Clearly, heaven and earth did not pass away in the days of Noah's Flood.
This is a total red herring. Who said Scripture said that? This only occurs at the second coming. This is another deflection from the facts presented. All the rest is spiritualizing away God's literal truth.
You reinforce my thesis in the Op:
(6) Many testify that they are Premillennial because they take the Word of God literal, yet, when you put their theology to the test an opposite picture unfolds. Premillennialism spiritualizes the literal passages and literalizes the spiritual passages. Their hyper-literalistic approach to highly-figurative Revelation is a case-in-point. Their own hermeneutics actually forbids their beliefs. As Kim Riddlebarger says: “Their own hermeneutics will not bear the weight that is assigned to it … they cannot make good on their own stated hermeneutics”
The earth remaining forever does not negate the regeneration of the current corrupt earth. It will be glorified to accommodate the glorified saints. The wicked are not worthy to inherit it.
In Luke 20:34-36, Jesus basically compares the temporal imperfect state of this present age/world to the glory of the age/world to come. Jesus says:
“The children of this world (or
aion or
age)
marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy (or
kataxioō)
to obtain that world (or
aion or
age),
and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”
This couldn’t be any clearer.
Those that are worthy to obtain the age to come are not mortals and not sinners; they are the glorified saints – who are said to never die. The Lord makes it clear “
they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels.”
It is “the children of God” alone that are glorified and therefore past from life unto death. It is
“they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world (or
aion or age).” This privileged group no longer engage in temporal earthly relationships
“Neither can they die any more.” First, we see it is only the elect that are worthy of inheriting the age to come, secondly, according to Jesus, death is not possible in the next age (i.e., “that age”). This favoured group cannot die because they possess eternal glorified bodies. This totally negates the Premil paradigm.
We cannot overlook the clear teaching that one must be “accounted worthy to obtain” the “world (or age)” to come. This is a very definite precondition for entering the new earth. That worthiness is obviously found in Christ. All that are saved when the Master returns will immediately be glorified, thus perfectly qualifying them to inhabit the newly regenerated earth. We see this mentioned in this reading. It is only those deemed fully justified that make it. There is only a certain type of person therefore that Christ counts worthy to
“obtain” or tugchano meaning ‘to attain or secure an object or end’. It is a personal relation with Christ. There is no other ticket into the eternal state.
The children of the wicked one are not worthy to populate the new regenerated earth. As we have highlighted, the phrase
“to obtain that world” is taken from the single Greek word
kataxioo which means ‘to deem entirely deserving’. It plainly requires special merit to inherit the age to come.
No, I'm trying to agree with what I think Scripture teaches, to be completely consistent. As above, the earth is not to be annihilated. But the dissolution of the elements can certainly take place wherever a major fire takes place or where a hydrogen bomb blows up.
And when the Bible speaks of an "earth experience," it begins with a local experience, since the earth is not looked at as a "globe" as much as a home, or real estate. I would say the heavens and the earth disappear when a bomb goes off in my county, and all I see is the darkness of smoke.
I would say "the whole earth is on fire," referring to my local region. And if that happens in regions all across the earth, the same words would be used, and even apply globally without universal annihilation.
For years, Premils have boasted that they are the true literalists. They have, in turn, criticized Amils, and condemned them for spiritualizing. Ironically, this criticism has arisen due to the figurative approach Amils have to the most symbolic book in the Bible - Revelation. Of course, that is not true. I have shown for quite some time that the opposite is actually true. Premils spiritualize what is literal and literalize what is spiritual. Above is a case-in-point.
A careful study of the Greek words
ouranos and gē mentioned in 2 Peter 3, which some Premils are forced to redefine, shows your interpretation to be in error. 59 times in the New Testament
“heaven” and “earth” are found together in the same passage describing exactly what the outside of the box says – what most ordinary people would understand as the “heaven” and “earth.” Interestingly in every case the two Greek words
ouranos and
gē are employed to describe the heavenly realm and the globe of the earth. Philippians 2:10 is the only slight variation, although it is only a technical difference, where a literal reading of the text should read ‘earthly’ (
epigeios) and ‘heavenly’ (
epouranios). However, both significantly were derived from the same two repeated Greek words used elsewhere to describe “heaven” and “earth” –
ouranos and
gē. What is more, of the 6 references to “heavens” (plural) and “earth” all use these two same Greek words.
I'm not looking for followers--only disciples of Jesus like I am. If I'm wrong I pray that God shows me the error of my ways. I have no axe to grind--I just love the Bible. And I love God's word to me personally. Thanks for sharing your concerns. It well sums up the problem.
Then take God's Word literally when it is intended to be literal!
