The roots of an earthly kingdom begin in Genesis 1. While the passage does not mention a “thousand years,” it explains the importance of man’s rule over the earth. During creation God created man in His image and Gave Adam an earthly kingdom task:

 

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28 KJV)

 

"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 mankind 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.” (Genesis 1:26-28 NASB)

 

This reveals a strong connection between man and earth. God made man in His image and instructs man to rule over the earth and its creatures. This connection is further explained in the account of man’s creation in Genesis 2 where God formed man from the dust of the ground (see Genesis 2:7). The Hebrew word for “man” is adam and the term for the “ground” is adamah. The close connection between adam and adamah emphasizes the relationship between the man and the ground he is to rule over. 

 

God instructs man to “rule” over the creation. The Hebrew term for “rule,” which is used twice in Genesis 1:26-28, is rādāh and means “have dominion,” “rule,” or “dominate.” The term is used later of the Messiah’s future reign in Psalms 110:2: “The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule [rādāh]  thou in the midst of thine enemies.”

 

The word for “subdue” is the Hebrew term for kabas, which means “dominate” or “bring into bondage.” The term especially speaks of the work of a king (e.g., 2 Samuel 8:11). Both verbs “rule” and “subdue” are linked to dominion and show that man in created to reign in a manner that demonstrates his lordship, his domination (by force if necessary) over all creation. This is evident with man’s naming of the animals, which was demonstration of dominion (see Genesis 2:19-20). Thus, there is a royal and kingly aspect to the language of Genesis 1:26-28. 

 

The realm of this kingdom rule for man is the earth, not heaven. As Psalms 115:16 declares:

 

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.”

 

So the kingdom is an earthly kingdom, with Adam established as its king. God did not create Adam and Mankind to rule heaven or to rule the earth from heaven. Man is to rule from and over the earth with an earthly vocation. In addition to his relationship with God, Adam possessed physical and social/political authority. This was to manifest itself in every area-agriculture, architecture, domestication of animals, harnessing of energy and natural resources, and other areas. 

 

Psalms 8, which functions like a restatement or commentary on Genesis 1:26-28, also reveals man’s relationship to the creation:

 

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” (Psalms 8:4-8 KJV)

 

"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, all sheep and oxen, and also the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas." (Psalms 8:4-8)

 

The connection with Genesis 1:26-28 in Psalm 8:4-8 is clear. In Genesis 1 Adam was created in God’s image so that he could serve God by ruling and subduing creation on God’s behalf for God’s glory. Psalm 8 shows that man still possess the right to rule the creation. David writes thousands of years later in a fallen world still under the devastating effects of the curse. Yet a marred world has not removed man’s right to rule. It is not the case that with the Fall God changes his plans and makes man’s ultimate destiny heaven as opposed to earth. 

 

The truths of Psalms 8:6 concerning all things being placed under man’s feet will be picked up by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:25-28 and Ephesians 1:22 and with Paul in Hebrews in Hebrews 2:5-8. With Ephesians 1:22 Jesus’ resurrection and ascension are the reasons for God’s putting “all things in subjection under His feet.” So the authority to rule the earth is granted to Jesus by the Father and will be exercised by Jesus when He comes again (see Psalms 110:1-2). 

 

With 1 Corinthians 15:25-27 Paul quotes Psalm 8:6 regarding Jesus’ coming earthly reign. Paul in Hebrews also quotes Psalm 8:6 to reaffirm that man still has the right to rule the earth although all things are not subjected to man in this age (Hebrews 2:5-8). These passages indicate that the fulfillment of Psalm 8, which is drawing upon Genesis 1:26-28, will occur in a world to come in connection with the ultimate Man, Jesus, the last Adam (see 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; 45). 

 

So you may be asking, how do these passages relate to Genesis 1? Genesis 1 teaches that man was created to rule from and over the earth on God’s behalf. Although he is fallen and unable to accomplish this task on his own, ruling the earth is still man’s destiny, as Psalms 8 and Hebrews 2:5-8 reveal. So man’s kingly right is earthly since he is a creature placed on earth to rule from and over the earth. The millennial kingdom will highlight the successful reign of the Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45) in the reign where the first Adam was tasked but failed. When Jesus comes again He will share His reign with those who identify with Him (see Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 20:4). While Jesus is the ultimate King (Revelation 11:15), His followers are also a “kingdom” and ”they will reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10). In this way, the mediatorial reign of man on earth is fulfilled. Adam failed but success will occur with the ultimate Man, Jesus, who not only successfully reigns, He shares His reign with His people.