“The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.”—
Psalm 37:29.
“[God] has established the earth on its foundations; it will not be moved from its place forever and ever.”—
Psalm 104:5.
“The earth remains forever.”—
Ecclesiastes 1:4.
“The One who formed the earth, its Maker who firmly established it, . . . did not create it simply for nothing, but formed it to be inhabited.”—
Isaiah 45:18.
God will not allow humans to ruin the earth completely by pollution, warfare, or any other means. Rather, he will “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” (
Revelation 11:18)
Similar to the waters of the Flood, the destruction, or “fire,” of
2 Peter 3:7 will bring an
end to the world of wicked people, not to planet Earth. God promises “new heavens and a new earth” in which “righteousness is to dwell.” (
2 Peter 3:13) A “new earth,” or new human society, will be ruled over by “new heavens,” or new leadership—God’s Kingdom. Under the rule of that Kingdom, the earth will become a peaceful paradise.—
Revelation 21:1-4.