by Jeffrey W. Hamilton<\/p>\n\t
Text: Psalm 37:1-22<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nI. I believe that all here understand that the earth was never created to be a permanent home\nto mankind\n
A. In contrast to Jesus’ words, the earth and its heaven will cease – Mark 13:31<\/p>\n B. God is eternal, but the world He made will wear out and be cast away – Hebrews\n1:10-12\n
C. The physical world is temporary – II Corinthians 4:18<\/p>\n
II. II Peter 3:10 – The very elements, the substance of the world, will be destroyed<\/p>\n A. The Jehovah Witnesses object saying it is like the flood. The people were\ndestroyed, but the world remained to be repopulated.\n 1. However, look at verse 6. The word “world” does refer to the population,\nbut the in verse 10 the word is “earth.”\n 2. Not only is the earth destroy, but also the heavens. In the plural sense this\nrefers to both the sky and outer space.\n
B. Another attempt is to translate “destroyed” as “discovered”<\/p>\n 1. Actually, some variant manuscripts do include the word “discovered” at the\nend of verse 10.\n 2. However, the variants still contain “in which the heavens will pass away\nwith a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat”\n
3. In addition II Peter 3:12 reads the same, even in the variant manuscripts.<\/p>\n 4. If “discovered” was the proper ending in verse 10, it would mean\n“discovered for destruction”. Its presence does not alter the overall\nmeaning of the text.\n
III. A subtle piece of evidence<\/p>\n A. Genesis 8:22 tells us that as long as the earth remains, the cycle of day and night\nwill not end.\n
B. Yet in end, there will be no night in the new Jerusalem – Revelation 21:23-25<\/p>\n
C. You can’t claim it is just in heaven – Revelation 21:10<\/p>\n
D. With the ending of night, the implication is the ending of the earth<\/p>\n
IV. Verses used to support the claim of an eternal earth<\/p>\n A. The claim is that God’s purpose in creating the world was to create a paradise that\nwas lost by Adam and Eve.\n 1. God’s purpose cannot be thwarted. Hence, God will accomplish His plan in\nthe future.\n 2. The problem with the argument is that the Bible doesn’t say that God\nintended to make this world a paradise.\n
3. The blessings are in the heavenly places – Ephesians 1:3-4<\/p>\n
4. God’s eternal purpose is in Christ, not in the earth – Ephesians 3:10-11<\/p>\n 5. It was God’s eternal purpose to save mankind through Jesus – II Timothy\n1:9-10\n B. Some use Isaiah 45:18 and argue that the earth cannot be destroyed because God\nmade it to be inhabited. If it was destroyed then it was created in vain.\n 1. The fault here is that the earth has been inhabited and God’s purpose in\nusing this world has been accomplished.\n 2. When a house is built, it might stand for generations, but eventually it\nbecomes too old to maintain. Eventually it is torn down to make room for\nsomething else. Does this mean that the builder of the home made it in\nvain? Of course not, it served as a dwelling for many years. It served its\npurpose.\n
3. Recall Hebrews 1:10-12 – The world will wear out and be discarded.<\/p>\n
C. Another favorite verse is Psalm 37:9-11<\/p>\n 1. The argument is that meek have not yet inherited the earth, so it remains to\nbe fulfilled in the future. Thus, they claim, the earth will remain forever (see\nverse 18).\n 2. First, the word translated “earth” is a general term which can refer to the\nearth as a whole or in part.\n a. For instance it can be translated “land” as in Psalm 105:42-45\nwhich refers to Israel inheriting the land of Canaan after their\nwanderings in the wilderness.\n b. That inheritance would remain so long as Israel remained faithful –\nDeuteronomy 16:20\n c. If they sinned, God would remove them from the land –\nDeuteronomy 28:58-64\n d. If they repent, God would return them to their inheritance –\nDeuteronomy 30:1-5\n
3. Such did happen to the Israelites<\/p>\n a. The northern tribes were removed from their inheritance – II Kings\n21:13-15\n b. The southern tribes’ inheritance was given to others – Lamentations\n5:1-2\n c. Yet God promised to let Israel return to its inheritance, but the\nnations who lived in the land could remain if they turned to God –\nJeremiah 12:14-17; Ezekiel 47:13-14, 21-23\n d. It was the faithful, the meek, the righteous who were allowed to\nreturn to the inheritance. – Zephaniah 3:10-13; Zechariah 8:6-12\n
D. A similar verse is Matthew 5:5<\/p>\n
1. In this verse, no mention is made of eternity<\/p>\n 2. God gives favor to the afflicted, the humble or the meek (depending on\nyour translation) – Psalm 147:6\n 3. As we showed “inherit the earth” is an allusion to possessing the land of\nCanaan – Judges 18:9-10\n
4. It was the land of rest – Deuteronomy 12:10<\/p>\n 5. Israel did not remain faithful and could not possess the land of rest, so such\na place of rest remains – Hebrews 4:3-11\n 6. That rest will come when the first things (this world) has passed away –\nRevelation 21:4\n
7. Our inheritance is in heaven – I Peter 1:3-4<\/p>\n
E. But God said the earth abides forever – Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4<\/p>\n
1. The word “forever” does not necessarily mean eternity.<\/p>\n a. The same word is used in Ecclesiastes 1:10 to describe the ancient\ntimes before. The world had a definite starting point. It has not\nexisted eternally.\n b. Sacrifices were “forever” – Leviticus 24:9. Yet those sacrifices\ncame to an end – Hebrews 9:25-28\n c. The temple was built to be used forever – II Chronicles 2:4. Yet\nthat temple no longer stands\n
