The Real New Testament Church
  • Home
  • Contents
  • Preface
  • Real Plan
    • Chapter 1 - In the Beginning
    • Chapter-2-After the Beginning
    • Chapter 3 - Kingdom
    • Chapter 4 - Earth in the Kingdom or Kingdom on Earth
    • Chapter 5 - Original Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 6 - Renovated Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 7 - Kingdom on the Degenerated Earth
    • Chapter 8 - Tribulation
    • Chapter 9 - Kingdom on the Regenerated Earth
    • Chapter 10 - New Earth in the Kingdom
    • Chapter 11 - Covenant
    • Chapter 12 - Major Covenants of the Bible
    • Chapter 13 - Eternal Covenant
    • Chapter 14 - Renovation Covenant
    • Chapter 15 - Covenants for Israel
  • Real Church
    • Real Fundamentals >
      • Chapter 16 - Real Church
      • Chapter 17 - Church Covenant
      • Chapter 18 - Calling
      • Chapter 19 - Parables
      • Chapter 20 - Kingdom of Heaven Parables
      • Chapter 21 - Description
    • Real Legality >
      • Chapter 22 - Law
      • Chapter 23 - Transgression
      • Chapter 24 - Justification
    • Real Life (zoe) >
      • Chapter 25 - Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 26 - Progression of Life (zoe)
      • Chapter 27 - Birth
      • Chapter 28 - Dependent Life
      • Chapter 29 - Sanctification
      • Chapter 30 - Rule of Life
      • Chapter 31 - Return to Law
      • Chapter 32 - Faith
    • Real Composition >
      • Chapter 33 - Headship
      • Chapter 34 - Body
      • Chapter 35 - Women
    • Real Incarnation >
      • Chapter 36 - Function and Form
      • Chapter 37 - Purpose and Mission
      • Chapter 38 - Manifestation
    • Real Doctrine and Practice >
      • Chapter 39 - Apostolic Teaching
      • Chapter 40 - Apostolic Tradition
    • Real Apostolic Teaching >
      • Chapter 41 - Values
      • Chapter 42 - Prayer
      • Chapter 43 - Works
      • Chapter 44 - Giving
    • Real Apostolic Tradition >
      • Chapter 45 - Governance
      • Chapter 46 - Simplicity
      • Chapter 47 - Gatherings
      • Chapter 48 - Supper: Celebration and Sign
      • Chapter 49 - Supper: Apostolic Tradition
      • Chapter 50 - Practice
    • Real Growth >
      • Chapter 51 - Growth
      • Chapter 52 - Exponential Growth
    • Real Warfare >
      • Chapter 53 - Temporal Simulation
      • Chapter 54 - Confirmation of Scripture
      • Chapter 55 - Sovereignty of God
      • Chapter 56 - Warfare
      • Chapter 57 - Utter Defeat
      • Chapter 58 - Freedom
      • Chapter 59 - Incomparable Power
      • Chapter 60 - Armor
      • Chapter 61 - Full Armor
  • Real Reformation
    • Chapter 62 - Law and Life
    • Chapter 63 - From Law to Life
    • Chapter 64 - Divine Reformation
  • Conclusion
    • Chapter 65 - Real New Testament Church
  • Endnotes
  • About
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Chapter 4 - Earth in the Kingdom or Kingdom on Earth
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“In the beginning,” God created the original, eternal earth. It was suitable to exist within His kingdom (realm of authority).
    
The original earth was made to exist within the divine kingdom for an important purpose. It served as a habitat which He could populate with willing citizens and manifest His glory for their benefit.
    
Many of the angelic inhabitants of the original earth, however, declined to remain in submission to the authority of God. Their rebelliousness had significant consequences.
    
The defiant angels were banished from the kingdom of God (realm of His authority). Separated from the immediate presence of the living (zoe) God they experienced organic degeneration.
    
In addition, the habitat of the rebellious angels, the original earth, was destroyed. As a result, it became chaotic, characterized by waste, ruin, emptiness, and darkness. (Genesis 1:2) Therefore, the earth was no longer suitable for existence within the kingdom of God.
    
God would have been just to annihilate the chaotic earth and its rebellious inhabitants. Instead, congruent with His nature, He renovated the earth so that it was suitable to again exist once again within the boundaries of His kingdom (realm of His authority).

