God's Work with Planet Earth

When Bible prophecy is misinterpreted, it often has to do with timing. Why would the Jews think the Messiah would come in power and glory, free them from the Romans, and set up an earthly kingdom? Because the Old Testament scriptures they had describe exactly that. But they also described the Messiah coming as the lamb sacrificed for the sins of the world.

To be fair, the OT scriptures do not say “when the Messiah comes the first time, it will be as a lamb. And when He comes the second time, it will be as a conquering king.” Prophecies for both are there, but the timing wasn’t as clear as we can see now with hindsight and books like Revelation and Daniel together. Here’s a couple examples:

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.” Isaiah 53:7-8

This clearly describes what happened at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as shown in the New Testament gospels. As John the Baptist proclaimed, Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). But compare that with this prophecy, also from Isaiah:

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever…” Isaiah 9:6-7

Christ was born into the world as a human at Jesus’ first coming, but He will reign over the earth in a governmental sense, after His second coming. Notice the bolded words in the passage above.

The Sequence of World Empires

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel both saw a vision of a statue made of different metals, representing the sequence of kingdoms in world history. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome… But at the time Jesus was born, the legs of iron representing pagan Rome were still in power. Rome had not yet fallen, and the divided kingdoms of iron and clay, described in Daniel 2:41-43 had not risen yet.

But AFTER the kingdoms of iron and clay, which we can observe in the world today, this is what will happen:

“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Daniel 2:44

• Who are “these kings”? verse 43 says they are the kingdoms of iron and clay (some strong, some weak) who are not able to join or ally into a single kingdom, like the previous empires. These are the kingdoms we see in the world today.
• Who sets up the final kingdom that will never be destroyed? “the God of Heaven” does.
• Do humans facilitate the coming of this Kingdom? “and the kingdom shall not be left to other people”. So that’s a no. The Kingdom starts in our hearts now in a spiritual way, and becomes a literal kingdom on earth later.
• Will any kingdoms currently in our end times world remain? “The stone cut out of the mountain without hands” (verse 45) (this not accomplished by humans) “shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms”. So even the United States and Israel will be crushed by Jesus’ coming when He begins to establish His future forever kingdom.

Some Christians have been deceived into thinking they will prepare a kingdom for God to inhabit. Instead, the physical, literal Kingdom will be set up by God, and humans who have chosen Him will be citizens of the Kingdom He establishes.

The Kingdom is first established in the hearts of people who are being saved, and He will involve them in the Kingdom He establishes Himself. Why? Because God does not save kingdoms, churches, or people groups, He saves individuals who trust and follow Him.

“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21

“…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33

Jeremiah 31:31-33 is repeated in Hebrews 8:8-10 in the New Testament. So God’s intent did not change from Jeremiah’s time to the Apostolic Age. The “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:8) is God writing His law in the hearts and minds of His people, in preparation for this coming literal Kingdom.

“the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” – Daniel 2:35

This is referring to Jesus earthly reign. After carefully reading Revelation 20 and 21, it should be clear that this verse in Daniel is talking about the New Earth and New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21, which God will bring after the 1,000-year Millennium.

What about Timing?

This is where many Christians get confused. Even though God Himself will establish a kingdom that lasts forever, and it “shall not be left to other people”, somehow they have been deceived into thinking a kingdom will be prepared and set up by humans on earth, so that Christ can return. And they believe they will do this during a 1,000 year period.

But what’s going on with Planet Earth during the Millennium described in Revelation 20?

“He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;” Revelation 20:2

“…they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:6

“…the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished…” Revelation 20:5

1.) The righteous have been taken to Heaven to be with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:17, John 14:2-3)

2.) The wicked are dead for a thousand years

3.) Satan the dragon is bound to the lifeless Earth with no one to tempt or deceive.

