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Posted: 05/21/2011 at 9:40am
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The Seventh Millennium
Chapter 7
Will God burn Planet Earth in judgment, or is He cleansing
and purifying it?
From the wording of the English Bible translations
it appears there is no doubt that God’s plan is to burn up the
planet. The cornerstone scripture for the belief that God will burn
the planet in judgment is 2 Peter 3.
I was shocked when I first looked into the Greek wording of
this chapter. The limited revelation of the time and the defeatist
mindset of the translators is very apparent in this passage. Some
words were used in this passage that are not used anywhere else in
Scripture and some Greek words are translated differently in this
passage than anywhere else in the Bible.
Peter in his flamboyant manner was led of the Spirit to use the
strongest possible language to communicate the total annihilation of
the complete evil world order, and not the destruction of Planet
Earth. I wonder who would want us to believe in the destruction of
the planet?
In chapter two Peter refers to the judgment of the world by
flood and the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven.
In these judgments the planet was not destroyed but was purified by
the destruction of the evil. When God made a covenant with Noah
and all surviving living things after the flood, He used the phrase
“destroy the earth”. (Gen. 9:11) He promised that He would never
again bring a flood to “destroy the earth.” Yet the planet had not
been destroyed by the flood. On the contrary, the planet was purified
as evil man and his disorderly ungodly ways were destroyed.
Peter spoke by the Spirit of God in this same manner, in 2 Peter.
Although our English Bible translations makes it seem without a
doubt that Peter spoke of the destruction of the planet, a closer look
at the actual Greek text reveals that it does not necessarily speak of
the destruction of the planet.
In the limited amount of study that I have been able to accomplish
in comparing the original Greek text with our English translations,
I have become reassured of the general accuracy of the translations.
There are not many places where recently renewed revelation
has exposed translator error based on the translators limited
revelation. I believe that 2 Peter, chapter three contains, what is
perhaps, the most regrettable and damaging translation errors of all
Scripture. The translators were strongly affected by the wide spread,
long standing belief that the earth and most of what was in it was
evil and could not be saved but must be destroyed in judgment and
replaced with another earth. This belief caused them to depart from
their own translation practices and make translation errors. They
translated some words different from each and every other time the
same words were used elsewhere in Scripture. The translators also
departed from the context of the passage and added an additional
meaning apart from its context.
It will require some effort on the readers part, but anyone who
is receiving the revelation of the kingdom of God, that Jesus taught
and preached, can, with some study, understand what Peter was
really saying and see exactly where the English translations are in
error. In this study, it will become obvious that Peter did not speak
of the dissolving of the planet, nor the destruction of heaven. He did
not speak of the planet being burned into nonexistence by the fire of
God. He did speak of a great judgment from God against evil, especially
evil men, with all their high and lifted up prideful practices.
He also spoke of the burning of everything that man’s evil ways
have built, from its highest point to its very core and root.
In 2 Peter 3:7, the Greek word “ge”* is interpreted to mean the
physical, material Planet Earth. The Greek word “ge” (ghay), translated
“earth”, in 2 Peter 3:7, has almost exactly the same meaning as
the Hebrew word “'erets”* (eh'-rets), translated “earth” in Genesis
9:11, where God spoke of never again destroying the earth by
flood, yet the planet was not destroyed into nonexistence. “Ge”
does not necessarily mean the planet. It is also translated: country,
earthly, ground, land, and world.
The misinterpretation of the word “ge” in this instance, as meaning
the material physical planet is the basis used by translators to
view this entire passage as dealing with the destruction of the planet.
Based on this interpretation of verse seven other words such as,
“elements”, “melt”, and “dissolved” are uniquely translated in this
chapter to reflect physical destruction of the planet. When Peter
spoke of fire on the earth he spoke in the same manner as God when
He spoke of the flood destroying the earth.
There is no doubt that a great destructive judgment is described
in 2 Peter. The question is exactly what is destroyed and what is
purified by the judgmental destruction. The subject of chapters two
and three is ungodly men and their judgment: “false prophets”, “false
teachers”, “unjust men”, “those who walk according to the flesh and
despise authority”, and those who “turn from the holy commandment
and are again entangled”. Peter tells us what is being judged
and what he is speaking about in 2 Peter
2 Peter 3:7: But the heavens and the earth which are now
preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of
judgment and perdition (destruction) of ungodly men.
