Garwood Presbyterian Church

The End of the Earth, But Not the End of the Story

Psalm 46, 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Peter 3:7-15, Revelation 21:1-7
#4 In "Your Future Foretold"

1. Sometime In the Future, the Earth Will Be Destroyed
   1. Many Scriptures in the Bible indicate this is true.

      1.	Deu. 32:22	12.	Isaiah 66:14-16	23.	Mark 13:18-20, 24-25
      2.	2 Sam. 22:10, 16	13.	Jeremiah 25:30-38	24.	Luke 12:49
      3.	Job 9:5-7	14.	Joel 2:1-11	25.	Luke 21:11, 25-26
      4.	Psalm 18:7-9, 15	15.	Joel 2:28-31	26.	Acts 2:16-21
      5.	Psalm 46	16.	Joel 3:9-16	27.	1 Cor. 3:10-15
      6.	Psalm 97:1-5	17.	Amos 9:1-6	28.	1 Thes. 5:1-3
      7.	Isaiah 13:6-13	18.	Micah 1:3-4	29.	2 Peter 3:7-15
      8.	Isaiah 24:1-6, 17-20	19.	Nahum 1:2-6	30.	Revelation 6:12-17
      9.	Isaiah 29:5-6	20.	Zeph. 1:14-2:3	31.	Revelation 8:5-12
      10.	Isaiah 30:27-30	21.	Malachi 4:1-3	32.	Revelation 16:17-21
      11.	Isaiah 34:1-4	22.	Mat. 24:21-22, 29	33.	Revelation 21:1

   2. This is because of the world's extreme sinfulness.
      1. Isaiah 13:6-13
      2. Isaiah 24:1-6, 17-20
      3. Zeph. 1:14-2:3
   3. The book of Revelation shows that God will give the world many chances to repent. But instead of repenting, the world will become even worse, so God will put an end to its evil.
2. However, God Will Make a New Earth and a New Heaven
   1. Isaiah 65:17-19, 24-25
   2. Isaiah 66:22
   3. 2 Peter 3:13
   4. Revelation 21:1-7
3. Knowing This, How Should We Then Live?
   1. Psalm 46 points out that we should not be afraid, because God is still with us and will be our refuge, strength, and help in trouble.
   2. 1 Cor. 3:10-15 exhorts us to work for that which will last and be rewarded by God.
      1. Jim Elliot, a Christian who was martyred for his faith, said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, in order to gain what he cannot lose."
   3. 2 Peter 3:7-15 says we should do six things.
      1. Be ready, because as verse 10 says, "The day of the Lord will come like a thief."
      2. Be at peace with God as verse 14 says, through "salvation" as verse 15 says.
      3. And, then, as a Christian, one of the most important things we need to do is to repent as verse 9 says.
      4. So that we become holy, godly, spotless and blameless as verses 11 and 14 say.
      5. We should also "speed its coming" as verse 12 says.
      6. Because we can look forward to it as verses 12 and 13 say, because God will make "a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
   4. Revelation 21:1-7 gives us a picture of life on the new earth. "Now the dwelling of God is with His people, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Yes, I am making everything new. The one who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my child."
      1. Therefore, we should greatly rejoice and look forward to our new home with God's immediate presence there.