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The justice of God demanded the judgment of humanity for its rebellion against His authority. Consequently, mankind was banished from His presence. Separated from the highest source of life (zoe), the entire human race and its habitat, the renovated earth, experienced spiritual death. Evidenced by eventual physical death, it led to organic degeneration (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-22).
The human rebellion against God did not lead the earth to again be transformed into a state of chaos. Rather than destruction, its separation from God led to reduction. The renovated earth was reduced to state of degeneration and darkness. Although a mere shadow of its former glory, it remained capable of accommodating fallen humanity and contributing to the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. According to plan, the degenerated earth continued to present an environment conducive for the vindication of God’s nature. Despite the presence of degeneration and darkness, His influence on the degenerated earth has allowed for a consistent, measurable revelation of His nature. It has been beneficial for the fallen human race and the angelic host. (cf. Romans 1:20; Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12) Throughout the ages on the degenerated earth, fallen humanity has been privileged to witness the revelation of God’s nature. Therefore, mankind has had the opportunity to recognize His existence, receive the redemptive benefit of His shared life (zoe), and repopulate His kingdom. (cf. Romans 1:19-20) The angelic host has also benefitted from the revelation of God’s nature. Witnessing the events occurring on earth, they are given countless opportunities to view His selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice in action. Kingdom Revelation Like God, His kingdom (realm of authority) is heavenly and spiritual. It remains so when revealed on the degenerated earth. In harmony with the eternal purpose of God, however, His kingdom is sometimes revealed on the degenerated earth with forms that are recognizable. For example, God’s heavenly, spiritual authority during the Israelite Age was recognized by visible instruments of worship such as a tabernacle, lampstand, table, sacred bread, the golden altar of incense, the Ark of the Covenant, etc. In contrast to the Israelite Age, the revelation of God’s heavenly, spiritual authority on the degenerated earth during the Gentile Age is not accompanied by visible instruments of worship. “… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17) As a result, the kingdom of God (realm of authority) manifested on earth during the Gentile Age is invisible not only to the Israelites but to the unbelieving world. Citizenship Mankind on the degenerated earth is not naturally qualified for citizenship in the kingdom of God. In his fallen state, he is without the necessary holiness, spirituality, and immortality. Despite the natural state of mankind, God graciously provides the fallen on the degenerated earth with the opportunity for citizenship in His kingdom. The covenantal death and resurrection of Jesus Christ provided the means. It allowed the Father the legal and moral freedom to convert fallen human beings to a state necessary for kingdom citizenship. Moreover, it was a stunning demonstration of selfless love, unfailing mercy, and absolute justice. While the sovereignty of God extends over all creation, He does not compel mankind to accept His offer of kingdom citizenship. Privileged with freedom of choice, many fallen human beings simply choose to remain in a rebellious state of separation from God and His kingdom. For the fallen human beings that choose to pursue God in agreement with His gracious provision in Christ Jesus, kingdom citizenship necessitates conversion to a state of holiness, spirituality, and immortality. The conversion of mankind into such a state occurs only by the gracious means of justification and regeneration. Justification is a legal transaction. It provides fallen humanity with a new legal status. Because of the sacrificial blood of the Eternal Covenant, willing human beings have the privileged opportunity to receive the forgiveness of all transgression of divine law and a legal declaration of righteousness. As a result, God provides them with the holiness, spirituality, and immortality necessary to enjoy kingdom citizenship. In contrast, regeneration is an organic event. It is a gracious act of God whereby He reforms or recreates degenerate human life into a new and improved state suitable for accommodation by His indwelling life (zoe) and, therefore, kingdom citizenship. (cf. John 1:12-13; 3:3-8; Romans 4:17; 5:17; 6:4; 8:2; 11:15; Ephesians 2:1-7; Colossians 2:13; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:22-23; 1 John 5:11-12) |
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Scriptural Consistency
After the fall of the human race, the divine standard for human citizenship in the kingdom of God has remained consistent. It has always required conversion by justification and regeneration. Old Testament saints experienced justification in the same manner as New Testament saints. The words of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah revealed the possibility of justification for the people of ancient Israel. “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18) Isaiah later added, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul clarified that the Old Testament saints David and Abraham were justified by grace through faith alone. (Romans 4:1-25) Old Testament saints also experienced regeneration of life. Moses clarified to the ancient nation of Israel that they had the opportunity to experience new life. He said, “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. The Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. Moreover the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (psuche - LXX), so that you may live (zoe - LXX).” (Deuteronomy 30:1-6) The words of Moses are evidential of the regeneration of life. The Hebrew word for “heart” in Deuteronomy 30 is lebab (lay-bawb’). It is used over 800 times in the Old Testament. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, “…heart (lebab) became the richest biblical term for the totality of man’s inner or immaterial nature. In biblical literature it is the most frequently used term for man’s immaterial personality functions as well as the most inclusive term for them since, in the Bible, virtually every immaterial function of man is attributed to the “heart.” “….heart expresses the totality of a man’s nature and character, both inner and outer.” (1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 9:1)[1] As indicated by Moses, fallen human beings cannot love God with heart and soul apart from the acquisition of new life. “People can love God with all their heart only after the heart itself has been radically changed to a Godward direction. When that happens, not only is obedience possible but so is life (so that you may live). Here more than physical life on the land is in view. There is a glimpse of life that does not end, life that comes to birth with the supernatural work of grace that alone is sufficient to account for all of these aspects of Israel’s future restoration.”[2] Many of the noteworthy accomplishments recorded in the Old Testament could only have occurred in human beings who had experienced regeneration of life. For example, God alone could have ensured the outcome of the leading of Moses, the redemption of Job, and the heart of David expressed in the writing of his psalms. Further, He alone could have provided for the prophesying of Jeremiah and the incredible sacrifices of all who are mentioned in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. Their works were beyond human capability alone. They could not have been orchestrated or achieved apart from regeneration and the direct, indwelling influence of God. The Old Testament standard for citizenship in the kingdom of God for Noah, Abram, Moses, David, Isaiah, and Jeremiah did not differ from the New Testament standard for John, Peter, Paul, Titus, Timothy, and James. After the Fall, entrance into the kingdom of God has consistently required the conversion of mankind through means of justification and regeneration. While the standard of citizenship for fallen human beings has never changed, there are two fundamental differences between the saints of the Old and New Testament eras. They are related to the indwelling and baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit indwelled the regenerated saints of the Old Testament. However, it was temporary, congruent with the will of God for special occasions. In contrast, the regenerated saints of the New Testament era have been privileged to enjoy the permanent indwelling of the Spirit of God. He indwells at conversion, never to leave again. The second fundamental difference between Old and New Testament saints is related to spiritual baptism. The saints of the Old Testament era were not baptized by the Spirit. Therefore, unlike the church of the New Testament, they were not joined as one heavenly, spiritual body. Instead, Old Testament era saints were an earthly assembly of people united by God through mutual conversion. Relative to regeneration, they possessed an inward desire to pursue God. However, the permanency and intimacy associated with spiritual baptism was absent. The saints of the Old and New Testaments are significantly different. Nevertheless, justified and regenerated, they are both members of the family of God and citizens of His kingdom. Among other things, the kingdom of God (realm of divine authority) in heaven and on earth has certain attributes relevant to its inclusion of human citizens. For example, it is immutable and eternal. Further, for the inclusivity of human beings, the kingdom of God on earth is 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. © 2023 James Hiatt |
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