*H776. 'erets, eh'-rets; from an unused root prob. mean. to be firm;
the earth (at large, or partitively a land):-- X common, country, earth,
field, ground, land, X nations, way, + wilderness, world.
*G1093 ge, ghay; contr. from a prim. word; soil; by extens. a region,
or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (includ. the occupants in
each application):--country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world.
--------------------------------
Ungodly man is the focus of the fiery judgment. Is this verse
saying that purification fire is being kept in heaven for earth, for the
destruction of ungodly men, not that the fire is for the destruction
of heaven and the planet? As the flood cleansed the earth so the fire
of God will purify the earth.
The English translations seem to suggest that even the abode of
God will be destroyed with a big bang that will burn and dissolve
the planet as well. Or at least the sky and air will all be dissolved
with the planet. We must reexamine the Greek words and their meaning
in 2 Peter 3:10-12.
In both the Hebrew and the Greek the word for fire speaks of
purification and judgment. Peter is profoundly saying something to
the effect that: All the evil ungodly people, with all their evil ways
and works, the very rudiments of their evil lives, with all they have
done or built by their lust, greed, sorcery, evil strife, carousing, rebellion,
and unloving ways, are going to be totally torn down, dissipated,
and burned. Their evil works and power will be dissolved by
the fire of God’s judgment, from the very deepest root to the most
lofty prideful branch.
2 Pet 3:10 KJV: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation
and godliness,
(12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of
God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
The Greek word translated “heavens” is “ouranos”* (oo-ranos')
and means the sky or the abode of God. By implication it means
happiness, or eternity, or the Gospel. Surely God is not going to
destroy these things so that they no longer exist. Nothing here needs
to be dissolved or burned up.
The word translated “pass away” is parerchomai,* (par-er'-
khom-ahee) and means to come near or aside, to approach or
arrive, to go by or to go away. It can mean figuratively to perish or
neglect. It is also translated: come, come forth, go, pass away, pass
by, pass over, past, and transgress. Obviously this word does not
necessarily mean to be destroyed or vanish.
The word translated “great” is huperogkos,* (hoop-er’-ongkos)
and means super, bulging over, burden or weight.
The word translated “noise” is rhoizedon,* (hroyd-zay-don')
and is used only this one time in Scripture. It means a whir or whizzing
sound like a crash. It could be something like a great fiery
roaring wind.
------------------------------
G3772 ouranos, oo-ran-os'; perh. from the same as G3735 (through
the idea of elevation); the sky; by extens. heaven (as the abode of God);
by impl. happiness, power, eternity; spec. the Gospel (Christianity):--air,
heaven ([-ly]), sky.
G3928. parerchomai, par-er'-khom-ahee; from G3844 and G2064;
to come near or aside, i.e. to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (fig.)
perish or neglect, (caus.) avert:--come (forth), go, pass (away, by, over),
past, transgress.
G5246. huperogkos, hoop-er'-ong-kos; from G5228 and G3591;
bulging over, i.e. (fig.) insolent:--great swelling. G3591. ogkos, ong'-kos;
prob. from the same as G43; a mass (as bending or bulging by its load),
i.e. burden (hindrance):--weight.
G4500. rhoizedon, hroyd-zay-don'; adv. from a der. of rhoizos (a
whir); whizzingly, i.e. with a crash:--with a great noise.
-----------------------------
So far, this portion of the verse could be saying that heaven, is
approaching and coming near, with a great bulging over burden,
and a roaring, crashing sound. If God, just talking, is like
great thunder, what might His stored up wrath released against evil
sound like?
Heb 12:25-29: See that you do not refuse Him who speaks.
For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth,
much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who
speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now
He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the
earth, but also heaven. Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal
(disestablishment) of those [things] that are being shaken, as of
[things] that are made, that the [things] which cannot be shaken
may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming
fire.
The word translated “removal” in the above passage, is “metathesis”*
(met-ath'-es-is) and means transposition, or
disestablishment and is also translated “change” or “translation”.
