Words and Phrases

There seems to be some question as to the duration of the earth, i.e. specifically as to how long it will last. Various scriptures have been applied some suggesting the earth is to be destroyed others that it will remain. As all true bible students know the Bible is the Living Word of God and therefore cannot contradict itself, therefore if something appears to be contrary to something else which is written it is usually found that the fault lies with ourselves with our interpretation of the word or phrase.

Not having rightly divided the word, in this case failing to make the distinction between what is symbolic and what is literal many are found attempting to force a literal interpretation on something that is clearly symbolic. Our key word this time is the word earth, being closely associated with our last key word heaven.

Earth

Naturally the first scripture used in support of the fact that the earth abides forever is found in Eccl 1:4,

“One generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth abides forever.”

Likewise we have,

“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” (Isa 45:18)

“Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honor and majesty: Who covers thyself with light as with a garment; Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain…Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved forever.” (Psa 104:1, 4)

These scriptures in regards to the length or duration of the earth seem pretty much straight forward, and thus are taken as literal statements of fact. The earth abides forever, He hath established it that, it should not be moved FOREVER, pretty plain isn’t it?

Now on the other hand, what shall we make of the following scriptures?

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matt 24:35)

“And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of thy hands: They shall perish; but thou continues: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment” (Heb 1:10, 11) a quote of Psa 102:25, 26

“Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” (Zep 3:8)

“But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” (2 Pet 3:7)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Pet 3:10)

In these scriptures we seem to have an apparent contradiction, but that is ONLY if they are taken literally, rather than symbolically as they were intended.

The “heavens” and the “earth” here mentioned DO NOT refer to the literal heavens and earth, but rather to the symbolic heavens and earth, that is, the “heavens” here mentioned represent the spiritual controlling powers presently in control, Satan, the fallen angels with him, and also his master work, ecclesiasticism, the present religious systems.

The “earth” here mentioned is not the literal either, but rather refers to the present social order, society as it is now presently organized under Satan’s control.

It is to these “heavens” and “earth” that the foregoing scriptures had referred, these are they, which shall, perish, which are reserved for the “fire” of the Great Day, The Day of His Vengeance, The Great Time of Trouble, these shall be burned up, dissolved (melt) with fervent heat (turmoil, strife, anarchy, human passion and wrath).

This in order to make way for the NEW “heavens” and “earth” (2 Pet 3:13) New spiritual powers, Christ’s Kingdom, our Lord taking the place of Satan, and his body the Church, taking the place of the fallen angles, a new religious order or system, one based upon truth and righteousness. A NEW “earth”, a new social order, reorganized on the new basis of love and justice. This is the new earth symbolically, but it is the same earth (or planet) literality.

“For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water.”

A close examination of (2 Pet 3:5) shows us that at one time there had existed a previous, “heavens” and “earth” and that they likewise “waxed old as doth a garment” and perished in the flood.

Did the literal earth perish? Heavens No! It remained even as it remains today.

Tell me what do the following scriptures infer?

“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool…” (Isa 66:1)

“…I will make the place of my feet glorious.” Isa 60:13 (speaking of the Kingdom to come when the Lord shall establish righteousness throughout the earth)

“Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endures throughout all generations.” Psa 145:13

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath He given to the children of men.” (Psa 115:16)

The implication here seems to be that the Lord intends not to destroy the earth, but rather to make it glorious, that it is to be the home of an everlasting kingdom. Tell me if the Lord has given something, such as stated in our last text above, should he be inclined to take it back?

“…My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure…” (Isa 46:10)

Those who reach perfection at the end of the millennium, who past the final test, who are ushered into the everlasting kingdom, who are granted life eternal, how long is this eternal life supposed to last? 10,000 years, 100,000 years, one million years, Five hundred million years, Fifty Billion years, how long is eternity?

I would think that it is quite a long time, so how long should the earth, which the Lord has given to the children of men, as their inheritance last? Should He ever change His mind and take it back? Strip it away from his loving and obedient children, we think not.

Now some may question, is it not the supposition that the sun is destined to become a Red Giant Star sometime billions of years from now, and then possibly go super nova and collapsed in on it-self even further in the future destroying most if not all the solar system, we find this to be contrary to the Bible’s testimony respecting the same. Let us remember as God has subjected both the heavens (the universe) and man to the laws of nature, nevertheless He still is the writer of that law, this does not imply that He will change things in order to sustain the earth, for He changes not, but to the contrary we believe that He has so arranged things so as to perpetually sustain not only the earth but also the sun for the benefit of His creation.

“Give to the king (Whom thou hast appointed, Christ during the millennial age.), thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s (Jehovah’s) son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness (Acts 17:31), and thy poor with judgment. The mountains (the New ruling powers of Christ’s Kingdom) shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills (the tributary powers under the main government.), by righteousness. He shall judge the poor of the people; he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor (All oppressive systems and institutions–civil, social, financial and religious). They shall fear thee AS LONG AS THE SUN AND THE MOON ENDURES, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days (in “the world to come, wherein dwells righteousness” Heb 2:5; 2 Pet 3:13), shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace SO LONG AS THE MOON ENDURES.” Psa 72: 1-7

“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan 7:14

These scriptures and many more give evidence to the fact that it is God’s intention that not only shall the earth last forever, but also the sun and the moon, for God has established them and they shall not be moved.

(1 Chron 16:30; Psa 93:1; 96:10) Note: a distinction is made between the “world” as referred to in the sited text, and the “earth” which is said to be moved in other passages. A correct understanding of symbolic language will greatly assist the bible student in “rightly dividing the word of God” and thus coming to the correct meaning of any given passage. The word “world” as used in 1 Chron 16:30 applies to the planet or physical earth itself, whereas the word “earth” as used in Isa 24:19,20 and in 2 Pet 3:10 for instance, refer to the social order or structure as is now prevalent. In the study of symbolism you cannot rely upon the definitions as given in your concordance, but must rather compare scripture with scripture in order to come to the true intention of the words used.