Will God burn up the heavens and earth?

Posted by qOLOp on 1118394631

For, according to their wish, this fact escapes their notice, that there were heavens from of old and an earth standing compactly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; 6 and by those [means] the world of that time suffered destruction when it was deluged with water. 7 But by the same word the heavens and the earth that are now are stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men

New world translation


KING JAMES
5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.




Jehovah's day will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a hissing noise, but the elements being intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works in it will be discovered." (2 Peter 3:10;

NWT

Christendom teaches God will destroy both heaven and the earth and make a new one

13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth

Heavens were of old, AND OLD EARTH DESTROYED IN NOAHs
day


) The literal heavens and earth did not perish in the Deluge, neither will they during Jehovah's day. What, then, will "pass away," or be destroyed


Human governments that have dominated mankind like "heavens" will end and so will the "earth," or human ungodly society. The "hissing noise" perhaps indicates the rapid passage of the heavens. "The elements" that make up today's decadent human society will be "dissolved," or destroyed. And the "earth," including "the works in it," will be "discovered." Jehovah will thoroughly expose the wicked acts of men as he brings an entire world system to its well-deserved end.


NWT

Ephesians 6

Finally, go on acquiring power in [the] Lord and in the mightiness of his strength. 11 Put on the complete suit of armor from God that YOU may be able to stand firm against the machinations of the Devil; 12 because we have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places


THESE ARE THE "HEAVENS" THAT MUST GO




12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places

KJV

Use" HIGH PLACES"


English Standard Version)

12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the

heavenly places

American Standard Version)


against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the

heavenly places.


Young's Literal Translation)

with the spiritual things of the evil in the heavenly places;


New International Reader's Version
It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.



The connection of the "heavens" with ruling power aids in understanding the meaning of the expression "new heavens and a new earth" found at Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 and quoted by the apostle Peter at 2 Peter 3:13. Observing such relationship, M'Clintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia (1891, Vol. IV, p. 122) comments: "In Isa. lxv, 17, a new heaven and a new earth signify a new government, new kingdom, new people."


the "earth" can refer to a society of people (Ps 96:1;

All you people of the earth, sing to the Lord

so, too, "heavens" can symbolize the superior ruling power or government over such "earth

IN THE
Bible, "earth" does not always refer to our globe

the passing away of "the former heaven" indicates the end of political governments along with Satan and his demons. This identification of "the former heaven" harmonizes with the fact that shortly before the statement concerning the 'former heaven having passed away,' John had seen a vision of the complete defeat of Satan's forces and the casting of Satan into "the abyss." (Re 19:19-20:3


At Luke 21:33, Jesus says that "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away." The sense of this expression seems to be like that of Matthew 5 "Truly I say to you that sooner would heaven and earth pass away [or, "it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away"; Lu 16:17] than for one smallest letter or one particle of a letter to pass away from the Law by any means and not all things take place."


PS 148-6

Praise him, you highest heavens.
Praise him, you waters above the skies.
Let all of them praise the name of the Lord,
because he gave a command and they were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever.


What are the new heavens?



at 2 Peter 3 "There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell." Jesus in heaven is the key Ruler in the "new heavens." (Luke 1:32, 33) Yet, other Bible texts indicate that he does not rule alone. Jesus promised that the apostles and some others like them would have a place in heaven. In the book of Hebrews, the apostle Paul described such ones as "partakers of the heavenly calling." And Jesus said that those of this group would sit on thrones in heaven with him.

the heavens and the earth that are now," both the rulerships and the masses of people, are reserved for "the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men." This confirms that the phrase "the heavens and the earth that are now" refers, not to the material universe, but to humans and their rulerships.


: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more."

that this does not mean replacing the literal heavens and our planet, with its watery deep.

, wicked people and their rulerships, including the invisible ruler Satan, will be removed. the promise here is of a new system of things involving people on earth.

There is only one truth, and JEHOVAH tells it


PS 83-18 KJV
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.