Tuesday Contradictions–Matthew 24:35: Will the Earth Last Forever? Biblical Answers to an Ancient Question

Episode 299 examines an apparent contradiction in Scripture: some passages describe the earth as lasting forever, while others—including Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:35—say that heaven and earth will pass away. Lance examines relevant Old and New Testament passages, the scientific context surrounding the future of the universe, manuscript variants, and theological interpretations from several scholars. The episode concludes that the Bible distinguishes between the present creation—temporary and subject to judgment—and a renewed creation that will endure forever. God’s plan is not to abandon His creation, but to transform and restore it into a new heaven and new earth where the righteous inherit the earth and creation is liberated from decay. References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following: buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith  The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com  Skeptic’s Annotated Bible – “Will Jesus's second coming be visible to all?” https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/earth.html  GotQuestions.org, “What does it mean that heaven and earth will pass away?” https://www.gotquestions.org/heaven-and-earth-will-pass-away.html Joseph R. Nally, Jr., “Does the earth abide forever?” Third Millennium Ministries. https://thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp/file/40189 John Piper, “What Happens When You Die? Glorified and Free on the New Earth,” Desiring God, August 8, 1993. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/what-happens-when-you-die-glorified-and-free-on-the-new-earth Randy Alcorn, “Will the Present Earth Be Completely Destroyed…,” Eternal Perspective Ministries, March 19, 2019. https://www.epm.org/resources/2019/Mar/19/present-earth-destroyed-resurrection/ Lita Cosner and Gary Bates, “The new earth,” Creation.com, 24 Feb 2014, updated 1 Nov 2022. https://creation.com/en/articles/new-earth Peter Goeman, “Does 2 Peter 3:10 Say the Earth Will Be Burned Up or Exposed?” The Bible Sojourner. https://petergoeman.com/does-2-peter-310-say-the-earth-will-be-burned-up-or-exposed/ Larry Perkins, “The Future of the Earth according to 2 Peter 3:10 heurethēsetai,” Internet Moments with God’s Word, 13 March 2017. https://moments.nbseminary.com/archives/157-the-future-of-the-earth-according-to-2-peter-310-heurethesetai/ Earl R. Bunch Jr., “Will the Cosmos Be Destroyed and Re-Created or Instead Renovated?” McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry 23 (2021–2022): 103–30. https://mcmasterdivinity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/23.MJTM_.103-30-Bunch.pdf J. Richard Middleton, “A New Heaven and a New Earth: The Case for a Holistic Reading of the Biblical Story of Redemption,” Journal for Christian Theological Research 11 (2006): 73–97. G. K. Beale, “A Review and Evaluation of J. Richard Middleton, A New Heaven and a New Earth,” Unio Cum Christo 3.1 (April 2017): 235–47. Review of Middleton, A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014).