Some say this present earth will be renewed. Others say it will be destroyed. Which is it?
First, the Psalmist wrote, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed” (Psa. 102:25-26). The foundation of the earth and the heavens will perish. They are like old clothes that wear out. People change them and put on new clothes. God will change the original Creation, but He is changeless and eternal.
Second, God said, “for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished” (Isa. 51:6). “The heavens will vanish like smoke” means they will disappear or be dissolved. The earth will grow old. People will grow old and die like the earth, but God’s salvation and righteousness will exist forever.
Third, God said, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isa. 65:17). The new heavens and earth will be a new creation not a renovation of the old ones. The old ones will be so totally destroyed that people won’t remember them.
Fourth, God said, “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain” (Isa. 66:22). God will create new heavens and a new earth that will exist forever.
Fifth, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Our Lord said heaven and earth will pass away, but His teachings are eternal.
Sixth, Peter wrote, “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Pet. 3:10). The original heavens will cease to exist, the very elements or building blocks of the Creation will melt or dissolve, and what has been built on the earth will be destroyed by fire.
Seventh, Peter wrote, “the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (II Pet. 3:12-13). There will be a fiery disintegration of the present heavens and the building blocks of the world will burn up.
Eighth, John wrote, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them” (Rev. 20:11). “Fled away” means the original heaven and earth will be moved or relocated. “There was found no place for them” means after they are moved, they won’t be retained. They will be annihilated or totally destroyed.
Ninth, John wrote, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Rev. 21:1). The new heaven and new earth won’t be a renewal of the first heaven and earth; they will replace the first heaven and earth. The new earth will be different from the present earth in that it won’t have any seas on it.
Other verses say there will be no sun and no night (Rev. 21:23-25).
It is the opinion of this writer that the new heaven and earth won’t be a renovation or renewal of the old heaven and earth. They will be a newly created heaven and earth. Some things won’t change (God’s righteousness, Jesus’ teachings, etc.), but other things will (seas, end of death, sun, etc.) will change or cease to exist.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck