We need to gain God’s perspective in His creation of man and His plans for mankind. One question we should ask is this; “What is God’s purpose in having “Israel” and having “the Body of Christ”?

Consider first that between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 Satan had already been ‘cast out of God’s highest heaven’ to lower heavens (cf. Isa. 14:12, Eph 2:2, Lk. 10:18-19). The original perfectly created earth had already fallen to Lucifer and today he reigns on the recreated earth as “the God of this world” (2 Cor 4:4), “the Prince of the Power of the air (atmosphere)” (Eph. 2:2). When Jesus came, he did not dispute Satan’s authority over the world (Lk. 4:6-7). Note below how the earth had already become a water-covered empty waste as result of God’s very first judgment waters in Genesis 1:2. This was long before Noah’s judgment waters.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ² And the earth was [became] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Gen. 1:1-2

Satan had brought God’s judgment upon the original earth (v2). God then recreated earth and created Adam, intending for mankind to recover, “replenish,” “subdue” and “have dominion,” over the earth as God’s agent or representative. Adam was created to reign over everything in God’s stead, including every “creeping thing”– implying over the Serpent and his angels. (See “Serpent” in Gen. 3:1, 14; Rev. 12:4, 7, 9; Lk 10:19)

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV)

The word, “replenish,” as used in v28 of the KJV clearly tells us the earth had already been occupied before Adam was created. There are many more proofs of this in other Scriptures (e.g. Jer. 4:23-28, 2Pet 3:5-6).

Dominion Lost: Fallen Lucifer, in the form of “the Serpent” quickly deceived and usurped God’s “man.”

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ² And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ³ But of the fruit of the tree (of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, Gen. 2:9) which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ⁵(The Serpent replied) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, … knowing good and evil. ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:1-3, 5-6 (KJV)

Thus, they believed the Serpent instead of God’s one requirement. Thereby Satan’s Sin-Spirit came into Adam, usurping his lineage - all mankind. This thwarted God’s plan for man, for a time. Note below the words “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit… IN” – the Serpent’s spirit was now in man’s flesh!

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh IN the children of (Adam’s) disobedience:” Ephesians 2:2-3 (KJV)

How would God now recover of “the heaven and the earth,” since man had become corrupted? Gods wisdom is unsearchable, inscrutable, mysterious (Rom. 11:33), but today we have the revelation of His written word.

Dominion Regained:

Scripture clearly states: “⁸(for)… this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1Jn 3:7-8b) and that Jesus “redeemed” man and His creation. God had told Adam and Eve that her “seed (Jesus)” would ‘crush the head of the Serpent.’ (Gen. 3:15).

But when will God fully recover “the heaven and the earth”? This will occur “In the Dispensation of The Fulness of Times.”

“That In The Dispensation of The Fulness of Times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” Ephesians 1:10 (KJV)

Thus, at the end of the ages both “the heaven and the earth” will be fully recovered, purged, and Christ will reign over them both forever.

1) A Believing “remnant” of Israel, Jesus’ “little flock” (Luke 12:32). will co-reign with Christ on the new earth … forever (Rev. 5:10, 20:6)

2) Several years before Israel believes and is saved to co-reign on earth, “the body of Christ” will be Raptured to heaven. Its members will be resurrected to co-reign with Christ “in the heaven,” forever.

“For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)
“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (our body) were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1 (KJV)