New Heavens and New Earth

“The elements (that) shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.' (2 Peter 3:10)

Old Testament Details About the Earth's Destiny

In contrast many references occur in the Old Testament about the last days when the Lord will judge the nations from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:2-4) and following a major war, the Lord will dwell in Zion and Judah 'shall dwell forever.'(Joel 3:17-20) Those who are left of the nations that fought against Israel 'shall come up from year to year to worship Yahweh'. (Zechariah 14:16) There are many other passages that convey the same message and we are told that the earth abides forever.' (Ecclesiastes 1:4) Isaiah 66 and the book of Revelation mention a 'new heavens and a new earth.' In considering this issue, it is essential that we examine the occurrences of the use of the phrase a 'new heavens and a new earth' in the Biblical records.

2) New Heavens and a New Earth as Used in the Bible

The first thing that needs to be examined is the use of the word 'NEW' in both the Old and New Testaments.

Isaiah 66 deals extensively with Jerusalem. As we follow the words of the prophet through this chapter, the destiny of Israel is revealed. Out of tribulation, oppression and conflict, Jerusalem will rise again. The prophet speaks of Yahweh's fury being poured out.

'For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and rebuke with flames of fire.' (Isa.66:15)

The Lord will then use 'fire' and the 'sword' to plead with all flesh and there will be many slain. We have here a major conflict against the nations, which are subdued. There is not a complete annihilation of the people, as the chapter goes on to show that there will be worship established in Jerusalem.

'And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto Yahweh out of all nations... to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh.' (Isa. 66:20)

It is here that the prophet refers to the new heavens and the new earth in Isaiah 66:22.

'For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Yahweh, so shall your seed and your name remain. From one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.'

New as a Renewal and Change

Note here that there is a reference to all 'FLESH', which suggests a mortal state of mankind. New moons and sabbaths indicate a relationship to the world as we know it. We have also references here to Jerusalem, the mountain, the house and all 'flesh.' There is a fiery judgement, but there is no mention of the earth being destroyed.

The word 'NEW' in the Old Testament is used in the sense of rebuilding or renewing. Its meaning is obtained from the concordance. (Strong's: the words come from 2319 and 2318)

The occurrence of the word in Revelation in 'new heavens' and a 'new earth' is related to 'freshness' (Strong's 2537). Its usage in the New Testament is more closely related to 'changes' and not a creation of something different. We need to examine the use of this word in context. Some examples are given below.

In Matthew 26:28 we read that 'this is my blood of the New Testament.' There had been a change from the Law of Moses to the Law of the Messiah. This signified a change in the mode of worship, as the Anointed had fulfilled all the sacrificial aspects of the Law.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read, 'Therefore if any man be in Christ (the Anointed) he is a new creature.' This in no way supports the destruction of the person, but a change in that person's attitude, allegiance and way of life.

Ephesians 4:24 conveys the same message when it is stated 'that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.' Here again, the man physically appears the sme, but the transformation is again in his way of life.

Hebrews 9:15 refers to the changes that were brought about by the Messiah's crucifixion. The old covenant was replaced by a new covenant, which was based on the principles of the old covenant which was the Law of Moses, and which in its turn was based on the Abrahamic covenant. The Messiah's work cannot be understood other than in the light of the Law of Moses. It is here we see a change, which is based on previously established Divine principles. 'And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament.'

Heavens and Earth Used Figuratively

The use of heavens and earth in the Bible is often figurative and used metaphorically.

In Isaiah 1:2 we read, 'Hear O heavens and give ear O earth.' Isaiah is addressing the rulers (heaven) and the ruled (earth). This is seen in Isa.1:10. This form of address is often used when Yahweh is speaking to and admonishing the people of Israel. In this instance, as in other places, the words are being addressed to the rulers and the people of Israel. The following is another example of where the nation of Israel are being addressed and metaphorical language is used ,with the rulers depicted as the heavens and the people as the earth.

'Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear O earth, the words of my mouth.' (Deuteronomy 32:1)

Symbolically, the stars and moon are often used to represent rulers in the Bible. An interesting and often misunderstood case is in Isaiah 14:4. Isaiah introduces the subject being addressed in the following verses.

'Take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased!'

The king of Babylon is the person being admonished. His power has been broken and he has fallen from his position of strength and dominance. In figurative language he is depicted as a fallen star.

