The Earth & The Works Therein Shall Be Burned Up (2 Pet.3:10)

This terrifying prophecy may well cause us to wonder when this will happen; will it be in my lifetime? A literal understanding of these words has its problem. With its mighty oceans the surface of the earth consists of more water than dry land. At the north and south poles and within the arctic circles there are vast areas of ice and snow. From a physical point of view it would be necessary for the earth to gravitate into the sun to fulfil that prophecy by Peter.

In other parts of scripture we find clear statements inferring the permanence of the earth. For instance in Psalm 115:16, "The heavens, even the heavens are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men". And again in Ps.37, "The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein for ever." (v.29). The word `land' here is a translation of the Hebrew word `erets' which is most often translated `earth'... This teaching in the Psalms is confirmed by the Lord Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt.5:5).

To get a better understanding of Peter's statement we ought to read the whole verse as follows: "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 the fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up".

You will notice that here, Peter includes `the heavens' which shall also pass away in a fiery destruction. This inclusion of `the heavens' could alert us to the probability that Peter's words should be understood more figuratively than we at first thought. This suggestion is confirmed when in reading the earlier part of this chapter we find Peter is referring in similar language to the flood. Peter was combating the notion of scoffers that "all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation". He points out that the flood is an illustration when all things do NOT continue as before.

Peter says the flood came by the `Word of God': that is to say by his authority and power. His wording is "Whereby (by his power) the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished". He then adds, "But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men." (v.7).

These verses teach that whereas the world of Noah's day was `subjected to a day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men' by water, another one is reserved `for the future' but this time by the use of fire.

Significantly,

Peter uses this phrase to mean the world of the present which is kept and reserved for the fiery judgement which is yet to be executed when the `day of the Lord' has arrived.

You may have noticed that in writing of the constitution of things in Noah's day he uses the word `world' (Gr. Kosmos). The wording was, "Whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water, perished". Peter then goes on to write, "But the heavens and the earth which are now are reserved for judgement and perdition of ungodly men". One can understand from this sequence of thought that the phrase `heaven and earth' (which are now) is equivalent to the term `world' used in the first case. This being so we can understand how that the phrase `heavens and earth' should be understood in a figurative sense, referring to the rulers of this world; kings, presidents and governments; and the earth, the common people ­ those who are ruled. This fiery judgement which will surely come: will then come upon both rulers and ruled.

What Peter has foretold in general terms is detailed in other parts of scripture. In Obadiah, for example, we are informed about the plotting against Israel by several of their enemies and the consequences of their intrigues. We read, "But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they (Israel) shall kindle in them, (a fire) and devour; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it" (v.17-18).

Similar language is used about the defenders of Jerusalem when the Arab nations mount a siege against this city in the near future. And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, "The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. In that day will I make the governors or Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem...and it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (v.5,6,9).

Other nations which are tolerant of

Christian principles and who resist the commands of the King of Kings will suffer a destruction in a similar way until their remnants are subdued.

God's fiery judgments will not be confined to the political heavens and earth, they are reserved also for the religious world as well. This is clear from the Book of Revelation which describes the historical development of the apostate Christian Church. The symbolic whore is said to be seated on a great red dragon having 10 horns which represent the European Union. In the seventeenth chapter these 10 horns we are told shall make war with the Lamb (literally the Lord Jesus Christ recently returned from heaven). This is because these horns, being guided by the whore, the Roman Catholic Church, will suppose this is the right thing to do. However, they will eventually become disillusioned and hate the whore for her deceitful ways. Rev.17 verse 16 reads, `And the 10 horns which thou sawest upon the beast these shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will and to agree and give their power unto the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

The fiery judgments reserved for the whore are repeated with emphasis in Rev.18:8, "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death and mourning and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her."

These judgments which will destroy the wicked will be succeeded by a new order of things called by Peter, `A new heavens and a new earth' wherein dwelleth righteousness. It will be the Kingdom of God ruled over by Jesus and the Saints who will be made kings and priests in the future age. They will be the New Heavens. The new earth will consist of the nations who have been subdued by the judgments some of which have been described in this article. The purpose of God revealed and promised when Jesus was born will eventually be fulfilled, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill among men". (Luke 2:14)

Bro. Ralph Green (Torquay. UK)