The phrase “things that are made” does not point toward material
physical earth. It can indicate what is done or has been done.
Also the word “things” is not in the Greek text at all in this portion
of Scripture.
The next key word in 2 Peter 3:10 is the word interpreted, in
this passage as the basic physical elements of the earth. This is the
only time this word is interpreted to mean physical elements.
The word translated “elements” is “stoicheion”*, (stoy-khi'-on)
and means something orderly in arrangement, a basal, fundamental,
initial serial, constituent. In other words, “stoicheion” means the
basic, foundational, principles of an order. In this passage it specifically
refers to the foundations of the evil order affecting earth, not
the physical elements of the planet.
Stoicheion is used seven times in the New Testament in every
case it refers to basic principles or rudiments, either of the doctrines
and oracles of God or of the evil world order. In no other
place is it interpreted as referring to the physical elements.
Heb 5:12 KJV: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers,
ye have need that one teach you again which be the (stoicheion)
first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as
have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Gal 4:3 KJV: Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the ( stoicheion) elements of the world:
Gal 4:9 KJV: But now, after that ye have known God, or
rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
(stoicheion) elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in
bondage?
Col 2:8 KJV: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the
(stoicheion) rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:20 KJV: Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the
(stoicheion) rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the
world, are ye subject to ordinances,
-------------------------
*G3331. metathesis, met-ath'-es-is; from G3346; transposition, i.e.
transferral (to heaven), disestablishment (of a law):--change, removing,
translation. G3346. metatithemi, met-at-ith'-ay-mee; from G3326 and
G5087; to transfer, i.e. (lit.) transport, (by impl.) exchange, (reflex.) change
sides, or (fig.) pervert:--carry over, change, remove, translate, turn.
*G4747. stoicheion, stoy-khi'-on; neut. of a presumed der. of the
base of G4748; something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by impl.) a serial
(basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (lit.), proposition (fig.).
----------------------------
In 2 Peter 3:10&12, the meaning is the same. The elements
that are “dissolved” with fervent heat are the rudimental elements
of the evil world order; the basic desires, drives, beliefs and assumptions
with all the actions, deeds, accomplishments, and whatever
else they make or made.
2 Pet 3:10 KJV: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief
in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the
earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation
and godliness,
(12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of
God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and
the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
The word “dissolved” in verses 11&12, and the word “melt”
in verse 10, is the Greek word “luo” (loo'-o), a prime verb meaning
to loosen. It is used 45 times in the New Testament and is almost
always translated loose, loosed, loosing, or unloose and on no
other occasion is it translated dissolve or melt. It is only translated
dissolve or melt in 2 Peter 3:10-12. This erroneous translation
could only be made by the translator having a fixed preconceived
belief that the passage was talking about the destruction of
the planet into nonexistence. Luo is sometimes used to indicate the
loosening of a strong structure to its destruction. Twice luo is translated
“destroy”.
------------------------------
G3089. luo, loo'-o; a prim. verb; to "loosen" (lit. or fig.):--break
(up), destroy, dissolve, (un-) loose, melt, put off
-------------------------------
John 2:19: Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy (luo)
this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
1 John 3:8b: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy (luo) the works of the devil.
Luo (loose) is used in the sense of loosening the stones of a
strong building, thus destroying the order of it and its existence as a
building or strong structure. Peter is saying in this passage that the
strongholds of the evil world order are to be destroyed or loosened.
The word translated “melt” in verse 12 is a different word. It
is not luo. It is a word used only this one time in the New Testament.
Apparently Peter in his exuberance was really reaching for a word
to describe the absolute and complete defeat and annihilation of the
evil world order. The word he used is “teko”, (tay'-ko) a prime
verb meaning to liquefy. To liquefy implies the removal of all
strength, to totally defeat and incapacitate the enemy. In modern day
vernacular we might say something like, “He really ‘creamed’,
‘whipped’, or ‘pulverized’ the opponent.”
Verse 12, speaks of the heavens being on fire. The word translated
“on fire” is “puroo” (poo-ro'-o), meaning to kindle, to be
ignited, glow, be refined, or figuratively to be inflamed with anger,
grief, or lust. This word does not necessarily imply the heavens
are being burned up. The heavens are inflamed with the wrath
of God against evil and the evil world order.
