The world is fast approaching a time specified by the Bible in which the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by a fervent heat. Scientists today describe a similar event of great distance from the present, when the universe will fully expend all of its energy and collapse upon itself in a massive heat death in about 10100 years.[A]
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. –2 Peter 3: 10
The Bible specifies when this creation of a new heavens and earth will take place–as near the end of the one-thousand year Millennial reign of the Messiah.
Old Testament Reference: Isaiah 65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
New Testament Fulfillment: Revelation 21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
The Lord will destroy all that presently exists and begin again with an entirely new universe. The beings that will dwell in this new creation, will be those who have received the Messiah’s pardon for their sins and are now dwelling in perfect and eternal bodies. We will never grow old, become sick, or die again. The presence of evil and sin will also cease to exist and every person will love the Lord and live in conformity with His perfect will.
We often think of eternity as an existence that comprises endless time. In fact, eternity is not measured by time at all. There are no days or nights. There are no events that take place, one after another. In eternity, everything has already taken place and all that is–exists–in the present tense, forever. In eternity, all the events of linear time have already taken place. Every person who loves God, is living together with Him in heaven. All those who have rejected the love of God are gathered together in their eternal place. All events described by the Bible have already taken place. It is only here on earth that we must continue to experience the balance of time which the Lord has determined for all mankind.
Peter describes the timelessness of eternity—from God’s perspective: Continue reading “The End of the Universe: Time and Eternity”
