What the new earth tells us about earth pre fall

[~candice~]

I've been chewing on something I've not really thought of before. If the new earth is a restoration to the conditions pre-fall, then scriptures about the new earth inform us about creation. Notably in the new earth, the light comes from God's glory, not from the sun etc, and we see this in Gen 1 when there is days before the creation of the sun etc. I also see that Death is destroyed in the new earth, so I am really really struggling to see death in the pre fall creation, at all. There is no hunger, or pain, or fear etc. There is something supernatural and amazing about the new earth, something we don't understand and struggle to fathom, beauty beyond description. So must be creation pre fall! If anything it is reinforcing to me, the literal nature of Gen 1-3, and just how much damage we do to it by interpreting it as anything other than literal text. It's so beautiful as it is.

What else does the new earth (read the last few chapters of Rev) tell us about creation? It seems we rarely use revelation when we discuss creation, but we should.

Gbu

[Matthitjah]

Amen, we have a blessed Hope and we tarnish it by dismissing the claims in Genesis and not using the Word to interpret the Word line upon line and precept upon precept.

[Guest shiloh357]

It is at the very least a restoration to pre-fall conditions and probably even more. We have no frame of reference for the joys that are awaiting us when we are able to sinlessly stand in God's presence and fellowship with Him face to face.

[~candice~]

Shiloh, do you see any difference between the earth pre fall, and the new earth after it's restoration? I mean, apart from the obvious, that we will be there...

[Guest shiloh357]

Shiloh, do you see any difference between the earth pre fall, and the new earth after it's restoration? I mean, apart from the obvious, that we will be there...

Yes.

1. The New (heavenly) Jerusalem will be on earth and we will be able to enter it. (Rev. 21:2, 24-27))

2. The Father and Jesus will be on the earth and will be the "temple" (Rev. 21:22)

3. It does not appear there will be any oceans or seas. (Rev. 21:1)

4. The Scriptures seem to imply that there will be no need the of sun, stars or moon and that God's glory will be all the illumination needed (Rev. 22:5). This seems to indicate that the natural passage of time (day to night) will not be present as it was prefall. Evidently, our resurrected bodies will not fatigue.

It seems to me that the post fall condition of the new earth will not only restore to prefall conditions all that was lost after Adam sinned (no more curse, pain, death, disease, decay), but will include some extra benefits as well.

[~candice~]

OK, I've been focusing on the death part (which really should put an end to speculation of death pre-fall), but I was wondering if I was missing anything else.

Here's more the line that I was thinking. Would there be gravity? New Jerusalem is a cube not a sphere. Light comes from His glory and there is no need for a sun. There is no seas in which to sustain the water cycle. It seems to me that there is a reinforcement of the idea that creation is sustained through Him, directly, in ways which current modern science will say is impossible. But rarely do I hear Christians question these things about heaven, so why is there such debate about this kind of thing pre-fall? Am I mistaken or does it seem contradictory to be comfortable with such an involved role of God on the New Earth, but not in Creation? Baffled I guess.

[OneLight]

There is something else that will be on the new earth that was not found in Genesis ... us!

Just thought I would add that little tidbit of information ...

[~candice~]

There is something else that will be on the new earth that was not found in Genesis ... us!

Just thought I would add that little tidbit of information ...

Shiloh, do you see any difference between the earth pre fall, and the new earth after it's restoration? I mean, apart from the obvious, that we will be there...

[OneLight]

There is something else that will be on the new earth that was not found in Genesis ... us!

Just thought I would add that little tidbit of information ...

Shiloh, do you see any difference between the earth pre fall, and the new earth after it's restoration? I mean, apart from the obvious, that we will be there...

Woops ... : ... sorry Bro ... I missed that.

[Guest shiloh357]

OK, I've been focusing on the death part (which really should put an end to speculation of death pre-fall), but I was wondering if I was missing anything else.

Here's more the line that I was thinking. Would there be gravity? New Jerusalem is a cube not a sphere. Light comes from His glory and there is no need for a sun. There is no seas in which to sustain the water cycle. It seems to me that there is a reinforcement of the idea that creation is sustained through Him, directly, in ways which current modern science will say is impossible. But rarely do I hear Christians question these things about heaven, so why is there such debate about this kind of thing pre-fall? Am I mistaken or does it seem contradictory to be comfortable with such an involved role of God on the New Earth, but not in Creation? Baffled I guess.

It is my opinion based on reading Revelation 21 adn 22 that we most definitely will be living in a supernatural environment for which we do not have a frame of reference. So there will be some major differences to be sure. What all of those differences will be is not something we cannot be sure.

The New Jerusalem will not be a sphere, but it is sitting on sphere (the new earth). My reading of the text indicates to me that God is renewing this earth. I do not think this earth is destroyed and a new one created in its place; rather, I believe that what we see in Revelation is a renovation of this planet and the heavens. I could be wrong on that point, but that is what I see at this time.

I think you make a good point about God Himself as the sole sustaining agent of creation in the New Earth. We read in Genesis of vegitation existing prior to the appearance of the sun. This tells us that even in the natural world, God Himself is the sustaining agent of creation. He provided the life necessary for plants to exist without the natural process of photosynthesis. This tells us that God is the sustaining agent of all of the natural processes of the world. It is apparent, though, in the New Earth, many of the natural processes we see like photosynthesis will no longer be required.

So there will be major differences, no rain, no rotations of the seasons, no planting or harvesting. I seem to get the impression we will not fatigue or need sleep. There will no day and night, only day.