Question:
Will you please explain the last clause of Psalms 78:69 and Ecclesiastes 1:4? In the former text, we read, “And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever;” and in Ecclesiastes 1:4, “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.” But is it not true that the earth will burn up with its wicked inhabitants and come to an end?
Answer:
That is a common belief, but no. When God created the earth, He did not make it to be destroyed. He bases His very existence upon His power to preserve His work. See Isaiah 45:18: “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” Again in Psalms 115:16: “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” In Psalm 37, we have the promise repeatedly repeated that the righteous shall receive their reward in the earth; not only the righteous but also the wicked. “…the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” “…the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” Our Lord echoes the same thought when He declares in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (See Matthew 5:5).
In referring to the glorious triumph over sin, the prophet Daniel declares, “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Daniel 7:27). Read also Revelation 21 and 22, where the new heavens and earth are portrayed before us; in other words, heaven and the earth are renewed by the power of God.
“World” in the New Testament often comes from a Greek word meaning “age.” The world, or age, will end; but the earth, the material earth, purified by the fires of the last day and the power of God, will abide forever. Sometimes “world” comes from a word meaning “the inhabited earth.” Of course, there will come a time when it will be without an inhabitant, but sin shall not work its will in the domain of God. “World” also comes from a word meaning “order, beauty, arrangement.” That, too, comes to an end. The earth will be purified from sin by fire that proceeds out of heaven from God (see Revelation 20:9), but it will continue forever.
