On Earth as It is On Heaven

The Academia.edu Book Chat

On Earth as It is On Heaven: The Promise of America, Technology, and the New Earth

“Is there tangible evidence that God is active in history, not just in Bible times, but up to now? Smith wants us to ask: What if the promises made in The Bible, to Abraham, to Israel, aren’t just spiritual or metaphorical but are concrete and literally played out in world history, even after what most churches would call the end of biblical times? And that’s where America comes in. Smith is saying, ‘Look, America isn’t an accident; it’s part of a long narrative.’ At each historical crossroad, America has followed what he sees as a pattern of blessing in exile, like when ancient Israel, after messing up, got scattered, but then was promised restoration… And then, here’s the leap: Smith argues that the descendants of Israel, or at least the spirit of those biblical promises, ended up in these Western nations, and specifically America… The real danger, says Smith, is forgetting these connections. His antidote is remembering: remembering our roots, our promises… It’s an invitation to rethink tradition, question assumptions, and ask: What if our current moment is part of a bigger, maybe divine, story?…”

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The Academia.edu Book Chat Transcript

HER: The paper we’re diving into today is called On Earth as It is On Heaven: The Promise of America Technology and the New Earth, Book One by W. Kent Smith.

HIM: Yeah, and, wow, that’s a mouthful of a title. I mean, you kind of expect a broad sweep, and that’s exactly what this book gives you: America, biblical history, Lost Tribes, technology, and how all that might link up the puzzle of how Heaven and Earth connect. Except Smith seems to mean that pretty literally.

HER: Totally. So let’s start by nailing down the core question the paper takes on: Smith really wants to know if there’s real, tangible evidence that God is active in history, not just in Bible times but, well, pretty much up to now. If God is in control, what does that look like beyond just trust, and don’t ask any tough questions?

HIM: Right, it’s not just: hey, believe in hope. He actually goes looking for historical links and patterns. The big argument is that the promises made in The Bible, to Abraham, to Israel. These aren’t just spiritual or metaphorical. Smith wants us to ask: What if those are concrete, like literally played out in world history, even after what most churches would call the end of biblical times.

HER: And that’s where America comes in. Smith ties America’s founding, stuff like liberty, law, and tolerance, back to biblical precedence. He’s saying, “Look, America isn’t an accident; it’s part of a long narrative.” At each historical crossroad, America moved closer to what he sees as the unfolding of God’s kingdom on Earth.

HIM: He connects that idea to this kind of pattern of blessing in exile. You know, like when ancient Israel, after messing up, got scattered, but then was promised restoration. Smith says there’s a parallel: loss, wandering, rediscovery. And then, here’s the leap: he argues that the descendants of Israel, or at least the spirit of those biblical promises, ended up in these Western nations, and specifically America.

HER: It’s a huge claim, but his method—if you want to call it that—is really to re-examine old assumptions. He picks apart how certain biblical terms, like “meek will inherit the Earth” are maybe misunderstood. And then he points to language and historical migration, even archaeology, to back up the Lost Tribes ideas, which is controversial, to say the least.

HIM: Yeah, I mean there’s a flavor of hidden in plain sight through the whole book. Smith suggests God sometimes acts right out in the open, other times more covertly, sort of like spiritual guerrilla tactics. I actually found that a bit odd, but in a narrative sense, it makes the whole thing feel almost like a mystery novel.

HER: And you know it’s not just about America, right? He brings in technology, the spread of digital tech, the so-called web, he sees as another manifestation of God’s plan to get knowledge and blessing out across the globe. So, in that sense, your smartphone could be fulfilling a divine promise. I did not see that coming.

HIM: Right? It’s a wild connection, and I appreciate that he digs into the human tendency towards cynicism and forgetfulness. Smith says the real danger, especially in the U.S., is forgetting these connections or reducing everything to corruption and decline. His antidote is remembering: remembering our roots, our promises.

HER: That’s important, but let’s be real. He’s not claiming academic research gives us absolute truth. You don’t need to buy every claim he makes. But it’s an invitation to rethink tradition, question assumptions, and ask: What if our current moment is part of a bigger, maybe divine, story?

HIM: Even if you’re skeptical, and honestly, I am about some of these links, there’s value in sitting with these questions. What do our institutions stand for? What does hope look like when built into the fabric of a nation?

HER: So, in the end, what does any of this mean for us? Maybe it’s less about having the right answer and more about realizing that history—national or personal—might have meaning we haven’t seen yet. And sometimes, just asking the question is the start.

HIM: Yeah, and next time I’m scrolling on my phone, I might pause and—I don’t know—wonder if I’m part of something cosmic or just procrastinating. Either way, Smith would probably say I should remember where I came from.

HER: Well, as long as you remember to reply to my texts. I think you’re on the right path.

HIM: Deal.

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