Introduction

† Most people have been taught to see the story as Israel vs the church, but that's not the story the Bible tells.
† The real issue isn't about God replacing one group with another, it's about God restoring what was lost in the beginning.
† If we follow the text from Genesis to Christ, we'll see one consistent purpose, restoring mankind to rule under God.

Genesis 1:26-28

Then God said, "Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth." So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

† From the very beginning, man's purpose was dominion under God, not just existence, but rulership.
† This wasn't about a nation yet, this was about humanity as a whole.
† The Kingdom idea starts here, man ruling God's world under God's authority.

Psalm 8:4-6

What is man that You think of him,
And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
You have him rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put everything under his feet,

† David is looking back at Genesis and recognizing man's intended role.
† Man was crowned with glory, not shame, with authority, not defeat.
† But by David's time, that dominion clearly wasn't fully realized, something had gone wrong.

Hebrews 2:6-9

But someone has testified somewhere, saying,

"What is man, that You think of him?
Or a son of man, that You are concerned about him?
You have made him for a little while lower than angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor;
You have put everything in subjection under his feet."

† Hebrews directly connects Psalm 8 to Christ, showing that what man failed to fulfill, Jesus did.
† It even says we do not yet see all things under man, meaning Adam's purpose wasn't completed.
† But now we see Jesus, the true man, the one who fulfilled mankind's calling.

The Failure of Adam

† Adam was given dominion, but he failed through disobedience.
† Instead of ruling creation, he fell under it, bringing death and corruption.
† The problem wasn't just sin, it was the loss of man's role under God.

Exodus 19:5-6

Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

† Israel was called to be a kingdom, not just a nation, they were supposed to represent restored humanity.
† They were given the Law to reflect God's rule on earth.
† But like Adam, they failed in their calling.
† Israel wasn't the end goal, they were the pattern showing what restored humanity should look like, but they failed just like Adam.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

† Israel didn't fix the problem, they proved it was universal.
† The Law revealed failure, it didn't produce dominion.
† Humanity still needed a true representative.

1 Corinthians 15:45-47

So also it is written: "The first man, Adam, became a living person." The last Adam was a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second Man is from heaven.

† Jesus is called the last Adam, not just another man, but the fulfillment of man.
† Where Adam failed, Christ succeeded.
† He restored what humanity was meant to be.

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

† This is dominion language, the same authority man was meant to have from the beginning.
† Christ didn't abandon the plan, He fulfilled it.
† The Kingdom is the restoration of that authority under Him.
† Ephesians 2:5-6 shows we were made alive together with Christ and seated with Him, meaning the restored dominion is a present reality, not a future hope.
† Daniel 7:13-14, 27 shows the Son of Man receiving the Kingdom and then the saints possessing it, confirming that the dominion given in Genesis is fulfilled through Christ and shared with His people.

Conclusion

† The Kingdom isn't about replacing Israel with the church.
† It's about fulfilling what Adam was meant to do and what Israel pointed toward.
† In Christ, humanity's purpose is restored, not as a political nation, but as a people under His rule.
† This ties creation, Israel, and fulfillment into one complete story.

Historical References

† Irenaeus wrote that Christ became what we are in order to restore what Adam lost, showing early recognition of Christ as the second Adam.
† Justin Martyr connected Psalm 8 to Christ, teaching that the dominion given to man is fulfilled in Him.
† Eusebius wrote that the Kingdom of Christ was not earthly like Israel, but the fulfillment of what Israel pointed to.

How It Applies To Us Today

† We're not waiting for dominion to be given, it's already been given in Christ.
† Our identity isn't tied to a nation, it's tied to the restored humanity in Him.
† We live under His authority now, participating in the fulfilled Kingdom.

Q & A Appendix

Q: Isn't the Kingdom about Israel being restored as a nation?
A: The Bible shows the purpose was always bigger than one nation. Genesis 1:26-28 shows dominion was given to mankind, not just Israel. Israel pointed to that purpose, but Christ fulfilled it.

Q: How do we know Psalm 8 is about Christ?
A: Hebrews 2:6-9 directly applies Psalm 8 to Jesus, showing He is the one who fulfills what man was meant to be.

Q: Did Israel fail completely?
A: Yes, Romans 3:23 says all have sinned. Israel's failure showed the need for Christ, not that God's plan changed.

Q: What does it mean that Jesus is the last Adam?
A: 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 shows Jesus succeeded where Adam failed, becoming the life-giving source of restored humanity.

Q: Isn't dominion something we're still waiting for in a future reign?
A: No, Matthew 28:18 says all authority has already been given to Christ, and Ephesians 2:5-6 shows we are already seated with Him. The dominion mandate has been fulfilled in Christ and shared with His people now.

Q: Where does Israel fit into the story if they weren't replaced?
A: Israel served as the covenant people who displayed the pattern of restored humanity, Exodus 19:5-6, but their failure showed the need for a perfect representative, fulfilled in Christ.

Q: Does this mean the promises to Israel were canceled?
A: No, it means they were fulfilled. Luke 24:44 shows all things written in the Law and the Prophets were fulfilled in Christ.

Q: If Christ fulfilled dominion, how do we participate in it?
A: Ephesians 2:5-6 shows we are made alive and seated with Him, meaning we share in His rule now, not in a future earthly system.

Q: Why didn't Adam and Israel succeed if that was God's plan?
A: Their failure revealed the need for a perfect man. Romans 5:18-19 shows that through one man came condemnation, and through one man came righteousness.

Q: Is the Kingdom physical or spiritual?
A: John 18:36 shows Christ's Kingdom is not of this world, meaning it isn't a political nation but a restored rule under God.

Q: How does Daniel 7 connect to this?
A: Daniel 7:13-14, 27 shows the Son of Man receiving the Kingdom and then the saints possessing it, which is fulfilled in Christ and His people.

Q: What was actually restored in Christ?
A: Man's original purpose, dominion under God, Genesis 1:26-28 fulfilled through the last Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47.

† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.

Source Index

† Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 8:4-6, Hebrews 2:6-9, Exodus 19:5-6, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:45-47, Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 2:5-6, Daniel 7:13-14, 27
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies; Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho; Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History