In our previous post we noted our friends statement that the “following the Lord’s Second Advent the earth is to be destroyed, empty, darkened, silent, and devoid of all life… and that “nothing on this planet is going to have a pulse until after the 1,000 years”.
He quotes Jeremiah as saying, “the slain of the Lord in that day shall be from one end of the Earth even to the other end" (Jer 25:33)…They're not going to be lamented or gathered or buried...because nobody is going to be here.”
We must however disagree with this assertion as the scriptures assure us that not only will there be people (both good and bad) living during the time of the Lord’s Vengeance, but likewise living on afterwards into the millennial age.
We have already considered two of our friends so-called “proof texts” which he believed supported his position, both of which employed highly figurative or symbolic language.
(You can see these under the thread entitled, “What makes you right?” Post # 107)
The first was found in 2 Pet 3:10 where the Apostle speaks of the destruction of the present heavens and earth. However the heavens and earth here referred to were not in reference to the literal or physical heavens (the heavenly abode) not to the literal earth, but rather the heavens referred to the present ruling powers, both religious and civil, and the earth here referred to the present order of society as it is now established, these are what are to pass away and be burned up.
We then briefly explained Jeremiahs prophecy (Jer 4:23-28) in which the prophet employing a metaphor drawn from the Genesis account, viz. “I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; and the heavens, they had no light,” was expressing the sad condition of Judaism at the time and the impending trouble coming upon Israel by the Babylonians.
Our friend however insisted that this prophecy implied the destruction of the earth following our Lord’s Second Advent and that, not the physical earth, but the surface of the earth, would be “burned up, leaving behind nothing but a bunch of ashes on a desolate rock for a thousand years”, thus devoid of all life.
This idea however is completely contrary to the Scriptural declaration that, “the earth abides forever,” that “While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night SHALL NOT CEASE.” (Eccl 1:4; Gen 8:22)
If the surface of the earth were burned to ashes as suggested, “seed-time and harvest” would definitely cease.
Now although we explained that this prophecy in Jeremiah Chapter 4 referred to the imminent invasion of the Babylonians at the time let us nevertheless for the sake of argument except our friend’s position that this prophecy refers to events following the Lord’s Second Advent instead.
Perhaps in his haste to find some supporting evidence to establish his claims he felled to note Verse 27 where the Lord states: “For thus says the Lord: “The whole land shall be desolate; yet I will not make a full end.”
“Yet I will not make a full end” A full end of what?
The answer is found in the succeeding Chapter, viz.
“Nevertheless in those days (the same days as referred to in Chapter 4),” says the Lord, “I will not make a complete END OF YOU.” (Jer 5:18)
This implies that there will be some, who survive “those days”, and not only this, but habitable land in which to exist. Thus it is evident that the surface of the earth is not going to be burned up and turned to ash as he surmises.
As to the true interpretation of this prophecy there were in fact survivors following the invasion of the Babylonians. For although most of the people were slaughtered during the invasion, many were taken alive into captivity, and it was during this time that the land including that of the surrounding nations attacked at that time, “was without form, and void”, i.e. laid desolate and pretty much void of life for seventy years. (Jer 25:11)
It will be noted that not once is there any reference in this chapter “to the destruction that happens in "the Day of the Lord" when He comes "as a thief in the night", as our friend suggested, the context shows this prophecy was specifically directed towards the judgement against Israel and Judah and the coming invasion of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Our friend then jumps to Jer 25:33, which we will take a look at in our next post.
He quotes Jeremiah as saying, “the slain of the Lord in that day shall be from one end of the Earth even to the other end" (Jer 25:33)…They're not going to be lamented or gathered or buried...because nobody is going to be here.”
We must however disagree with this assertion as the scriptures assure us that not only will there be people (both good and bad) living during the time of the Lord’s Vengeance, but likewise living on afterwards into the millennial age.
We have already considered two of our friends so-called “proof texts” which he believed supported his position, both of which employed highly figurative or symbolic language.
(You can see these under the thread entitled, “What makes you right?” Post # 107)
The first was found in 2 Pet 3:10 where the Apostle speaks of the destruction of the present heavens and earth. However the heavens and earth here referred to were not in reference to the literal or physical heavens (the heavenly abode) not to the literal earth, but rather the heavens referred to the present ruling powers, both religious and civil, and the earth here referred to the present order of society as it is now established, these are what are to pass away and be burned up.
We then briefly explained Jeremiahs prophecy (Jer 4:23-28) in which the prophet employing a metaphor drawn from the Genesis account, viz. “I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; and the heavens, they had no light,” was expressing the sad condition of Judaism at the time and the impending trouble coming upon Israel by the Babylonians.
Our friend however insisted that this prophecy implied the destruction of the earth following our Lord’s Second Advent and that, not the physical earth, but the surface of the earth, would be “burned up, leaving behind nothing but a bunch of ashes on a desolate rock for a thousand years”, thus devoid of all life.
This idea however is completely contrary to the Scriptural declaration that, “the earth abides forever,” that “While the earth remains, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night SHALL NOT CEASE.” (Eccl 1:4; Gen 8:22)
If the surface of the earth were burned to ashes as suggested, “seed-time and harvest” would definitely cease.
Now although we explained that this prophecy in Jeremiah Chapter 4 referred to the imminent invasion of the Babylonians at the time let us nevertheless for the sake of argument except our friend’s position that this prophecy refers to events following the Lord’s Second Advent instead.
Perhaps in his haste to find some supporting evidence to establish his claims he felled to note Verse 27 where the Lord states: “For thus says the Lord: “The whole land shall be desolate; yet I will not make a full end.”
“Yet I will not make a full end” A full end of what?
The answer is found in the succeeding Chapter, viz.
“Nevertheless in those days (the same days as referred to in Chapter 4),” says the Lord, “I will not make a complete END OF YOU.” (Jer 5:18)
This implies that there will be some, who survive “those days”, and not only this, but habitable land in which to exist. Thus it is evident that the surface of the earth is not going to be burned up and turned to ash as he surmises.
As to the true interpretation of this prophecy there were in fact survivors following the invasion of the Babylonians. For although most of the people were slaughtered during the invasion, many were taken alive into captivity, and it was during this time that the land including that of the surrounding nations attacked at that time, “was without form, and void”, i.e. laid desolate and pretty much void of life for seventy years. (Jer 25:11)
It will be noted that not once is there any reference in this chapter “to the destruction that happens in "the Day of the Lord" when He comes "as a thief in the night", as our friend suggested, the context shows this prophecy was specifically directed towards the judgement against Israel and Judah and the coming invasion of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Our friend then jumps to Jer 25:33, which we will take a look at in our next post.
