Hi Jeanie, the whole earth atmosphere, if we are to believe in the Genesis account was ideal and without the ramifications from sin. Pure and good. Killing did not take place on any level and Adam and Eve were vegetarians. The animals lived in harmony with eachother, and also man. The earth and the abundence that came from it would have been wonderful, containing full nutrients, complete in everything. Not only this, but they also ate from the "Tree of life". They were intended to live forever, NOT die. As God was closely united with his creation and the earth was his delight, not just for Himself, but for us.

Even after the fall, the superior health of the planet would still have made what we have today look like peanuts I'm sure. It would account for the long ages of human beings, no surprise and larger stature (there were giants in those days). As even now, in certain areas (tropical) there is a tendency for insects/plants etc to grow much bigger than others. It may sound too unusual, simply because to us, this is normal. But to them? our height and age would seem ludicrously short in comparison.

Since the beginning, the world has been groaning under the weight of our sins and anticipating the renewal, which has been promised to us in the bible. All things will indeed be restored.

Death/suffering were not God's intentions, they were the result of sin. Sin, according to God is our greatest enemy. Death/suffering are unpleasant (to say the least), but they attack the body, rather than the soul (depending on how a person faces it). They can often be a means to chasten us and remind us this life is temporary and not to rely on the temporary "pleasures" or "riches" of this world, but consider greatly the next and preparing to meet our God.

They can also cause one to think more of Christ's suffering for us on the cross and HIs wonderful promise of ressurrection.