“ (His) pomp is brought down to the grave... How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations.” (Isaiah 14: 11-12)

The king of Babylon had oppressed many nations and had been a mighty and powerful ruler of his era. The term 'lucifer' is a word that means 'day star'. It was a symbol that denoted his power and rulership. The word (Srong's Concordance:1966) is related to the word in Strong's 1984. It is translated variously as shine or glory, to make a show, to boast and hence to be foolish. An example occurs in Jeremiah 9:23 with the word translated as 'glory.'

'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.'

The king of Babylon had gloried in his might and as a result he was cut down and fell from power. This is an example of the use of the symbols of the stars to represent men in power in the Old Testament. This symbology is used extensively in the Bible.

3) The Earth Designed to Endure

Scriptural references indicate that the earth was designed to endure and was not destined for destruction. Consider carefully the following references and the agreement among the writers.

Ecclesiastes states that 'The earth abides forever.' (Eccl. 1:4)

In Isaiah 14:18 the creator's intention is stated as , 'He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.'

And Numbers 14:21 declares that, 'The whole earth shall be filled with His glory.'

Yahweh has a purpose with this earth and with mankind and there appears to be no evidence in the written records that suggests the earth will be destroyed.

When the Psalmist observed the world around him he declared, 'Heaven and earth show forth His handiwork.' Don't the wonders of creation amaze us? To our own eyes the wonders of creation must reflect its perfection in the natural things that we see around us and the intricacies of even the smallest plant or creature. Why should such magnificence be destroyed? We are told that the lion and lamb shall lie down together and the parched lands will again blossom and become productive. 'The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose,' is a well known passage that depicts the regeneration of the parched lands on this sphere. (Isaiah 35:1)

Consider also the flood of Noah's time and the promise in Genesis 8:21.

Yahweh 'will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, neither will I again smite any more everything living as I have done.'

Are we to believe this promise? The rainbow stands as a sign of this ancient pledge, even for us today. Matthew 24:37-39, warns us that our present civilisation faces a similar crisis as in the days of Noah and we have been given the assurance, that Yahweh would never again destroy mankind completely. If the earth was to be destroyed, how could this promise stand and the promise that the earth is to be filled with Yahweh's glory?

The earth abides forever.(Ecclesiastes 1:4)

Peter's Prediction Examined

Peter refers to the flood in 2Pet. 3:6 and compares it to the world as perishing or being destroyed.

'Whereby the world that then was , being overflowed with water perished.'

We know that the earth did not perish, it remained. It was civilisation that was destroyed, not the physical earth. The literal earth remained. Peter also states the following.

'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.' (2Pet.3:10).

The phrase 'burned up' is from the Greek 'to burn down to the ground.' The N.I.V. Translates this verse as follows.

'The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.'

This translation does not suggest that the earth itself will be burnt up .In 2Pet.2:5, Peter states that 'he spared not the old world.' Peter is here referring to the time of the flood. It was civilisation that was destroyed, not the earth. The 'elements' that Peter speaks of refer to 'rudiments and principles' as in Clossians 2:20.

'Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances?'

This is referring to the removal of present day ordinances and civilisation and does not prove that Peter believes that the earth will be destroyed. The same idea and same word occur in Galatians 4:3.

'Even so we , when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.'

The word is again used in verse 9, 'how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye again desire to be in bondage?'

These particular 'elements' are not physical things or tangible things, but they are social and ideological aspects, and laws of the civilised world.

Peter 3:7 states that 'the heavens and the earth are now ... reserved unto fire against the day of judgemant and perdition of ungodly men.'

This is a very similar situation to that described in Isaiah 66 that was referred to earlier. The most logical explanation for this verse is that the heavens and the earth represent the rulers and the people. They are the ones to be judged, not the physical heavens and earth.

Heavens & earth represent rulers & people who will be made new

Peter was familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures and the symbology used. This verse follows directly on from where he said that the 'world...perished' at the time of the flood. It would be a logical transition to the next verse and the latter day judgement that will come on mankind. Again the 'kosmos' or the society as we know it is referred to, and, it is the world's social institutions that will be destroyed and changed, but the earth will remain, as occurred in the time of Noah.

Isaiah is in complete agreement with Habbukuk 2:14 and Numbers 14:21, when he states,

'They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.' (Isaiah 11:9)

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