Renovating the earth and restoring it to His kingdom allowed God to restore His authoritative, living presence on earth. Consequently, He was provided with the opportunity to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom with willing citizens.

The new, human inhabitants of the renovated earth were blessed with the privileged opportunity to engage in intimate, shared life fellowship with God. In contrast to the unwillingness of the devil and his angels, the willingness of mankind to preserve and protect fellowship with God served to vindicate His nature.

The renovation of the earth also allowed God to repopulate His kingdom (realm of His authority). Much like the angelic citizens of the kingdom on the original earth, however, the human citizens of the renovated earth chose to abuse their freedom and rebel against the authority of God.
    
                                          Adaptation
 
With foreknowledge God understood that His creatures, both angelic and human, would rebel against His authority. Nevertheless, He had predetermined to address its consequences. The plan of God would allow Him to continue vindicating His nature and to repopulate His kingdom.   

Among other things, the plan of God to address the rebellious conduct of His creatures required the adaptation of their earthly habitat. Its divine adaptation was designed to accommodate the continual influence of His protective authority (kingdom) on the earth.

As indicated in the Bible, the adaptation of the earth was predestined to occur in the following manner:

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God created the original earth in eternal form to exist within His kingdom. It was necessarily removed from the kingdom (realm of divine authority) after the angelic rebellion. As a result, the original earth became chaotic and dark.
    
According to plan, God adapted the chaotic earth by renovating it so that it was again suitable to exist within His kingdom. However, the rebellion of the first representative human on the renovated earth resulted in its removal from the protective authority of God (kingdom).
    
Separated from King and kingdom, the renovated earth was transformed into a state of degeneration and darkness. While it was unfit to exist within the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority), the degenerated earth remained suitable for habitation by humanity; albeit in a fallen state.
    
God then made an astounding move. Rather than adapting the earth to be suitable to again exist in His kingdom, He “adapted” the manner in which His kingdom (authority) would be accessible on earth. By His own incarnation and fulfillment of the stipulations of the Eternal Covenant God provided the means for the redemption of fallen mankind on the degenerated earth. Instead of the earth existing within His kingdom, His living (zoe) presence and therefore, kingdom authority would be manifested within the redeemed. Consequently,  the influence of the kingdom of God would remain on earth. As a result, kingdom citizenship would continue to be freely available to fallen humanity on the degenerated earth. The willingness of the fallen to submit to God and enjoy fellowship with Him would again serve to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom. 
    
After the nature of God is sufficiently vindicated and His kingdom adequately repopulated He will then regenerate the earth. The regenerated earth will predominantly be populated by two groups of people; national Israel and unbelievers who were born during the “Tribulation” period. Like the degenerated earth before it, the presence of unbelieving people on the regenerated earth will make it unsuitable for existence within the kingdom (realm of divine authority).
    
Jesus Christ will physically reign over the redeemed nation of Israel on the regenerated earth. His reign will last for one thousand years (Revelation 20:2-7).
    
Unlike His reign during the Church Age, Jesus will not rule over the regenerated earth from heaven. Instead, He will personally rule over the physical kingdom (realm of divine authority) of national Israel on the regenerated earth.
    
At the end of the one thousand year reign of King Jesus on the regenerated earth, the nature of God will be completely vindicated and His kingdom fully repopulated. Both the real New Testament church and national Israel will have contributed to the fulfillment of the plan of God.
    
The eternal plan of God to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom fulfilled; He will recreate the earth in a state of eternal perfection. The new earth will exist forever within His kingdom.
    
The earth in its various, inhabitable forms has always been influenced by the presence of the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority). Consequently, the earth has either existed in the kingdom or the kingdom has been manifested on earth:

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Earth in the Kingdom:
Kingdom on Earth:
Original Earth
Degenerated Earth
Renovated Earth
Regenerated Earth
Recreated Earth
 
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Among other things, the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) in heaven and on earth has three characteristics relevant to its inclusion of human citizens. It is immutable, eternal and subject to mediatorial representation. 
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                                            Immutable

While the earth is subject to change, the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) is not. Like its King, it is immutable.
    
Relative to its immutability, the kingdom of God does not change when manifested on the degenerated earth. Therefore, its primary emphasis, character, qualification for citizenship, and governance remain consistent.
    
