Revelation 20This is a good point. A question can be raised, then, what does it mean to be "new"? New in what sense? Does it refer to a brand new earth? Does it refer to an existing earth that has been restored?
The Great White Throne Judgment
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.And there was found no place for them.
I have always believed it to be a new earth, not anything to do with this one.
In a way called a restoration of all things back to How God originally intended creation to be, but as a recreation of this earth, and heaven and earth are perfected.
Satan and the demons, fallen angels had once lived in the old heaven, fell to earth, and contaminated all of creation, all the residue and memory of that God purges out with this new creation He does.
Revelation 21
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Christ descends from Heaven
Dead in Christ rise
We rise to meet Him in the air
(note it does not say we meet Him on the earth)
The wrath of God destroys the Earth and the Heaven in a SUDDEN fiery destruction
Heaven and earth burn away down to be completely gone, scripture says they flee away from the Prescence of God and no place is found for them. That tells me they disappear. If you could look for them you would no longer find them.
All the dead are raised
Then comes the great Day of Judgment
Then comes the new earth and new heaven
But of course, somethings God has preserved, He has preserved the spirits of all beings, He preserved His words, He preserved the Holy City, the place Jesus went and built for us our true home.
Heaven and earth are just containers for the things God preserves-saves for the family of God. All the wicked go into the lake of fire.
We are given age-enduring eternal life when we believe in Christ, so we are preserved, our life is Hidden with Christ in God.
Heaven and earth are secondary to the story of salvation and relationship that God and men have.
It does say we are united as one spirit with Him.
Think about why He created the earth in the beginning? HE created it for Man; God made the earth to be inhabited.
God did not make the earth to be inhabited for angels.
God will do the same thing for the New Earth, to be inhabited. This time by man and Him too, together as one, united in full fellowship and true love.
And heaven and earth are united as one. With no division. I see them coming together.
All of these things happen fast, in one day, in a moment of time. No delays.