God's Kingdom and the Natural World

The Bible provides an answer for mankind’s social, political, and emotional problems. What about the problems of the earth itself? 

In June 2026, two 7+ magnitude earthquakes shook Venezuela, with current estimates of over 2,600 people losing their lives, over 12,000 injured, and more than 15,000 left homeless. Even as our prayers go out to those affected, the earthquakes are a sober reminder that every generation has been subject to natural disasters. Although these problems may seem overwhelming, the Bible teaches that they are not the end of the story.  

The Bible presents God's plan for the restoration of the earth as the grand climax of His purpose for mankind. Rather than abandoning the world after the fall of Adam, God has been carrying out a plan to redeem humanity, remove the effects of sin, and restore the earth to the condition He originally intended. This restoration centers on Christ's ransom sacrifice and His future Messianic Kingdom. 

“And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:20, 21)  

What was God’s Original Plan for the Earth? 

Genesis 1 records the creation of the earth, including the creation of plants and animals, culminating with the creation of man. Genesis 1:28-30 records God’s direction for Adam and Eve to multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. He also gave them dominion over all other living things on the earth, plants and animals alike. God intends for the earth to be mankind’s eternal home.

Dominion Means Control, But Man Does Not Have Control Over the Natural World. So, What Happened?

Sin disrupted mankind's ability to fulfill God's original commission to care for the earth (Genesis 3:6).  The consequence of sin fell not only on them and their offspring, but on the earth itself (Genesis 3:17). Without divine guidance on how to “subdue the earth,” mankind has been at the mercy of the very home God provided and has been a poor caretaker of the other living things that share that home.

What is God’s Plan for the Future of the Earth? Will Mankind Regain its Dominion?

• Through the sacrifice of his own perfect life, Jesus provided the ransom price for Adam. In balancing the scales of God’s justice, thrown off-balance by Adam’s sin, all mankind will be resurrected from the dead (See Acts 24:15; Romans 5:18, 19; 1 Corinthians 15:22).

  
  

• After resurrection, mankind will be taught to abandon sin and re-establish its relationship with God; a process prophetically described as a highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8-10).

  
  

• As mankind returns to harmony with God, the earth will also be renewed according to God’s beautiful purpose, a fit home for his perfected creation (Isaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 115:16).

  
  

• “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.” (Isaiah 35:1,2,6,7)

Every problem, natural or man-made, will have a perfect and everlasting solution in God’s Kingdom!