Current popular thought:

Randy Alcorn in his popular book entitled, Heaven, gives the idea that heaven is right here on earth – a new, improved version of the old earth. Biblical passages that are usually thought to be millennial (at least by premillennial scholars) are used to describe this rejuvenated new earth, e.g. Isaiah 60-66. Oddly enough, Randy Alcorn, a Dispensational scholar, holds similar beliefs with a Reformed professor, Anthony Hoekema. This is rare when it comes to eschatology! Hoekema also sees the new heavens and the new earth as a kind of heaven on earth.

Biblical passages which cast doubt on current popular thought:

Jesus taught: “Heaven and earth will pass away; but my words will never pass away.” This teaching would seem to imply that what follows will have nothing to do with the old heavens and the old earth – that heavenly environment will be completely different. The same conclusion can be made from the 2 Peter 3:10-13 text: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” If all creation is to be destroyed, then eternal existence in heaven must be in an environment which is totally different – not in any way like the old heaven and the old earth, cf. Revelation 21:5. Or consider Psalm 102:25-28: “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”

If our eternal heavenly existence will not have the trappings of the old heavens and the old earth, what will it be like? All biblical descriptions of heaven must be given in earthly language. We have no other. But earthly language can convey something beyond our imagination – such as streets of gold like transparent glass, Revelation 21:21. We know of no such thing on earth. 2 Corinthians 4:18 really nails it: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Therefore, the new heavens and the new earth will most likely have no resemblance to what is now temporary and visible. Heaven will be far beyond our wildest dreams.