Does “the end of the world” refer to fiery destruction of the earth and humankind? Many believe so. They feel that support for this view can be found in the apostle Peter’s words: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”​—2 Pet. 3:10, AV.

Do these texts really indicate that the planet Earth will one day come to a fiery end? You will find the Bible’s view of this matter enlightening.

Regarding how long the earth will remain in existence, we read at Psalm 104:5: “He [God] has founded the earth upon its established places; it will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.” (Compare Psalm 78:69; 119:90.) According to the Scriptures, the earth, with humans to inhabit it, will remain forever.​—Isa. 45:18.

But what about Peter’s statement that “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, . . . the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”? (2 Pet. 3:10, AV) One must understand Peter’s words in the context of the Bible as a whole. Consider, for example, how “earth” and “heavens” are used in the book of Isaiah:

“Let the earth and that which fills it listen, the productive land and all its produce. For Jehovah has indignation against all the nations, and rage against all their army. He must devote them to destruction; he must give them to the slaughter. And all those of the army of the heavens must rot away. And the heavens must be rolled up, just like a book scroll.”​—Isa. 34:1, 2, 4.

Clearly, “earth” in this passage refers, not to the planet, but to people who are able to “listen.” And did you note that a sword of execution would be drenched with blood “in the heavens”? Since the Bible states that persons of flesh and blood do not live in heaven, this term too must be a symbol of something in the human realm. (1 Cor. 15:50) In his commentary on Isaiah 34:4, Bible scholar Albert Barnes provides clarifying information: “The heavenly bodies often represent kings and princes. The sense is, that there should be great destruction; that the princes and nobles who had opposed God and his people would be destroyed.”​—Compare Isaiah 14:12-14; Revelation 22:16.

When Peter wrote about the heavens and earth passing away, he meant the present system of human political rulers and their subjects. The Bible foretells that God’s kingdom “will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms.” (Dan. 2:44) But the earth will survive and continue to be populated.