New Heaven and New Earth, original plan?

Question

I'm reading Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea."
At this point G has redeemed man back to Himself and is giving man a place to live.

(1) Is this new place to live, the "new heaven and new earth", G's original plan for man before he sinned?

(2) I can understand needing a new earth since this one is contaminated with sin. But, a "new heaven" seems to say new planets? Why is that necessary?

(3) Is there a big time gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2?

Wow! Thank all of you for answering my question with such sincere, thought provoking answers. They have made me view some long held beliefs differently. Thanks.

Answer 1

IF THERE IS ANY AWARD FOR BEST QUESTION IN THIS CATEGORY, YOU WIN IT, HANDS DOWN.

Bingo! There is such a big gap between Genesis 1:1, and Genesis 1:2, that you would hardly believe it. Contained in that first verse of Scripture, is an entire earth age. You can read of all three earth ages in 2peter.
Many people think that when they read 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth", that the verses that immediately follow it is a description of that creation. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you read verse 2, in the manuscripts it is NOT "and the earth WAS" -its "and the earth BECAME VOID AND WITHOUT FORM".
Genesis does not describe the very first creation of the earth; it describes God rejuvinating the earth to ready it for this flesh age. The earth itself is eons and eons in age. How did the earth "become void and without form?". The last earth age was when Satan rebelled and caused a great war. A third of our people followed him. Another large amount of people stayed neutral and didn't care to even take sides - they didn't care as long as it didn't affect them (whats new, huh?). Then there was another group - who stayed loyally on the side of God throughout that war, which in the manuscripts is called the "Katabole", and is usually translated in your Bible as "foundation of the world", but what it actually means is "the overthrow of Satan".
Anyway, when Satan was defeated, God could have destroyed that one-third that followed satan, but what does it take to kill one of your own? That you love? So instead, God destroyed that earth age - not the terafirma - the age. The earth became void and without form ("tuhu", which means utter, absolute destruction - nothing survived at all). When you start reading Genesis, thats where you are, at God refurbishing the terafirma - things had to be set up and ready to go, because God decreed that each soul would come thru this second (now) earth age in order to make an ultimate choice of who they would follow:
Christ or Satan. In order for this plan of salvation to work, two things had to be true:
First, each would have to be given free will to choose WITH GOD PROMISING NOT TO INTERFERE with individual choice, and second, there would have to be a comparitor. There isn't much use in being able to choose between good and good, is there? That is why Satan hasn't been executed - he was judged after the war and condemned to perish, but God is using him as our comparitor. When God is done with him, he perishes.
So understand this is not a new earth or a new heaven, but a new earth AGE and a new Heaven AGE. The ages have changed, but never the earth, the terafirma.

Do you see why all those people who call themselves "creationists" think that the earth is 6000 years old, but yet we find fossils that are thousands of years old?
Its because those creationists are not qualified to even speak. They do not understand what they are reading. The Bible in no way states this earth is only 6000 years old, nor does it say that in Genesis that is Gods original creation of the earth. The Bible as a whole, constantly says otherwise.
When Christ returns, there will be a 1000 yr. period of teaching and disipline for those who have not had the opportunity to learn the truth in this age. After that period, God send Satan, his Angels, and all those who don't make it, into the lake of fire to be turned to ashes from within. Then the lake of fire itself is done away with. No forever
torture in a pit of fire for anyone.
After that event, God will destroy this age, and bring in the third earth age, which we call "eternity". Thats the plan.

You will notice in your answers that people are very confused with their timelines. you will note that they believe that the Garden of Eden event went on BEFORE satans rebellion. Most Christians don't understand the three earth ages. Satan rebelled way, way before the Garden event. Understanding the timeline for all these events is critical to the understanding of the entire bible.

Answer 2

At the very real risk of being told i am changing the meaning of the word or truth, i will tell you what it means. It means there is a new heaven and new earth "age" or time span. We had a first earth age that started in the beginning and lasted until Adam and eve. The second earth "age" which we are in now will last from Adam and eve until 1000 years after the return of the real Christ, (satan comes for 5 months before the real Christ returns). The third earth age lasts from after the 1000 years unto eternity. And yes the earth will be remodeled and the seas dried up be cause God's kingdom will be on earth and all those in heaven will join us here on earth so we will need more land as there will be twice as many people to accommodate . Yes there was a time before Adam and eve and even Christ said it has been kept secret since the foundation of the world in other words since before Adam and eve.

