A New Heaven And A New Earth?

I have a question about Earth and its standing after Jesus comes. One television preacher says Earth will never pass away. Yet, I remember a verse that says something like, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Can you clarify that for me?

Q. Hi Jack. Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity to ask Bible-based questions!

I have a question about Earth and its standing after Jesus comes. One television preacher says Earth will never pass away. Yet, I remember a verse that says something like, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Can you clarify that for me? Thanks!

A. The passage you’re quoting is from Matt. 24:35. Rev. 21:1, echoing Isaiah 65:17, speaks of a new Heaven and a new Earth. Some believe this means that the current Heaven and Earth will be made fresh, or put into a like new condition, rather than be completely replaced.

2 Peter 3:10 explains that the current Heaven and Earth will be consumed by fire. I heard one scholar say that God would convert all matter into energy and then back into matter at the snap of a finger to accomplish this.

But regardless of how He does this, the words of Jesus still stand. Heaven and Earth, as we know them, will cease to exist.