He is not asking about the cross. The claim was made that the earth itself STILL needs to be redeemed and that the tribulation is the price paid to redeem the earth. So far there has been no answer as to who needs to be paid or the fact that if that is true why would the earth itself have to pay the price. The idea that the earth must redeem itself is wrong in light of what Christ has done on the cross. It violates the very fact that It Is Finished.
Well, I haven't followed everything. But we know that when Adam sinned all of creation was put under a curse. That is when thorns and thistles began to grow, and the second law of Thermodynamics came into operation in general.
Christ came to redeem us from the curse of the law. To those that trust Christ as Savior we are totally redeemed but the image of God is only partially restored.
We still wait for the redemption of our bodies. And not until Christ comes will our bodies be redeemed and, only then will we be able to say that we have been restored back into the image of God, or "the image of Christ."
After the Tribulation, a time of judgment, Christ will lift the curse from the earth. The Bible indicates that even the earth itself awaits for the coming of the Lord.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
--All the world, God's creation, groans and travails in pain, even up until this day.
Adam was the first man and brought disobedience.
Christ was the last man and brought righteousness.
Rom 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Christ paid the penalty. When He comes to set up his kingdom he will restore it as it once was in the Garden of Eden. Most of the promises are in the OT.