Session 8: A Case for Postrestorationalism

Christ, as the Son of God, has always had the power to rule this world. But after he was resurrected, he ascended to his throne in heaven at the right hand of the Father, where he said he would be from then on. Christ is currently Lord-elect of this world, waiting for his Father to reveal his inauguration day at the beginning of the millennium. When he does rule the world, he will do so from his throne in heaven. As the Creator of this world, Christ does not need to return to this earth at the beginning of the millennium to establish his messianic kingdom and reign of justice. He returns after this 1,000-year restoration and then sits on his throne in heaven to judge mankind. From there he rewards his people with eternal life in his Father’s eternal kingdom and punishes unbelievers with eternal condemnation in the lake of fire.

To establish his millennial reign, Christ will rule the world from his throne in heaven. Satan will be removed, and the earth will be restored to its Edenic condition. For the departed saints to inherit the restored Edenic earth during the millennium, we will experience the first resurrection of our natural Adamic bodies. As we marry, reproduce, and fill an abundant earth, we will experience our full humanity as originally intended in the garden of Eden before the fall. After the millennium, Christ will come again on the last day of this creation at the final resurrection on Judgment Day. The saints will be raptured into eternal bodies to inherit the Father’s eternal new heavens and new earth; unbelievers will be resurrected from Hades, judged, and sent to the lake of fire. There are two resurrections because the saints are destined to inherit two kingdoms of the triune God: the Son’s restored earth for a thousand years, and the Father’s imperishable kingdom of heaven.