There’s no earthly kingdom during this time period. But at the end of this 1,000 year period, God will literally bring Heaven to Earth.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God…” Revelation 21:2

Jesus’ forever Kingdom

Here are some prophecies about how Jesus’ forever Kingdom will be established:

“which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:20-21

“Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-26

• This world was originally spoken into existence by the Creator God, it was hijacked through deception and rebellion, but Jesus Christ is going to reclaim it and take it back.
• He will put an end to ALL rule, authority, power in this world (meaning humans cannot set up an earthly kingdom for Him to come rule)
• As described in Revelation 20, even death and the grave will be destroyed, and as Jesus begins His earthly reign, only life will remain – no death

Here’s an Old Testament prophecy which describes Jesus’ future, literal, earthly reign. Just remember, He should be Lord of our hearts in a spiritual sense now. God reigns in the hearts of those who will accept Him now, and over the whole world after Jesus returns.

“Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2:2-4

That’s a lot of words, but what are the takeaways?

• “the LORD’s house” = the New Jerusalem
  • “My Father’s house” John 14:2
  • “and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Psalm 23:6
• All nations across the New Earth will flow to Jesus’ capitol
  • “And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.” Revelation 21:24
  • “For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the LORD, … “All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” Isaiah 66:22-23
• Christ will judge between nations, and teach them how to interact peacefully, without warring and fighting
• Everyone who is saved will be willing and eager to learn “His ways” and “walk in His paths”.
• Even in this New Earth Kingdom, God’s “law” will still be important

The Prophet Jeremiah was also given a prophecy about Jesus.

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.” Jeremiah 23:5

This prophecy is interesting because Jesus was born into the tribe of Judah, and He is a descendant of King David. But the second half describes a literal earthly reign which hasn’t happened yet.

“I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever.” Micah 4:7

Mount Zion, or Mount Moriah, is the temple mount in Jerusalem. In the New Earth, there will be a New Jerusalem, God’s holy city. And the prophets got the same message: this kingdom will last forever.

“…The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:14

The buildings and infrastructure of “the kingdoms of this world” will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10), but people from those kingdoms will be saved and become part of Jesus’ Kingdom.

“And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:33

• Angel speaking to Mary before Jesus was born

“Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.”

“The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’” Daniel 7:14, 27

Notice that this final eternal kingdom is established by “the God of Heaven” (Daniel 2:44) and THEN “given to the people”. Humans will not set up a kingdom that God will then inhabit, but they will be part of it.

It’s also interesting that the “nations of those who are saved” and “the kings of the earth” (Revelation 21:24) will all serve and report to the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16). We saw the same prophecy in Isaiah 2:2-4 above.

Who Rules the World now?

“…the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” 1 John 5:19

“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30

“of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:11

Jesus’ was telling His disciples about the “ruler of this world” being judged (convicted of crimes and punished). It’s extremely important for humans to understand:

• The world is full of violence, hate, destruction, death
  • not because God is angry or does not care
  • but because Satan is being allowed to show his true colors, and what happens when he’s in charge
• Christians (those loyal to Christ) are essentially behind enemy lines until Jesus returns

See post “Behind Enemy Lines” https://godsworkwithplanetearth.blog/2026/03/01/behind-enemy-lines/

This is precisely why Christ is returning a second time to reclaim the world He created from the grasp of the deceiver.

Conclusion

There are a lot of scripture passages in this post, but they agree that Jesus will replace all earthly rulers. And then there will be earthly rulers of the nations, but they will all serve God.

It’s also clear from God’s Word that God is the one who sets up and establishes the final and forever kingdom. According to prophecy, all earthly kingdoms will become like dust and be blown away by a wind without a trace. (Daniel 2:35)

When will this happen? Jesus will come a second time and bring an end to earthly kingdoms, and He stated multiple times that no one knows exactly when He will come. But after the 1,000 year period described in Revelation 20, He will return with the saints to Planet Earth a third and final time.

His purpose will be the resurrection, judgement, and destruction of the wicked, and then He’ll re-create the world – “new heavens and new earth” and establish a kingdom that will last forever.