The Burning
of the Earth!
Let's Get it Right!  
                                                                            By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                            August 10, 2019
     "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 conversation and godliness,"  2 Peter 3:10-11.
Introduction
     Based on a totally wrong "mis-translation" of these two Scriptures, and other similar Scriptures in God's Word, it is commonly believed and  taught by most Christian people, that this present earth is one day going to burst into flames over the whole earth, and the entire earth and everything on it and in it will be burned out of existence.   According to this theory,  developed from this mis-translation, the Lord God will then have no choice, but to "create new heavens and a new earth," in order to go forward with His plan for redeemed mankind  as prophesied in Isaiah 65:17.
     Gee!  I didn't know Almighty God could ever be placed in a popsition to where He was forced to do something in order to continue His plans for the future.  Doesn't sound quite right!  
The Mis-Translation
     Is this teaching about the burning of the earth true?  Absolutely not!  And now I will tell our readers why.......
     In this text Scripture in 2 Peter 3:10, the words "pass away," which I have underlined are a mis-translation.  The Greek word is, "paerchomai," translated as "pass away," but the word literally means "to pass; to pass by; to go past; to come past; to pass away from." Check it out in your own Greek Bible or Lexicon, or in Strong's No. 3928.  This Greek word occurs 31 times in the New Testament.  In most of those Scriptures, this Greek word is translated correctly; pass; go past; pass by;  etc.
However, here in 2 Peter 3:10-11, and again in Matthew 24:35, the translators translated the word in such a manner as to leave the impression with the reader, that the heavens and the earth are going to go completely out of existence.   In the light of other Scriptures in God's Word, it is glaringly obvious that this idea or theory, just isn't so!    And yes, I have every intention of proving this truth in the remainder of this study.     
The Creation of the Earth and the Heavens
     Does Genesis 1:1 clearly state that "God created the heaven and the earth?"  Does it?  Of course it does!  
     Does Genesis 1:14-19 clearly state, that God created the Sun, Moon, and stars, placing them in the heavens above the earth?  Yes, it most certainly does!   
     Any honest reader knows that the Lord God created both the earth, and the heavens in space above the earth, and these inspired Scriptures clearly state this truth.  
No Contradictions in God's Word
     Careful, serious, honest, students of God's Word, also know that there are no contradictions in the Word of God.  No Scripture in the Word contradicts other Scriptures.  PERIOD!  
     Do our readers believe this?  Or is God's Word filled with Scriptures contradicting other Scriptures?  I am aware that many Christ rejecting, lost, unbelievers, who refuse to even study the Word of God believe that it is filled with contradictions.  I truly hope no reader of this study falls into that category.  
     Now let's go to Ecclesiastes 3:14.  This inspired Scripture was written by King Solomon, a man to whom God gave such wisdom and knowledge, that made him one of the wisest men who has ever lived in human history.  Now what did Solomon have to say in this inspired Scripture?  
     "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him."  Now dear readers,
since God was the Creator of the heavens and the earth, then, according to this inspired Scripture,  both the heavens and the earth were  obviously created to endure "for ever." See Psalm 72:5 and 89:36-37.   These inspired Scriptures make it clear that these heavenly bodies will never go out of existence.
     Since it was God who created the earth and the heavens, this inspired Scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:14, makes it quite clear that it is impossible for the earth, and the heavens above and around the earth to ever cease to exist.  A million years from today, they will still be serving the purpose for which God created them.  Glory to God!    
     I made a choice long ago to take God's Word at face value, for what it actually and literally says, and I certainly take this Scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:14,  to mean what it says.  All that has been done by God, will endure "for ever."  This includes both the heavens and the earth which God created.  They WILL NOT be burned out of existence.  PERIOD!  .  
      No,  Ecclesiastes 3:14 DOES NOT contradict 2 Peter 3:10-11.  Just keep reading, and by God's GRACE,  you will come to understand why!  
The Earth is Established For Ever
     This truth is clearly stated three times in the inspired Word.  It may be stated more than three times, but these are three places I have found in my Bible studies where this truth is explicitly stated.......

     Psalm 78:69....."And He built His sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which He hath established for ever."  

     Psalm 104:5....."Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever."  

     Ecclesiastes 1:4....."One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever."
 
A Scriptural Enigma
     The Abrahamic Covenant.....
