In the last few years I've been hearing teaching about God's redeeming (restoring) earth just as He will do with saints. Before, I haven't heard much or any of that teaching. Is it a teaching that is being reclaimed, or what? If it is a reclaimed teaching, how can we be used by God as a means of redeeming earth? God uses us as means in redeeming man, but I'm unsure about earth.
I know Revelation 21 speaks of the new heaven and earth but I have thought of earth as relating to redemption of man. I'm a little confused here, so any help will be appreciated.
I'm going to take a
guess and run with what it
seems you are asking, i.e., since man is being "redeemed" now and will be "redeemed" (glorified) at the last day... and the earth shall ultimately become the New Heaven and New Earth, then in a similar way, is the earth being "redeemed" now also? And, if so, then what is our role in bringing this to pass? Would that accurately describe your question?
Now..... if my understanding of what you are asking is totally off, then the following comments are going to be woefully irrelevant and I will apologize now for you perhaps taking the time to read them.
What immediately comes to mind is this:
Romans 8:16-23 (ASV) "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified with [him]. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body."
Notice that Paul doesn't speak of "redemption" of the earth, but rather of it being "delivered from the bondage of corruption". By this he means the travail of being subjected to the curse of Adam's transgression; both for mankind and the creation.
Thus, Paul rejoices that all the woes, pain, suffering, even death which the whole creation is having to endure at this time will be removed when the sons of God; those who are united to Christ by a true living faith, receive their new incorruptible bodies in their glorification. Likewise, the earth, aka: creation, will be delivered from the effects of that curse when it is transformed into the New Heaven and New Earth.
Notice, that even those who have received the "first fruits", i.e., the indwelling Holy Spirit, groan under the weight of sin's consequences, NOW... and await with great anticipation for their deliverance from it. Likewise, the creation (earth) must wait until that last day for its deliverance. There is no progressive deliverance during this interim period. For the truth is that things shall become worse and worse until Christ returns. Paul describes this period of time as one of "travail", i.e., to be empathic in regard to the pain being experienced in anticipation of deliverance. In short, the Church and its members are not called upon to "redeem" this earth, for it will be burned with fire and all will be destroyed (2Pet 3:10-12). And only thereafter will the New Heavens and New Earth come to pass.
So again, if the above doesn't address your question, then please accept my apologies and do try and explain what it really is you are asking.
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