God’s Original Plan for His People
Capstone Aim To establish—textually and practically—that Revelation unveils the full restoration of humanity’s original dominion mandate, first given in Genesis, lost in function through disobedience, restored in Christ, and consummated in aligned, eternal governance upon the earth. ⸻ I. THE CANONICAL ARC (Genesis → Revelation) Thesis: Scripture opens with delegated rule and closes with restored reign. Revelation does not replace Genesis; it completes it. • Creation: authority delegated • Fall: authority fractured • Christ: authority recovered • Revelation: authority perfected ⸻ II. FOUNDATION TEXTS — WRITTEN OUT (Original-Language Sense in Clear English) Genesis 1:26–28 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the livestock, all the earth, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 27 So God created the man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Textual force: Humanity is installed as authorized governors—image (representation) precedes rule (function). ⸻ Psalm 8:4–8 4 What is man that You remember him, and the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You cause him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7–8 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea—whatever passes along the paths of the seas. Textual force: David confirms Genesis: crowned authority, not sentimental dignity. ⸻ III. RESTORATION INAUGURATED IN CHRIST (Authority Recovered) Matthew 28:18–20 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.