On the day that Christ returns (i.e., “the last day”), all of the dead will be raised at the same time (John 5:28-29) and all people will be removed from the earth (1 Thess. 4:16-17). At that time, the Bible plainly teaches that this material planet, and everything in it, will be destroyed by fire.
However, some teach today that the earth will not destroyed when Christ returns. Those who espouse the doctrine of premillennialism claim that Jesus will establish an earthly kingdom and reign on the earth for 1,000 years. Did you know that the Bible nowhere speaks of Jesus ever stepping foot back on the earth, but rather than He will return “in the air” (1 Thess. 4:15-17)? Others are teaching today that the earth is going to be purified by fire and will then become “heaven” for God’s people for all of eternity. But what does the Scripture teach?
The Scripture repeatedly and emphatically makes a clear distinction between “heaven” and “earth.” Read the words of Jesus (Matt. 5:34-35; 6:10, 19-10; John 14:1-3). Read the words of the apostles (Phil. 3:19-21; Col. 3:1-2; 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:3-4). “Heaven” and “earth” are not the same and never will be! Heaven, the dwelling place of God, existed eternally before earth was ever created and will exist eternally after earth is destroyed, and it will become the eternal dwelling of the righteous with their God when they leave this earth forever.
The Scripture teaches that when Christ returns the earth and everything in it will be destroyed. The earth will “pass away” (Matt. 24:35; 2 Pet. 3:10), which is a term that means “to come to an end and so no longer be there; perish.” The earth will have “fled away” (Rev. 20:11), which is a term that means “to cease being visible, vanish, disappear.”
Read 2 Peter 3:10-12. “The heavens will pass away with a great noise,” which indicates “something passing with great force and rapidity.” “The elements will melt with fervent heat.” The elements are “the basic elements from which everything in the world is made and of which it is composed”; and they are going to “melt,” which emphasizes “the parts of the universe [will be] broken up and destroyed in the final conflagration.” The word for “fervent heat” means to “be consumed by heat, burn up…destroyed by burning.” “The earth and the works that are in it will be burned up,” which means to “consume by fire.”
The very fundamental components that make up the earth and everything in it will be completely consumed. There will be nothing left on which man to abide. Where are you laying up your treasures (Matt. 6:19-21)? Where is your mind set (Col. 3:1-2)? Let us be properly prepared for that day!