But doesn’t Romans 8 speak of a new creation? Futurists believe that all of creation will be destroyed and remade in a perfect way after the end of the age. Romans 8:19-22 is often cited in support of this idea:
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:19-22).
The creation (ktisis) spoken of here is not the non-human creation of Genesis 1, this creation (ktisis) is limited to mankind alone as is the case in Mark 16:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:17:1
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (ktisis) (Mark 16:15).”
“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (ktisis); what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)!”
The fact that the saints are said to be a new creation in Christ is fulfilled on earth in a covenantal sense. However, these verses are ultimately fulfilled literally at the resurrection of the dead to heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 explicitly indicates that the saints are to receive glorified heavenly, not eternal earthly, bodies at the resurrection. See the preterist commentary on 1 Corinthians 15 and How the Resurrection Bodies of the Saints Perfectly Mirror Jesus’ Resurrection Body after His Ascension Into Heaven Fulfilling Philippians 3:20-21 and ALL Other Bible Verses on the Resurrection!!!. Thus the new creation that is liberated from the bondage of decay mentioned in Romans 8:19-22 is ultimately fulfilled in the resurrection of the saints to heaven. It is in heaven, not on earth, that the departed saints receive glorified, incorruptible heavenly bodies. These heavenly bodies are the new creation that is free from the bondage of decay mentioned in Romans 8:19-22. Thus Romans 8:19-22 is ultimately fulfilled in heaven at the resurrection, not in a recreated earth.