A In Genesis 1 the literal sense of Heaven an Earth is described in creation but elsewhere Heaven an Earth is described in terms metaphorically or figuratively if you will. The Bible tells us the Earth will never end (Ecclesiastes 1:4 and many more) so, where it says "till heaven and earth pass away", (Matthew 5:18, 24:35) cannot be the literal Earth. And why does the actual Heaven need to pass away, Is it not good enough for God? Didn't He say it was good? (Genesis 1:31, Exodus 20:11, Exodus 31:17, Psalm 19:1,2)

B Earth is a term often used in the Bible to address people rather than soil, elements or minerals. In Deuteronomy 32:1 God is speaking to Israel through Moses and says "Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth." Do you see that? Let's make sure we understand this. Let's look at Isaiah 1:2. He clearly is not talking to the actual Heaven and Earth He says Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, Sons I have reared and brought up, But they have revolted against Me. So, In Isaiah 1:1-2 God is talking to Israel. He calls them heavens and earth. In Isaiah 24:3-6 - God refers to Israel as the earth. He says, "The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. In Isaiah 24:19-20 - The earth fades away "Notice how many times God referred to Israel as the "earth." This symbolic language is speaking of the destruction of the people of Israel. There are many more verses showing that Heaven and Earth are not the actual Heaven and Earth. As we can see, throughout the Old Testament God referred to Israel as "Heavens and Earth."

C If the destruction of heaven and earth were to be taken literally in all of the Old Testament, that would mean, heaven and earth were destroyed many of times. This language is not literal. I have to stop for a moment and just say: The first century Jews knew of two Ages. The the Mosaic Age and the Messianic Age also called the Old Covenant and New Covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31f) And the only place where an Age is predicted to come to an end comes from Daniel 12. "Age and world" will be in another study. The point I want to make is, God created a covenantal "heavens and earth" when he chose Israel to be His people. Lets read Isaiah 51:16 "I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, 'You are My people.'"

D Isaiah13:13 reads Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place At the fury of the LORD of hosts In the day of His burning anger. This prophecy was the destruction of Babylon by the Medes, and God destroyed their heaven and earth. Remember this was the Day of the Lord back in 539 BC, and Heaven and Earth were destroyed. The Bible tells us Heaven and Earth have been destroyed many times. And when the Bible mentions the earth, it is often used to refer to a kingdom not the actual world.

E "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus had prophesied Heaven and Earth would pass away when the law and the prophets were accomplished. This was the passing of the Old Covenant and brought in the New.

F There was a time when the two Covenant's overlapped. It was from Pentecost 30AD to the destruction of the Temple, 70AD. Today, there are some that still want to keep the Old Covenant and the New Covenant at the same time. One of the reasons Jesus made a Coming was to destroy the Temple so they would stop sacrificing animals. After the cross there were Unbelieving Jews and Pharisees STILL trying to live in the Old Covenant. They rejected Jesus and wanted a physical kingdom for Israel. Jesus rejected the idea. He wanted them to STOP! He was doing this so that the Old Covenant law would stop being practiced and be fulfilled.

G To understand Bible prophecy, we need to know, in 70 AD the destruction of Jerusalem ended the old covenant. In this war, the Roman Army wiped out Jerusalem and the Jewish temple, killing over a million Jews. This is when sacrifices for sin ended forever. The end came in 70 AD, 40 years after Jesus' crucifixion. Israel and the old covenant will come to an end, but my words will not come to an end. The Bible tells us, Heaven and earth in the first century AD, was Israel and the old covenant.

H The last and final time when Heaven and Earth passed away was when the Temple fell. If we look closely at the Jerusalem Temple we will notice that the Temple itself symbolizes the Cosmos. And the end result was the Jews viewed it as Heaven and Earth. The molten washbasin was called the sea and the rim may represent the earth by being one circular piece which the tank rested on the backs of 12 bronze bulls signifying the direction of a compass the four corners of the world. (1 Kings 7:23-26).

I To the Jews, when the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed, heaven and earth was destroyed. First century Jewish historian Josephus states the Jews looked upon the Jerusalem Temple as "heaven and earth"

34Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Matthew 24:34-35 Jesus prophesied that His generation would see the end of the Old Heaven and Earth.

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17 God said there would be a New Heavens and Earth after the Mosaic Heavens and Earth passed.

J But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 7,13 Peter welcomed the destruction of the Old Covenant and start of the New Covenant.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1 John saw the New Heaven and Earth replace the Old Mosaic Heaven and Earth.

K The foundations of the New Jerusalem are the "twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Revelation 21:14). Paul, in Ephesians 2:18-22,uses identical language about citizenship in the "household of God" as having been "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets."

Ephesians 2:18-22 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Paul and the writer of Hebrews clearly show, we are in the New Earth.