God's plan was finished before the foundation of the world, and it culminates in a new heaven and a new earth following the Millennium and the second and third resurrections. According to II Peter 3:10-13, the present heavens and earth will be completely burned up and dissolved, and believers look for new heavens and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells. Romans 8 explains why: the creation was purposefully made subject to decay, groans like a woman in labor, and awaits the revealing of the sons of God, when it too will be freed from corruption and receive a measure of glorification. Because God and His Family never decay or grow weary, a decaying creation stained by sin is not a suitable permanent inheritance for them, and Hebrews 1:10-12 likewise says the heavens will perish like an old garment while God remains. Since Christ is heir of all things and believers are joint-heirs, they will inherit far more than the present earth. In Revelation 21:1-6, the first heaven and earth pass away, the holy city, new Jerusalem, descends from God, God dwells with men, death, sorrow, and pain are gone, and He declares, "Behold, I make all things new... It is done." The new earth becomes God's permanent headquarters and the launching pad for all that lies beyond in His purpose.

In the unfolding of God's plan, a new creation emerges, beginning with the new man, of whom Christ is the Firstfruits, the first and preeminent. This creation will reach its fulfillment when God builds a new heaven and a new earth. Unlike the first order marked by division, this new creation is defined by unity, an environment of fellowship and peace, as God unravels the separations of the initial order. In this new heaven and new earth, as depicted in Revelation 21, God establishes a new order of things, replacing what was built in Genesis 1 and 2. The sea, once part of the land/sea pairing, is no more, as God dissolves this division by removing one element, creating a unity where all is land. This represents a profound change in the order of things, reversing the original pairing without destroying life. Further, in this new order, the pairing of day and night, created at Genesis 1:3-5, is also dissolved. There will be no night, signifying another reversal of a fundamental separation. The order of the new heaven and new earth is characterized by unification, not division, as God continues to break down walls of separation, building on a foundation of peace and unity until all is reconciled and united in fellowship with Him.

In the age to come, those who rise in the general resurrection will experience a world of peace, bounty, and prosperity, akin to the Millennium, humanity's true Golden Age. They will live long, fulfilling lives free from the fear of disaster, enjoying Millennial conditions with Christ and the firstfruits of God's Family among them. Should a problem arise, even before they call for help, they will be answered swiftly, witnessing God working on their behalf to guide them toward salvation. In the very best of conditions, they will live full and abundant lives, untouched by satan's influence, as he will have already been cast into the Lake of Fire. Moreover, they will have God's Spirit available to them, providing an unparalleled environment to accept God's offer of salvation.

The Eighth Day, following the Feast of Tabernacles, represents a time beyond the Millennium, foreshadowing the Great White Throne Judgment period when God will resurrect the vast majority of humanity to mortal life, offering them the chance to accept salvation. After this judgment, God will create a new heaven and a new earth, a pure world fit for God the Father Himself to inhabit. In this eternal state, there shall be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain, for the former things will have passed away. All who have accepted God's way will be glorified as members of the God Family, living forever, creating, beautifying, and spreading God's rule over the entire universe.

After the second death of the wicked, God creates a new heaven and earth where only righteousness dwells (II Peter 3:7-13; Revelation 21:1-5). The apostle John moves immediately from the destruction of the wicked to this new creation, and he gives a glowing account of the peace, happiness, beauty and glory that will characterize the new earth. The righteous will dwell there eternally, fulfilling the promises that the meek will inherit the earth and that the righteous will possess the land forever (Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:9, 11, 29). The earth is first burned up and turned into the final Gehenna, the Lake of Fire, in which the incorrigibly wicked are consumed. The new earth then replaces it. There the righteous live as glorified sons of God, serving their Creator eternally, and they inherit all things.