EARTH
All bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard bible, unless otherwise noted.

We realize this essay can get a bit deep in digging through bible scripture. Therefore, don't be afraid to take just a little "bite" at a time if you need to. And, as always, continue to test all teachings.

INTRODUCTION

From the beginning, God intended for the earth to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18) and filled with people (Genesis 1:27-28, 9:1,7). Humankind is intended to be the custodians of the earth and it's inhabitants (Genesis 1:26, Genesis 9:2). God will fulfill this intention as indicated by Isaiah 55:8-11 and Hebrews 1:25. Further support is found in scriptures such as Psalms 37:11 (the meek will possess the earth), Psalms 37:29 (righteous will live forever on the earth), and Matthew 5:5 (the righteous will inherit the earth). There is no mention of death and an eventual life in a separate heavenly realm as an original plan for our existence. Death was only installed as a consequence for sin (Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:3, Romans 5:12 and 6:7,23).

EARTH'S PERMANENCE

In order for mankind to reside forever on the earth, this would require the earth to exist forever. The bible says the earth will exist forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4, Psalms 104:5). However, many interpret the bible as saying the earth will be incinerated by God, quoting from 2 Peter 3:10, which says:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (American Standard Version)

What are we to make of this?

If you compare various translations of this scripture, some translations will say the earth will be burnt up (New American Standard Version, Amplified Bible, King James Version, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Translation, etc.), others say it will be laid bare, (New International Version, etc.) and yet others say it will be exposed or discovered (The Message, Holman Christian Standard Bible, New Living Translation, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New World Translation, etc. ). Since this verse is translated in a variety of ways, how can we know what is originally meant? Referring to the interlinear bible (interlinears show the original Hebrew and Greek text of the bible, translated literally), we see what the original wording for the scripture is. To gain access to the online interlinear bible version, please go to: http://www.scripture4all.org

The interlinear text of this scripture shows the original Greek wording used was "The land... shall be found." The Greek word for "found" is "heurisko". By using bible study supports such as Strong's Greek Lexicon, we know the word "heurisko", is defined as follows:
Word entry #2147. heurisko hyoo-ris'-ko, a prolonged form of a primary heuro hyoo'-ro, which (together with another cognate form) heureo hyoo-reh'-o is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.

Some readers continue to hold to the "burned up" doctrine, because the verse also states "and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat...." Again, if you look to the interlinear, you will see that the Greek word translated as "elements" was the word "stoicheia", derived from the word "stoicheion". Looking up this Greek word also in the Strong's Greek Lexicon, we see this entry:
4747. stoicheion stoy-khi'-on neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of 4748; something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively):--element, principle, rudiment.
4748. stoicheo stoy-kheh'-o from a derivative of steicho (to range in regular line); to march in (military) rank (keep step), i.e. (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety:--walk (orderly).

Putting these definitions together, we see the passage is originally telling us:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the [conformity/piety] shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be [seen].

As you know, it is impossible to physically burn away mental concepts (conformity and piety). It seems, instead, this passage is telling us that all pretense and conformity will be done away with, exposing the true worshipers from the counterfeit worshipers.

Many continue to point to the part that says "the heavens shall pass away..." believing this still supports the "burned up " doctrine. Again, according to the online interlinear, the Greek word for "shall pass away" is "parerchomai". According to the Strong's lexicon, this is word #3928 and is defined as:
parerchomai par-er'-khom-ahee from 3844 and 2064; to come near or aside, i.e. to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert:--come (forth), go, pass (away, by, over), past, transgress.
Therefore, we see that the phrase "pass away" isn't in reference to death or destruction; it is in reference to passing by, coming near or approaching. This is the same exact Greek word used at Matthew 24:35 ("The Heaven and Earth shall pass away...") and thus the same applies there as well. Lastly, some will point to the scriptures at Revelation Chapter 8, which speaks of a disaster of fire and of a burning mountain falling to earth. Let's take a look at what is said:

1 -- Revelation 8:7 tells us that only 1/3 of the earth will be plagued with fire. That leaves a majority of 2/3 left. Note, this also specifies only 1/3 of the dirt, plants and vegetation are burned up -- it says nothing about animals, humans, or anything else suffering that particular catastrophe.

2 -- Although other verses in Revelation 8 speak of a fiery mountain being thrown to earth (vs. 8), and a burning star falling to earth (vs. 9), these are not spoken of as burning anything on the earth; instead they cause other plagues (the sea turning into blood, and fresh water becoming poisonous). Going back to vs. 5 it says a censer with fire is hurled to earth, from which the online interlinear bible says the fiery censer became thunders and sounds and lightnings and quakes. Again, no mention of this incinerating the Earth.

As we can see, original scripture meaning does not say the earth is going to be destroyed by global fire. To teach the earth will be globally incinerated goes against all the other scriptures which say the earth will stand forever (Psalms 104:5, 119:90, Ecclesiastes 1:4), and that God never had the idea of burning people alive come into His heart (Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5, 32:35). It also goes against the scripture in which God Himself states He would never destroy the surface of the earth again on account of humanity and that the earth will continue forever (Genesis 8:21-22). Since Yahweh cannot lie (Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18), and His word always come true (Isaiah 55:8-11), we can be assured that global incineration is not in God's plan for the earth.