Question: Are the “heavens” and “earth” in 2 Peter 3 literal, and will the earth be literally burned up?
Answer: The passage in question is 2 Peter 3:7,10-12:
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men... But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons 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 kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire!”
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Author: George Booker
Keywords: Earth burned up, Burnt earth, Earth destroyed, Will the earth be destroyed by fire, Destroyed by fire, Earth destroyed by fire
Bible reference(s): 2 Peter 3:7, 2 Peter 3:10-12
Source: “Earth Burned Up,” The Agora.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.