new year's eve year b - revelation

Revelation 21:1-6a 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth;

     for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,

          and the sea was no more.

²And I saw the holy city,

     the new Jerusalem,

          coming down out of heaven from God,

               prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

     “See, the home of God is among mortals.

          God will dwell with them as their God;

               they will be God’s peoples,

               and God’s own self will be with them;

          ⁴God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

               Death will be no more;

               mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

                    for the first things have passed away.”

⁵And the one who was seated on the throne said,

     “See, I am making all things new.”

Also that one said,

     “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶Then the one said to me,

     “It is done!

          I am the Alpha and the Omega,

               the beginning and the end.”

Queeries for the text:
Are the new heaven, new earth, and holy city coming down just copying the angels in Jacob's dream? 
Will earth and heaven be completely new?  Will the ones that already exist be restored?
Is the home of God already among mortals?
What happens to overpopulation of the earth if death is no more?
Are pain and sorrow the first things?  Aren't they symptoms of love? Is love the thing before the first things?
If the one on the throne is making all things new, what happens to the Ancient of Days?
If God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, who is the Beta, Gamma, Delta, and middle? [Spoiler: if you follow the second link, read the first story to find an idea]
Is it ever really done?

What are your queeries?