The Universe Burns Up
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. . . scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3: 3-13 ESV)
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The Day of the Lord is Coming Soon
The Bible has numerous passages showing how God is going to end human history and create new heavens and a new earth. Here Peter makes reference to Noah’s flood which destroyed the inhabitants of earth because of their wickedness. Other references in the New Testament confirm the similarity between the two events showing how Noah’s flood is shadow of the end-of-days when Jesus returns for His people and inflicts His wrath on the wicked who do not repent and follow Him.
So when the day of the Lord comes can we expect the heavens, that is, the universe, to burn up at the time of His coming? Or will there be a millennial reign of Christ with His followers on the old earth before all this happens, as it seems to be in the book of Revelation (Rev 20:4)? An interesting thought to ponder.
Perhaps the millennial reign happens on the new earth after all! In the Revelation we are not told exactly when the earth and universe will burn and be replaced. Does it happen when Satan is released from the abyss to deceive the nations (Rev 20:7-8) or at the great white throne judgment (Rev 20: 11)? What if these two events are one and the same but seen from different viewpoints? If this is so maybe the new heavens and earth were created before or during the millennial reign. What do you think?
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PeterF
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