by R. L. Morrison

There is much discussion among religious people today regarding the subject of this article. There are some people who believe that the earth is eternal, that it will remain forever. No small number of these people describe, or at least tell what they think it will be like after the "return of Christ". They say it will be cleansed of sin and those who dwell on it will not be subject to death. The wild beasts will be subdued in nature. The lion will lie down with the lamb. Children will play with deadly serpents and suffer no harm. There will be no more war, nor will there be any of the suffering that war brings. Hatred, selfishness, crime and violence will all be things of the past. Instead, there will be perfect peace and security on earth. The Creator, they say, promises that in the near future it will be made possible for man to enjoy life everlasting, here on the earth. The earthly subjects of the kingdom will fulfill the command that Adam and Eve did not carry to fulfillment. These earthly members of the kingdom will "subdue the earth" making all of it a paradise.

A number of years ago, quite a number of magazines carried an advertisement which offered information to show that a coming huge whirlwind would remove all the water from all the seas on earth. Then the ocean beds would become fertile fields which men could cultivate and where they supposedly would live forever. These ads may still make the offer of the material, but I have not seen one for several years.

Another group speaks of the "end time" in this manner: "The fire that consumes the wicked also purifies the earth. Every trace of the earth is swept away. No eternal burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin." Further: "All of the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's redeemed. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages and ages of contemplation of God's handiwork. With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation, suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order, circling the throne of Deity. Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, the creator’s name is written and in all are the riches of his power displayed, and the years of eternity as they roll, will bring riches and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ."

There is much more that could be referred to, as many books have been written, all based upon a misinterpretation of scripture and mixed with the imagination and hopes of men. These ideas are widely spread and many are they who believe them to be true.

Many "modern day prophets" believe and teach that the earth is eternal, or will exist forever, and that men, people, will inhabit it forever. This is to be expected, for even in the days of the apostles, men arose questioning what the apostles taught, asking questions which showed their doubt as to what they heard, the truths they had been taught. In his second letter, the apostle referred to this, saying: "Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days, scoffers walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4). Peter rebuked them, saying they were willingly ignorant of some things, they possibly knew or had heard, but had ignored them. Then he said: "But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word (the word of God) are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (vs. 7). But he continues: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which 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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conservation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:10-12).

Perhaps some of the words in these scriptures should be defined to help to a better understanding of what Peter wrote. Consider first the word "elements". W. E. Vine says: "It is used of the substance of the material world." If this means anything at all, it means the material things of which the material world consists. And Peter says these things will melt with fervent or intense heat. Then the words "burned up": They refer to the earth and its works and signify to burn up, to burn utterly, as chaff. In 2 Peter 3:10, it refers to the earth and its works. Although men may say the fire will only burn the evil, or cleanse the earth of sin, Peter did not say so. It will utterly burn, be consumed by the intense heat of fire. The word "dissolved": "To loose, is used of the future demolition of the elements or heavenly bodies: to destroy utterly, to overthrow completely"; again W. E. Vines' definition. Men, following their own wisdom or desire, say the heavenly bodies will continue to exist, circling the throne of God. Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as he revealed the will of God, said these material things which God created in the beginning of time will be destroyed, burned up, and will cease to exist. Both cannot be true, for they contradict each other. Each of us must choose whom and what we want to believe.

"The day of the Lord" or "the day of God". This day is mentioned by Paul in 1 Thess. 5:2 and 2 Thess. 2:2. The context shows that these are references to the second coming of Christ. The context of 2 Peter 3:12 refers to the same thing. Jesus taught that he will return to judge mankind (Matthew 25:31-46). The apostles also taught of that day. See 2 Cor. 5:10, Romans 14:10-12, Gal. 6:7-8. Paul spoke of it in Acts 17:31: "He (God) hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness." The day of the Lord: This is the last day, when the judgment is set, and the material things which God created shall be utterly destroyed.

God inhabits eternity. He does not dwell in the material things he created, or the temples men build. He does not depend on them for a habitation. God is Spirit and dwells in a spiritual realm. The earth and the heavens, works of his hand, are material, and shall be burned up, will become as though they never existed. Man's spirit, in God's image, is also eternal. This means that you and I and all mankind will also live forever, not in this physical body, but in a body which we shall receive in the day of resurrection. We shall dwell in one of two places: in the presence of God, in the rest he prepared from the creation, or in the outer darkness, which is prepared for the devil and those who follow him or are his servants in this life. We choose and prepare ourselves for our eternal destiny NOW, in this life in the flesh.

Let us now examine a few passages of scripture that should be of interest as we study this subject. The Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Peter (2 Peter 3), and, after a brief description of the events of the last day, he began to encourage those to whom he wrote. This of course, includes we who are living now. "Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved (destroyed), what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (living) and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" The question Peter asks is simple: IF you believe all these things I have told you, what kind of life do you think you should now be living? We shall all be there in that day and shall appear before the judgment throne of Christ. Then he says, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be DILIGENT that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless."

When we begin to think of eternity, or try to compare a lifetime here to eternity, we cannot begin to comprehend or understand just what it will be. Our lifetime in this body would not be so much as a "period" at the end of a sentence, when compared to eternity. But we shall ALL be there, in eternity. The great question is WHERE? Will we be WITH God, or locked away from His presence? The answer is determined by WHAT we do and HOW we live our life here on earth!

Think carefully about these words. You are in the likeness of God. Your spirit, for God is Spirit, is as eternal as God Himself. You, your spirit, is not subject to ceasing to exist. This means that you will be alive, forever! But where you will be is determined by what you believe, and how you live, now.

Are YOU prepared for that day?