Heaven and Earth: the Old, the Present and the New

Intro

Series - Understanding Biblical Timelines

Title - Heaven and Earth: the Old, the Present, and the New

Text - 2 Peter 3.3-7

2 Peter 3:3–7 NKJV

3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 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, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The Heaven and the Earth

1.) The phrase “heaven and earth” has 2 connotations:

That which include the spiritual dimension

Genesis 1:1 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

this is the “original heaven and earth”

heavens - plural, the spiritual and the physical

Psalm 115.15-16

Jeremiah 23.24

Luke 10.21

Ephesians 3.15

NOTE - Paul was said to have been caught up to the “third heaven” (2 Cor 12.1-2)

That which speaks of the physical heaven only

Acts 17:24 NKJV

24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

Genesis 2.1, 4

Isaiah 40.22

Joel 2.30

2.) The heavens and the earth that Peter speaks of are the physical ones

they “grow old” and will need renewing

Psalm 102:25–26 NKJV

25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.

Isaiah 51.6

they were subjected to corruption, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God

The Three (3) sets of heaven and earth

The “old” heaven and earth

2 Peter 3:5–6 NKJV

5 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, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

by the word of God - the means of coming into existence

out of the water and in the water

Genesis 1.6-7

the dry land appears to be sandwiched between two bodies of water, below and above

by which the world then perished - see Genesis 7.11

[SEE ILLUSTRATION NO. 1 - OLD HEAVEN AND EARTH]

The “present” heaven and earth

2 Peter 3:7 NKJV

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

preserved for fire - grk THESAURIZO, stored, laid aside for future use

by the same word of God - appointed by God

for how long?

2 Peter 3:8–9 NKJV

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

1 day = a thousand years

not slack but longsuffering (enduring)

to be destroyed in the day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:10–12 NKJV

10 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. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

“thief in the night” - 1 Thessalonians 5.1-3

“pass away” - grk. PARERCHOMAI, to pass by,

not the actual heaven and earth, but the existing order in it

Isaiah 45.18 - created to be inhabited

example - 2 Cor 5.17 (old things have passed away)

Revelation 21.1 - the “first” heaven and earth have passed away

see Rev 20.11

this is the ‘heaven and earth’ of Genesis 1.1

Jesus points to this events

Matthew 24.32-35

this “generation” - time, age

heaven and earth - will passaway at this time

the great day of the Lord ENDS the “present heaven and earth

[SEE ILLUSTRATION NO. 2 - OLD AND PRESENT HEAVEN AND EARTH]

The “new” heaven and earth

2 Peter 3:13 NKJV

13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

[SEE ILLUSTRATION NO. 3 - OLD, PRESENT AND NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH]

Begins with the millennial kingdom

the millennial earth will not be destroyed anymore

will remain - Isaiah 66.22