     In Genesis 15:18-21, the Lord God made a Covenant with Abraham, telling him that his "seed" would be given all the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates river.  This Covenant was confirmed a second time in Genesis 17:7-8, when the Lord God clearly stated that it would be an "everlasting covenant" again promising Abraham that his "seed" would be given "...all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession."  
     The Mosiac Covenant.....
     In Exodus 20 the Lord God gave to Moses and to all the children of Israel, what is commonly referred to as the Mosiac Covenant, or the Covenant of Law.  In Exodus 31:16, the Lord Himself clearly stated that it was to be "a perpetual covenant," and in 31:17 that it was to be "for ever."  
     Again, in Leviticus 24:8, the children of Israel were commanded to observe God's Laws given to them in an "everlasting covenant."  
    The Davidic Covenant.....  
     In 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17  are the two accounts of the Lord God making a covenant with King David.  In this covenant the Lord God promised David that his Kingdom would be established "for ever," and that him and his "seed"  would rule over the land and nation of Israel "for ever."  See 2 Samuel 7:16, 7:24-25. and 7:29.  Also see 1 Chronicles 17:12, 17:14, 17:22-24. and 17:27.   
     All three of these covenants are "everlasting" covenants, clearly stating that the Israelite people will live in the land given to them by God "for ever."  And that King David will rule over that land and the people of Israel "for ever."  
     Now we have a real enigma [puzzle; riddle] here.  
     Perhaps some reader would like to explain to me, how these three  "everlasting covenants" can possibly be fulfilled, if the earth, and everything in it and on it, is at some time in the futurei,  burned completely  out of existence?   Well...??
     Dear readers. God's Word is True, and can be trusted completely.  However, some Scriptures require  serious study in order to comprehend exactly what the Scripture is saying.  This is certainly true with
2 Peter 3:10-11.    
     Notice the second word in this text which I have underlined; the word, "dissolved."  This word is translated from the Greek word, "luo."  This Greek word simply means "to break up, to destroy, to dissolve, to  unloose, or to  melt.  Obviously the KJV translators, chose the word, "dissolve," when translating, which in view of the meaning of that word in English, is clearly again a mis-translation.  
     This passage in 2 Peter 3:10-11, when carefully studied, looking up the meaning of the Greek words, in no way teaches that the whole earth will one day catch fire and burn itself out of existence.  Such a claim is a silly theory based on a lack of serious Bible study, and of "rightly dividing the Word of truth," 2 Timothy 2:15.  
What 2 Peter 3:10-11 Does Teach.......
     The Lord God inspired Peter to set forth a prophecy of the now soon coming "day of the Lord."  By carefully studying the places this expression is used in the New Testament, it is obvious that the "day of the Lord" is a reference to the seven year Tribulation Period.
     Then when we carefully study the Book of Revelation, which gives a detailed description of events which will occur during the seven years of the Tribulation, we can put together exactly what Peter was prophesying in 2 Peter 3:10-11.  
     In Revelation 6:12-17, at the opening of the sixth seal, there will be a "great earthquake" on the earth, while at the same time, there will be terrible events taking place in the heavens above the earth, 6:12-14.
      Rev. 6:13 tells us that at this same time, "the stars [asters] of heaven" will fall upon the earth, even similar to "a fig tree casting her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind."  This then will be the time when the earth, and those LEFT BEHIND on the earth at the rapture, will experience a terrible shower of asteroids falling upon the earth.  It should be obvious to any reader who has ever studied about asteroids, that after coming through the atmosphere of the earth at thousands of miles per hour, the asteroids will be red hot when they hit the earth.  Anything struck by them that is combusible will then burst into flame, and burn.  
     Then in 6:14 we are explicitly told that "every mountain and island" will be moved out of their places.  
     Isn't it glaringly obvious to our readers, that such activity will result in terrible destruction on the earth, and the flaming hot  asteroids falling on the earth will certainly burn up or melt all of the works of men everywhere they hit the earth.  Trees, houses, buildings, and other structures will be consumed in the flames.  The moving of the mountains and islands will, at the same time, result in terrible fiery volcanic eruptions all over the earth, along with massive tidal waves in the oceans and seas.  
      But all of these things happen near the beginning of the Tribulation.  There are more earthquakes, fires, and terrible destruction to come when the seven trumpets are blown, and when the seven vials of God's wrath are poured out.  Read Rev. 8 - 9, and 15 - 16.  
