Is There An End To The World?

Concerning the end of the world, there appears to be a strong belief by many Christians that our current world will never end.  That on or after Judgement Day, God will remake the earth to make it new again.  They believe that the current earth will always exist. That God will basically remake or renew the surface of our planet. However, this is inaccurate due to errors in translation of several popular Bibles, such as the KJV which was translated in 1614(1).   If you read current Biblical translations from the oldest original texts that are available, you can easily see these errors.  Select modern translations are more accurate due to being translated using recently discovered ancient Biblical texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

The most commonly quoted scripture from these Bibles supporting this contention that this world will never end is Ephesians 3:21, 2 Peter 3:10 and Revelation 20:11.  However, the more accurate translations states the heavens and the earth will pass away and be replaced.  That on Judgement Day, God will burn with fire everything that currently exists and replace both the heavens and the earth with new heavens and earth. This belief is supported by many other Biblical scripture in the New and Old Testament.  Some of these other passages are Hebrews 1:10-12Matthew 24:35Revelation 21:12 Peter 3:7 and Isaiah 34:4

It should be noted that some individuals also believe that the fire mentioned in the Bible in relation to these verses is nuclear fire. However, there appear to be two problems with that assumption.  First, nuclear explosion leaves scorched earth and not a new earth and secondly, any nuclear explosion can not go into the heavens.  It is confined or limited to this earth!!  Therefore a nuclear explosion could not make both the earth and heavens pass away.  Only God can do that and then replace them with a new earth and new heavens as the Bible states.

Another thought to consider is why would God give those individuals who are saved NEW immortal non-perishable (incorruptible) bodies, but not a new earth and heavens? Especially when considering this verse in Revelation.

Revelation 21:5 ESV
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

One of the strongest verses saying there will be an end to the heavens and the earth was spoken by Jesus.

Luke 21:33 ESV
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus states that heaven and earth will pass away.  What else do you need as proof that the world we are currently living on will no longer exists at some point and then be replaced by a new world?  I think it can easily be seen in these verses presented that this world will end!!

Below are some more current Biblical verses that support this position. (emphasis mine) 

Ephesians 3:21 KJV(1)
“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:21 AEB(2)
“may He be glorified by the called ones and by the Anointed Jesus into all generations through ages of ages… may it be so!”

Ephesians 3:21 ESV
“to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Peter 3:10-13 AEB(2)
“However, the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief! But then the skies will become extremely hot, their basic parts will melt, and they will pass away with a hissing noise. And thereafter, the land and everything that’s being done on it will be exposed!  So, since all these things are about to be released; what sort of people should you be when it comes to holy conduct and godliness?  Why, we’re awaiting and anticipating the appearance of the Day of the Lord, during which the skies will burn and dissolve and their basic parts will melt due to the intense heat!  For, we’re awaiting the new skies and land that He has promised, in which righteousness will dwell! “

2 Peter 3:10-13 ESV(3)
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Revelation 20:11 AEB(2)
” Then I saw someone sitting on a huge white throne; and before him the earth and the sky just vanished and couldn’t be found.”

Revelation 20:11 ESV(3)
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence the earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

Hebrews 1:10-12 AEB(2)
“And, ‘In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth, and [you] made the heavens with your hands.  But they’ll pass away while you still remain; for like clothes, they will grow old.”

1 Corinthians 7:31 ESV(3)
“… For the present form of this world is passing away.”

Hebrews 1:10-12 ESV(3)
And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment”

Matthew 24:35 AEB(2)
“Though the skies and the lands may all pass away, my words will not pass away!”

Matthew 24:35 ESV(3)
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”.”

Revelation 21:1 AEB(2)
“Then I saw a new sky and new lands, because the previous sky and lands had disappeared, as had the sea.”

Revelation 21:1 ESV(3)
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

2 Peter 3:7 AEB(2)
“So it’s by this same word that what’s in store for the skies and the land is the fire that [will come to them] in the Judgment Day, when those godless men will be destroyed.”

2 Peter 3:7 ESV(3)
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”

Isaiah 34:4 AEB(2)
Then the powers of the heavens will melt; 
The sky will be wrapped like a scroll, 
And all the stars will then fall
Like the leaves of a grapevine or fig tree.”

Isaiah 34:4 ESV(3)
“All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.”

References
(1) The KJV was translated first in 1611 from several other translations including the Textus Receptus and Jerome’s Latin Vulgate.  There are four versions of the KJV with over 100,000 differences between each version and translations for the KJV were combined from over 50 different translators.

(2) From the American English Bible Translation (Current ongoing translation from original texts into American English & most accurate translation)

(3) From the English Standard Version Bible Translation (Modern translation)

By Larry Shawn Cagle

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