal earth is to reveal the authority and nature of God for benefit of His holy created beings.

After the spatiotemporal earth has served its purpose, the eternal plan of God to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom will be fully satisfied. Therefore, space and time, sin and death will not be necessary. Thus, God will destroy the old, spatiotemporal earth and introduce His eternal kingdom in eternity.

The new earth will be characterized by the infinite glory of God; moral and ethical perfection; the absolute fullness of life, the sacrificial selflessness of divine love (agape); tranquility; harmony; the eternal, timeless present; endless provision; indescribable beauty and much, much more.

The citizens of the kingdom in the new heavens and on the new earth will be angelic and human. The human citizens will be the elect from both Israel and the New Testament church. Glorious, holy, and eternal, like the angels, they will be swallowed up by the fullness of divine life (zoe), eternal life, life in the highest. Consequently, the citizens of the kingdom will enjoy God in fullness and forever experience the glorious attributes of His nature.

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Category	Description
Primary Purpose:	The revelation of the authority of God for the benefit of angelic and human beings.
Plan:	The new, eternal heavens and earth as a suitable habitat for angelic and human beings. Kingdom once and for all populated by angelic and human beings. The enjoyment of God by angelic and human beings in the new heavens and on the new earth.
Citizenship:	Angelic and human beings.
Realm:	Eternity; eternal heavens and earth.
Character for Citizenship:	Glorious, holy, and eternal (concordant with the nature of the divine king).
Era:	Beyond time; eternal.
Qualification for Citizenship:	Divine holiness, spirituality, and immortality. Human cooperation by shared life. Human cooperation by willing submission to the beneficent revelation of divine authority.
Governance:	Theocratic. By union of life between God and His elect. In accordance with the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant.
Outcome:	The fulfillment of the eternal plan of God to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom. The elect of the New Testament church and national Israel forever enjoying the fullness of God.

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