       During those times, one or more planets, or huge asteroids,  will PASS BY close to the earth, making "a great noise" as they fly past the earth.    Don't jet airplanes today make a "sonic boom" when they break the sound barrier?  Then think about the noise a rogue planet, or giant asteroid, will make as it flies past the  earth at several thousand miles per hour.  That such will happen is clearly described in the prophecies of  Revelation.  Look them up and read it for yourself.
    The passing of such rogue planets or asteroids, due to the clashing of the electro-magnetic fields and gravity forces, will also cause every volcano on the earth to explode into eruption..  Wherever the lava flows, at several thousand degrees of heat, anything and everything it touches will certainly burn or melt from the "fervent heat."  Again, these judgments are described for the serious Bible student in the prophecies of Revelation.  They will come to pass!  
     So the entire SURFACE of the earth will be "purified" by fire during the Tribulation; but these fires will not all occur at the same time, nor in the same places.  This is all outlined in the judgments which will occur upon the opening of the Seven Seals, the sounding of the Seven Trumpets, and the pouring out of the Seven Vials of God's wrath.  
     Yes!  Millions of  people LEFT BEHIND on the earth when the rapture occurs, will die under these terrible judgments.  Read Isaiah 24:6 and take heed.  Those readers who want to escape this, had better make "their calling and election sure," and they better do it NOW, while they still have the time and opportunity to be saved, 2 Peter 1:10-11.
New Heavens and a New Earth
     In Revelation 21:5, John was inspired of God to write, "Behold, I make all things new.  And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."  Notice that the word used here is "make."  The Greek word translated as "make" in this Scripture is "poieo."  This word occurs 575 times in the New Testament, and it  always refers to taking something which is already in existence, and by changing it's form, shape, substance, or composition,  "making" something entirely  "new" out of it.   
      This Greek word does include the  meaning of  "creating," but creating something from already existing matter.  Now is this just too hard for some readers to grasp?  If the reader is a true believer, then it shouldn't be hard for them to understand this concept.  
     Almighy God is indeed going to "create new heavens and a new earth," exactly as prophesied, but He is going to use the Sun, Moon, and stars, and the planet earth, which is already in existence to do it.       
     In Psalm 102:25-26 the Lord explicitly mentiones "the heavens" and "the earth."  He says that they "wax old like a garment," and then goes on to say that just like one changes a garment or vesture, "they shall be changed.  
     Dear readers, it is a simple truth that when we change our clothing, we DO NOT destroy our body which is wearing the clothing.  We simply change the clothing, which we wear on the surface of our body.  
     Likewise the Lord God IS NOT going to destroy the earth, and the heavens, which He has established "for ever."  Rather, He is simply going to "change" the garments the earth is wearing, and likely prepare the heavens for future habitation by REDEEMED mankind..  Psalm 104:30 expliicitly says, ".....and Thou renewest the face of the earth."  This statement makes it very clear that when redeemed mankind enters the Eternal Age,. the surface of the earth WILL NOT look like it does today.  It will indeed be a "new earth."  
     Also, the planets in our solar system, and even beyond,  will no longer appear as they do today.  The constellations and stars in outer space will have been "changed" and rearranged, in the skies above the earth.  The Lord God will have obviously created "new heavens," but will use the same material He "created" in the beginning.  
      This then will literally fulfill God's Word in both Isaiah 65:17 and Revelation 21:5, but what 2 Peter 3:10-11 actually says, will also have been literally fulfilled..  Everything made "new" in preparation for a whole new future for totally redeemed mankind.  Glory to God!   Praise the Lord!  
A Conclusive Question?
     Dear reader, are YOU going to be a part of the great "new" world the Lord is preparing for His redeemed people?  Wouldn't you like to be?  
     In Ephesians 2:4-7, the Lord graciously told His people,
     "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,
     Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (for by grace ye are saved;)
     And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
     That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."  
     Now read verses 8 thru 10 of this same chapter and context, and it will tell you how to be truly saved; through placing your  faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; God's Son and Savior.  There is no other way of salvation!  Bow your head and your heart, and in simple prayer ask the Lord Jesus to come into your very soul, and save you eternally, and He will!  
     May the Lord God add His grace and blessings to this study, in Jesus' name.  Amen!  
<<<<<<<       O       >>>>>>>
     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.....Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE......573-202-6493
<<<<<<<       O       >>>>>>>