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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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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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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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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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