| The present heaven and earth are but transients. Six times are we
reminded that they shall pass by (Matt.5:18; 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; 21:33; 2 Peter
3:10) and the seventh time we are told, "I have seen a new heaven and a new earth,
for the former heaven and the former earth have passed by; and the sea is no more"
(Rev.21:1). They have flown from the face of the enthroned and no place has been found for
them (Rev.20:11). With this agree the words in Peter's second epistle. After reminding his
readers of the destruction of a previous heaven and earth by water, he tells them that the
present would be destroyed by fire. God's word had established them from of old and
surrounded them by the element which was used for their destruction. But now the same word
has constituted them a store house of fire towards the day of judgment and destruction of
godless men. Then the elements shall be melted by the force of the fire and the works it
contains shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:10). The "earth" really means the dry land (Gen. 1:10). It does not include the sea. The waters which engulfed the earth were not there originally (Gen. 1:2; Job 38:8-11). Jehovah formed it to be inhabited (Isa 45:18). So it will be in the new creation (Rev. 21:1). There was an earth before the present: there shall be one after this earth has vanished. So there are three earths. One, as originally created, lasted till the disruption spoken of in Gen. 1:2. The second is the present earth. The third will be inaugurated with the new creation (Isa.65:17; Rev.20:11). Three eons and three worlds are staged upon the present earth. It lasts "until the eon" or as we are accustomed to saying "forever" (Lev.49:26; Deut.33:15; Psa.78: 69; 104:5; Ecc.1:4). |
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