Answer 3

(1) Yes this is Gods original plan for man, God is omniscient which means all knowing, so in light of His understanding this would be the original plan, not a back up.
(2) It is necessary because God is making all things new, the new things will not remember the former. What that means is that we in Heaven will have know remembrance of the sin and struggles that took place on this Earth. This doesn't mean that we will be any dumber in Heaven than we are on Earth, we will remember those we have had relationships with if they are in Heaven with us, we just won't remember those absent from the Heavenly congregation. It wouldn't be very Heavenly if we were mourning the loss of everyone we knew who didn't except Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The purpose of this renewal of all things on Earth and in Heaven, is to remove the knowledge and presence of sin. Remember Revelation says that Satan is constantly going before the throne of God and accusing the brethren. There will obviously be no more of that.
(3) This question is a bit trickier. For the most part it depends on who you talk to. I tend to look at the creation account as 7 literal days (despite what carbon dating might show). This period of time (if any) between Gen. 1:1 and 1:2 doesn't seem to me to hold any water in light of scripture. I don't believe that at that time there was any corruption or Heavenly war going on or taking place.
Ezekiel 28:11-19 Is an interesting passage. It appears to be written to the King of Tyre, and I'm sure for the most part it is. However is we look closely at this passage it would appear that it is not referring to the King of Tyre, but the Prince of the air (Satan). It places him in the garden of Eden (interesting), calls him the anointed cherub who covers, places him in the mountain of God. All of these descriptions are past tense, historically the King of Tyre was not turned into ashes at this point, so what do we do with this passage? What we see is Lucifer walking around the garden of Eden in an unfallen state, prior to iniquity being found in him, later being cast down to the earth.
So the time gap theory doesn't fit here because we don't see Satan fall until after the garden is created, this could not have taken place until after the 7 day creation period.

Please don't take my word for it, be a Barean (acts 17:11) search the scriptures daily for yourself trust that God will give you understanding through His Holy Spirit.
Blessings!

Answer 4

1. I hope so.

2. There are various levels of heaven. Paul said he was caught up into the "third heaven" in 2 Corinthians 12:2.

Our atmosphere would also be considered one of the heavens....pollution will be destroyed.

And I can see how that would mean the moon also - astronaut things left behind. Probably for as far out as man has touched.

3. I can't see how there is a big gap between those 2 verses. Presuming there is leaves a lot open for man to fill in with non-sense.

Answer 5

That I realize is established on a Jehovahs witness notion, and I'm aware of all devout ideals I discovered approximately in Religious Tolerance. But the Jehovah Witnesses consider that the one hundred forty four,000 are the tenants of the best Government of God. But the relaxation of the arena might be stored, however live to tell the tale the newly restored earth. But as for the Purpose of the earth, the earth will final eternally similar to the Heavens. But the top of the present state of the earth might arise at a few factor within the Future, which we dont realize. But once they say a brand new heaven and earth, it approach by some means the Heavens and earth will mix in a few mysterious means. It is recounted in Isaiah that a best executive will rule. Since so much governments had a few flaws. And Animals and humans might reside aspect by means of aspect, and carnivorous animals might grow to be herbivores. And it additionally states that each one construction will probably be raised from dying, and their our bodies might be restored into new flesh(Not zombie flesh). And Sickness and agony might finish. But it additionally states that animals are nonetheless used for our meat, however each animal that's killed brings fourth a few variety of agony to the earth. But we've a idea, Simular to The Simpsons episode "Simpsons bible experiences" in which the Pig offers Homer(Adam) ribs as a trifling present. So it states that we will be able to get meat with out killing an additional animal. And additionally poverty might additionally stop to exist. And among the eyesores that destroyed the earth might be destroyed.

Answer 6

God is going to recreate the earth. Also the heavenly city will descend to earth and is called the "New Jerusalem". The new heaven and earth could simply mean new earth and sky type of thing. But I am not sure. I should check up on that. About #3 it indeed could be. I believe there was a chunk of rock covered in water floating in space. This was to be used as the starting point for all life. It could have been sitting there for eons, but we don't really know.

Answer 7

(1) I don't think this was the original plan, as the Garden of Eden was going well before the fall.

(2) I would say the existing planets have been contaminated with sin polution.

(3) I think there may have been. Others who I respect think not.