2. In reality the word is defined to mean a long, indefinite period of time.<\/p>\n F. Those looking for an eternal earth, ignore the fulfillment in the New Testament –\nIsaiah 11:1-10\n
1. They point out that the lion hasn’t lain with the lamb<\/p>\n 2. But note that Paul quotes this passage and applies it to Christ – Romans\n15:12\n
G. Probably a more humorous passage used is Isaiah 65:21-25<\/p>\n
1. A beautiful description of paradise.<\/p>\n
2. But notice the verses prior – Isaiah 65:17-20<\/p>\n 3. Think that this is describing heaven or as the Jehovah Witnesses claim, a\nparadise on earth? Look again at verse 20. There are sinners present! (By\nthe way, even the New World Translation mentions this.)\n
4. In heaven, righteousness dwells – II Peter 3:12-13<\/p>\n
5. Sinners are not present there – Matthew 25:46<\/p>\n
V. No, the earth is not meant to remain for eternity<\/p>\n
A. It has a purpose and will one day wear out.<\/p>\n
B. God has promised to destroy it<\/p>\n
C. Yet a promised land of rest remains. One that is truly eternal. <\/p>\n
D. It is reserved for the faithful, the meek, the righteous.<\/p>\n
E. Will you not become a child of the promise? – Galatians 3:26-29<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalm 37:1-22 I. I believe that all here understand that the earth was never created to be a permanent home to mankind A. In contrast to Jesus’ words, the earth and its heaven will cease – Mark 13:31 B. God is eternal, but the world He made will wear out and be…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[1125,355,339],"class_list":["post-63794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon","tag-end-of-the-world","tag-jehovahs-witnesses","tag-second-coming"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":82739,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/ii-peter-3-and-new-creation-theology\/","url_meta":{"origin":63794,"position":0},"title":"II Peter 3 and New Creation Theology","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Chris Reeves via Unmasking Sophistry, Vol. 5, No. 1, January-March 2025 Peter's words in II Peter 3 are being used today to teach that the righteous will come back after the judgment day and live on a renovated earth for all eternity. Jehovah's Witnesses have used II Peter 3\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51878,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/disbelief-in-the-coming-of-jesus\/","url_meta":{"origin":63794,"position":1},"title":"Disbelief in the Coming of Jesus","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 12, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:1-15 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many false doctrines are rooted in a simple belief that word or phrase that has a particular meaning in one context has the same meaning in all other contexts. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For example, the Greek word presbuteros in Acts 2:17 means someone advanced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":56104,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-end-of-the-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":63794,"position":2},"title":"The End of the World","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 24, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"by Irvin Himmel via Truth Magazine, XV: 38, pp. 8-10, August 5, 1971 Among many religionists, there is an expectation that Christ will come again and reign on earth. Some believe that the eternal abode of the righteous will be on the same globe which we now inhabit, following a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18175,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/peter-cant-be-referring-to-the-physical-elements-being-destroyed-can-he\/","url_meta":{"origin":63794,"position":3},"title":"Peter can’t be referring to the physical elements being destroyed, can he?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 19, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: To get to my point here, it is stated in the study you gave me on \"The Second Coming of the Lord\" that in II Peter 3 is talking about the \"end of the world.\" Let us have a closer examination of it, and we will find it means\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":83732,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-stretched-out-the-earth-over-the-waters-mean\/","url_meta":{"origin":63794,"position":4},"title":"What does “stretched out the Earth over the waters” mean?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: \"To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever\" (Psalms 136:6). What does \"stretched out the earth above the waters\" mean? Is there any connection between this verse and II Peter 3:5-7? Answer: There are several passages that indicate that the land\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58451,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/isnt-there-a-textual-variation-in-ii-peter-310\/","url_meta":{"origin":63794,"position":5},"title":"Isn’t there a textual variation in II Peter 3:10?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear Sirs. I have read your Web page critiquing the NWT of Jehovah's Witnesses. Very interesting. May I just address just one of the scripture places you examined, namely II Peter 3:10? It seems you think the NWT mistranslates it here. But they did not as the verb they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63794\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}