------------------------------
G4448. puroo, poo-ro'-o; from G4442; to kindle, i.e. (pass.) to be
ignited, glow (lit.), be refined (by impl.), or (fig.) to be inflamed (with
anger, grief, lust):--burn, fiery, be on fire, try. G4442. pur, poor; a prim.
word; "fire" (lit. or fig., spec. lightning):--fiery, fire.
-----------------------------
Are these verses not saying that heaven, is approaching and
coming near, with a great bulging over burden of wrath against evil,
and with a great roaring, crashing sound? And the rudimental elements
of the evil world order are loosened (destroyed) with the
heat of God’s judgment, that all the evil works shall be burned to
the bare ground? And seeing that all the evil world order will be
loosened (destroyed) we should live holy godly lives? And that we
should be expecting and hastening the fire of destruction liquefying
the rudiments and works of the evil world order?
2 Pet 3:13: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look
for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Could the new creation “new heavens and new earth” be the
redeemed creation set free (loosed) from the bondages of the rudiments
or elements of the evil world order? Are the new heavens the
redeemed heavens around the earth set free from the prince of the
power of the air and his evil order. (Eph. 2:1-2) God speaks of redeemed
man as a new creation of whom He says all things are made
new in 2 Corinthians.
2 Cor. 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new.
Surely when one is cleansed of sin and set free from the bondages
of evil by the work of Christ Jesus, one is a new creation and
everything is seen from a new perspective. Similarly the work of
God from heaven purifying the earth will cause it to become a new
earth filled with righteousness, peace and joy. The new heaven (the
atmosphere around earth) will no longer affected by the work of the
enemy. Jesus has already defeated the enemy and now lives in believers
to set men free and have a part in setting the earth free.
Is it possible that we as the mature sons of God have some
part in flowing forth the powerful fire of God to restore the world
to God’s order, and to redeem and renew our planet and its atmosphere
from the bulging over burden of evil? And is it possible that
evil men had, and yet have something to do with the bringing forth
of the evil world order? Is it also possible that the New Jerusalem
is the purified holy people of God free from influences of the evil
world order?
Rom 8:19-22: For the earnest expectation of the creation
eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation
was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him
who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be
delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty
of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation
groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
Isa 65:17-19: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new
earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I
create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will
rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping
shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
Isa 66:22: For as the new heavens and the new earth Which
I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall
your descendants and your name remain.
Rev 21:1-5: Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for
the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there
was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying,
"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell
with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be
with them and be their God. "And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor
crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I
make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words
are true and faithful."
Whether 2 Peter is speaking of the heavens (the abode of God)
coming near to earth with fire for loosening (destroying) the evil
world order, on the earth, and in the atmosphere around the earth; or
whether it speaks only of the heavens (atmosphere around the earth)
and the earth being filled with the purifying fire of God, in either
case it is speaking of the purification of the earth. Not the physical
elements of the planet and its atmosphere being eliminated by
judgmental fire from God.
Certainly God may choose to remove all or any part of His
creation at any time. Or perhaps the earth will naturally grow old
and be replaced. But that is very different from judgmental destruction.
All hope of man anchors in the promises of God. The only
assurance of continued existence for man and earth is the words of
God. The words and promises of God are the only absolute assurance
for man. The words of Jesus Christ are more sure than heaven
and earth. Even if the sky and earth were to pass away the words of
God will remain and shall not pass away.
Mat 24:35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words
shall not pass away.
This verse also does not speak of the planet being destroyed
by judgment. The emphasis here is the permanence of the words of
God. In the context of this passage, Jesus is talking about the judgments
upon evil men and the evil world order. Stating that one will
be taken and another left. Thus signifying the removal of some, not
the annihilation of the planet.
Is the day of the Lord happening as a thief in the night
while people of the world do not believe or expect?
Edited by Ron McGatlin on 05/21/2011 at 9:57am
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Topic: SOUND THE ALARM
. I knew my spirit was praying it and proclaiming it and that is the realm where it is sounding off and the Lord will creatively move through us in the natural.