The primary emphasis of the kingdom of God manifested on the degenerated earth does not differ from its heavenly emphasis. Thus, the emphasis of the kingdom on earth is the sovereign authority of God.
    
The character of the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) also does not change when manifested on the degenerated earth. It remains glorious, holy, powerful, and immortal.
    
In addition, the qualification for citizenship in the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) on earth is the same as in heaven. It requires submission to the authority of God.
    
Further, the governance of the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) does not change when manifested on the degenerated earth. It continues to be theocratic. 
 
                                              Eternal

The “kingdom of God” is also eternal. Thus, it is perpetual, without beginning or end, past or future. As a result, the “kingdom of God” cannot be measured, interrupted, or otherwise influenced by time. Its eternality does not change when manifested on the spatiotemporal earth.
    
Although the kingdom of God on earth remains eternal, God subjected the earth in its renovated, degenerated, and regenerated forms to the limitations of time. (Genesis 1:14-19) He did so for a significant reason.
    
When integrated with space, time presents a quantifiable environment. Together time and space allow for a measurable and, therefore, indisputable demonstration of the nature of God for the benefit of both the angelic host and the human race.
    
Measured by time and space, activity on earth is defined by specific ages. God designed each age to contribute to the fulfillment of His comprehensive, eternal purpose.
     ​
According to the Bible, the specific ages associated with the fulfillment of the purpose of God on the spatiotemporal earth include:

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Earth Form:
Age:
Renovated
Edenic Age
Degenerated
Antediluvian Age
  
Postdiluvian Age
 
Patriarchal Age
 
Israelite Age
 
Gentile Age
 
Church Age
Regenerated
Messianic Age
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                                          Mediatorial Representation

Despite His foreknowledge of their failure, God chose beforehand to manifest His authority on the spatiotemporal earth through the mediatorial representation of angelic and human beings. Angelic beings mediated the kingdom authority of God on the original, eternal earth. In contrast, God chose human beings to mediate His authority on the spatiotemporal earth. It was predestined to occur in the following manner:                                  

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Earth Form:
Age:  
Mediation:
Renovated
Edenic Age
Adam.
Degenerated
Antediluvian Age
From Seth to Noah.  
 
Postdiluvian Age
From Shem to Terah.  
 
Patriarchal Age
From Agraham to Jacob (2166BC to 1859BC).
 
Israelite Age.  
From Moses to King Zedekiah (1446BC to 586BC).  
 
Gentile Age.  
Individual Gentiles (Encompasses the time of Gentile dominion over Jerusalem) (From 586BC to the Rapture).  
 
Church Age.  
The Church (From AD33 to the Rapture).  
Regenerated
Messianic Age
The restored nation of Israel (For 1000 years after the Second Coming).  
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The original, eternal earth existed within the eternal kingdom of God (realm of divine authority). It served as a habitat for angelic beings. They were privileged to witness the revelation of the nature of God. Nevertheless, the angels chose to rebel against the authority of God.
    
Destroyed by the rebellion, the earth became chaotic, characterized by waste, ruin, emptiness, and darkness. Thus, it was unsuitable for continuation in the kingdom.         
    
Congruent with His eternal plan, God renovated the earth to again exist within His kingdom (realm of His authority). It provided Him with the opportunity to vindicate His nature and repopulate His kingdom.

Like the devil and his angels, the human inhabitants of the renovated earth also chose to rebel against divine authority. Although the rebellion was the cause of organic degeneration, the earth remained inhabitable.  
    
The ensuing forms of the earth, degenerated and eventually regenerated, would not exist in the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, the kingdom of God would remain influential. Rather than the earth existing in the kingdom, it would exist on the degenerated and regenerated forms of the earth within redeemed human beings.    
    
After His purpose for the regenerated earth is fulfilled, God will then recreate the earth anew. It will forever remain within His eternal kingdom.
    
Like God, His kingdom (realm of His authority) is immutable and eternal. It remains so whether the earth exists in the kingdom or the kingdom is manifested on the earth. Through the cooperation of mediatorial representation it has allowed and will continue to allow an indisputable, continuous demonstration of the true nature of God on earth.
 
© 2022 James Hiatt

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