9[The] Lord is not being slow of promise as some are reckoning slowness, but [He] is being patient into you, not purposing that any perish but [purposing] all to have room into repentance;
10but [the] Day of [the] Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens shall vanish with a roar and [the] elements will be dissolved burning intensely and [the] earth and the works in it shall be burned up.
11Thus all these things being dissolved, what sort [of persons] ought you be in holy livings and godlinesses;
12looking for and eagerly desiring the coming of the Day of the God, through which [the] heavens will be dissolved burning and [the] elements are melting burning intensely?
13But, according to the promise of Him, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14Wherefore, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him to be spotless ones and blameless ones in peace,
15and reckon the patience of the Lord of us [to be] salvation …
What does this passage say about how the present universe will end? I’ve read several different understandings of these verses. Some propose it doesn’t really mean the present earth will actually be destroyed but only that it will be significantly altered. Others question whether the destruction will actually extend to the “heavens” or whether it simply means that things will change from the perspective of the earth.
First of all, I would like to note that a simple reading of the text does not present anything less than an absolute and total conflagration of the entire known universe. Note:
The heavens: “…will vanish with a roar” (v10), “…will be dissolved burning” (v12)
The elements: “…will be dissolved burning intensely” (v10), “…are melting burning intensely” (v12)
The earth: “…and the works in it will be burned up” (v10)
All these things: “being dissolved” (v11)
According to His promise, we are looking for a “new heavens and a new earth” (v13)
The “heavens” are the “sky” as we see it which is the material universe including all of the stars, all of the galaxies, and whatever else exists “out there.” Some might object that the rest of creation should not be destroyed for the sins of the earth. However, Romans 8:20-22 says, “For the [whole] creation was subjected to frustration … will be liberated from its bondage to decay … has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time …” I think it is clear that the curse of Adam’s sin fell upon the entire material universe, not just on the planet earth. It is true that man’s sphere of existence has been limited to the earth, with a few forays to the relatively nearby moon, but we are all aware that is temporary, that given enough time man would certainly find ways to conquer distance and be enabled to “go where no man’s gone before.” Only our current technology prevents us from traveling literally to the ends of the material universe. And everywhere we go, we will take the curse with us. Cain can kill Abel on some planet in the Andromeda galaxy just as easily as here.
This extent of the curse to the entire material universe is not only evident from Scripture, it is also evident scientifically. The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, the “Law of Entropy,” that “everything tends to disorder,” applies to the entire universe. The entire universe is obviously decaying. Where it finds water and oxygen, iron will rust anywhere in the universe. That is what Paul was referring to in Romans when he says “the whole creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay…” The “bondage to decay” is the Law of Entropy and it clearly applies to the entire known universe – physical proof that the curse was not limited to the earth.
There is probably no question in anyone’s mind that the earth has suffered under the curse – not only from our sins and sinfulness but also just the “natural” process of decay (which is not really “natural” but rather a result of the curse). What one must realize is that even the furthest corners of the universe have been decaying down through the millennia since Adam’s fall.
I suspect that we would be (will be) shocked by the brilliant colors of the original Creation. Part of the “decay” and “aging” process is that colors fade and gray and yellow. We’ve all seen side by side comparisons of old movies “remastered” where they remove the yellowing and restore their original brightness and color. I always find that astounding. It’s hard to believe I could watch the yellowed movie and never even realize it could be so much more brilliant. So it is with our world, I believe. A flower garden is a stunningly beautiful thing but what must it have been in the Garden of Eden?? I suspect the world was made to look like a Thomas Kincaid painting with his brilliant colors. We all see the same effect on ourselves. To be young is to be colorful. To age is to gray.
My point is that this effect has impacted the entire universe, including the earth, … and us. Although sin has abounded, grace will “much more abound.” Our good God not only plans to redeem us – He will also restore the entire creation to its original unspoiled dazzling beauty. And how will He “fix” this universe? That is answered in the passage before us.
I would like to suggest that what is pictured here is actually a total nuclear holocaust of the entire universe. We saw at Hiroshima what happens when a single atom “dissolves.” What if every atom in the entire universe were to be let go at once? Personally I think that is what “elements” refers to – atoms. Even if Peter didn’t understand nuclear physics, he understood that the universe is somehow made of basic “elements” and the Lord used that perhaps foggy understanding to allow Peter to very accurately express this total nuclear holocaust. Read the passage again. Total sudden instantaneous nuclear holocaust. Probably for a brief second the temperature of the entire universe will reach billions of degrees. And then there will be … nothing.
One more reason why I think this; Col 1:15-17 teaches that:
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, … all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
In science we learn that no one really knows what “holds the universe together.” No one knows why atoms stay together. They have a name for the “force” but the only proof it exists is the fact that it happens. Actually no one knows what “gravity” really is. We observe it, acknowledge it, model it mathematically and (hopefully) respect it. But what is it? What is this force that holds us in place? No one knows. It is simply true that the universe “holds together.” As a scientist, I just accept that. As a Christ-follower, I know what that force is. It is the Lord. “In Him all things hold together.”
What I believe will happen is, on the Day of the Lord, He will simply “let go” and every atom of every planet, every spec of dust, every drop of water will suddenly come apart. All of the energy of all of the universe will suddenly be released in a single micro-second. Go back and read the passage again. I believe this fits the description perfectly. The eternal God “spoke” (expressed energy) and that energy concentrated into matter and, according to His design, became an entire universe. He alone continues to restrain that energy into the form of matter. But the instant He “lets go,” it all goes back to energy – a single, sudden, universal nuclear explosion.
Then that same God Who created it the first time will speak and create it again in all its original form and beauty. The earth we walk in eternity will have not one evidence of the millennia of decay. Its dirt will hold not one drop of anyone’s blood. There will be no graves. There will be no mercury in the bottom of its lakes and oceans. It will be His original perfect beautiful unspoiled world.
And the heavens will glow again in all of their original beauty and color.
The Lord does nothing “half way.” When He has “His Day” we’ll get a totally recreated, spectacular, dazzling and stunningly beautiful world.
That is what I think this passage is teaching.
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