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There was a world [age] before this present one.
In this chapter 3 of 2nd. Peter, Peter tells us about all 3 heaven and earth ages:

So Peter declares that there are
three heaven and earth ages:

1) The world that then was, which perished, Verse 5

2 Peter 3:5-7 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Live Link to- "God's Elect" Were chosen in the first earth age .

Live Link to- When Did Dinosaurs Live on Earth?

2) the heaven and earth which is now, Verse 7

2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men

and

3) the new heaven and new earth age to come. Verse 13

2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

Does the Bible conflict with true science and contradict the evidences found in the geological layers of the earth?

Of course not.

God is the creator of true "science"
and the author of His "Word".

The two are in complete harmony and the Bible provides a complete answer to all the cavils of geologists!

And we will now learn some of that harmony from a PhD in Geo-Physics and the Biological Sciences.

No!

We'll learn it from a Big Old Lovable Fisherman with more common sense than most Harvard grads.

It reminds you of Paul's words in 1 Cor. 1:26:

1 Cor. 1:26
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

That is, most of the brethren are not wise, mighty and noble as the world sees them, because many have no alphabet soup attached to their names.

But to our Father they are wise, mighty and noble indeed!

We are blessed with one them in Simon Bar Jona.

Here he is.

2 Peter 3:1
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

Peter wrote both his first and second epistles to "stir up" the minds of God's elect (See 1 Pet. 1:1) to "remember" that which they already know!

Therefore a foundation in the Oracles of God, a database of knowledge from which to draw memory, is necessary to understand the Big Fisherman's letter.

Those of the world, willingly
don't study "God's Word", so how could they possibly know what Peter is talking about?

[2] That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

The word "mindful" is the Greek word mimnesko, Strong's #3403, and means to remind, i.e. to recall to mind.

Again, Peter wants us to remember the words of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

"But know this first", he says:

[3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Editors Note: Scoffers, And, boy, is the world including the professing Christian church ever full of them.

Scoffers and mockers wear many different hats. Some even claim to be Christian but you can always find them fishing out of the left side of the boat...

2 Pet. 3:4
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

We have already seen and will continue to see the main stream media in cooperation with the "higher critics" put forth scoffing programs about the predictions of the end of the world or those predicting the coming of the Messiah in the year 2000 and beyond.

The comparison is always made to the turn of last millennium whereby they are eager to point out that many of the same predictions were made then.

And of course they never came to pass, silly Christians, for "all things continue as they were from the beginning", they say.

But here is their problem:

[5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

There was a world [age] before this present one.

"In the beginning", when God created this beautiful earth it was NOT created under the water, but it was created and stood OUT OF THE WATER.

This verse refers to Genesis 1:1 as we shall see.

But then something happened:

[6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

"Whereby" = "Which means".

So read, "Which means that the world which stood out of the water became overflowed with water, and perished."

Remember that Peter is just reminding us about this?

Remember he told us in verse 2 that the prophets of old already declared this stuff.

So let's go back and see what they had to say.

Let's begin at the beginning with the prophet Moses.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

If ever there was a perfect verse
to begin the Word of God, this is it!

It is simple, plain talk, like the rest of the Bible and our Father purposely placed here as "the gateway" for the entrance to His Word.

And think of the incredible thoughtfulness of it's message!

For if one can't get past the "stupidity" of evolution in believing that complexity and order can just happen from "Big Bang Explosions" and slimy organic soup,
then one needs to go no further in the Book!

So look around the room where you are sitting and point to just one thing that wasn't MADE!

You can't do it!

Now if you can go outside and point to a car and say "this was made" and then point to a horse and say "this wasn't made, it evolved", and then point to the flowers and the trees and the birds and all of nature and say this wasn't made by someone, then you need go no further in your Father's Word until you can obtain some common sense.

Show me an almost bird!

Show me apes evolving into men today!

What?

Did evolution all of a sudden stop?

There's no almost anything either today or in the fossil records.

Get a life!

Call me when you grow up!

Now, the other amazing thing about Genesis 1:1 is that this is about as far as most people can get in the Bible before mistranslations cause them to misinterpret God's Word and they begin to stumble and fall at verse 2.

And believe it or not, the majority of Christianity stumbles at Gen. 1:2.

Before we read Gen. 1:2, let's go to the prophet Isaiah and read some details about the creation of heaven and earth in Genesis 1:1, expressed by the Creator God Himself.

Isaiah 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

There can be no doubt about who is speaking.

It is the Creator God of Genesis 1:1 which we just read.

Here we see that God says He "established" the earth, i.e. perfectly fashioned it.

He made it Himself and created it TO BE INHABITED!

AND, one thing is for sure!

Whatever "in vain" is, He DID NOT create it that way!

Read it again: "He created it not in vain."

So let's see what "in vain" means.

The Hebrew word is tohu.

tohuw, to'-hoo, Hebrew 8414; from an unused root meaning to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figurative a worthless thing; adverbial in vain :- confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.

Notice that this word means totally wasted, a thing of nought, i.e. nothingness, which also means "without form".

Now let's return to Genesis and read verse 2.

Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

"Without form" is exactly the same Hebrew word, tohu, that we read in Isaiah 45:18.

Now wait a minute!

Isaiah said that He did not create it tohu, and here in Genesis 1:2, But! But! But! Doesn't Moses say He did!

What gives?

The answer lies in the simple fact that the word "was" in Genesis 1:2 is the Hebrew word hayah, and should be rendered "became" as it is in Genesis 2:7, "and man became a living soul".

Note: The commentary for Genesis 1:2 from the Companion Bible, Authorized 1611King James Version, says "the earth. was=became, in many places, Gen. 2:7, 9:15, 19:26 +(see list of other places). Also rendered came to pass, in many places, Gen. 4:3, 4:14, 22:1, 27:1 (see list other of places), Also rendered be, in the sense of become, in verse 3."

****Even the NIV translation makes reference to "was" meaning "became".****

In fact, when you add the word "void" in verse 2, which in Hebrew is bohu and means "an undistinguishable ruin", you get tohu va bohu which means total utter DESTRUCTION, which is something that must happen, i.e. "become".

So God said through His servant Isaiah, He didn't create it tohu, so somehow it "became" tohu va bohu.

We're going to read how that happened in just a moment.

But first let's look at another account of the creation of the world in the beginning, before it became tohu.

This is God talking to Job, a type of God's elect:

Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
[2] Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Job has just listened to 33 chapters of "counsel by words without knowledge" from his three preacher friends.

"All that they said is bunk, Job!", said the Lord in 38:1 - 7

Now pay attention and answer me this.", the Lord added.

[3] Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
[4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

If you have understanding
the answer is Job was indeed there at creation.

And so were you and I!

[5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
[6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

God created the entire universe and hung the earth in space.

How did He do that?

Is there such a thing as a "Space Hook?"

[7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Of course, all the sons of God (all our brothers and sisters, including you and me) were present at the creation of the world.

It was created expressly for them/us!

And when He was done creating it, everyone, that includes you and me, sang and jumped and shouted for joy, for it was one beautiful masterpiece!

Again, if you know anything about the Hebrew language at all, then you know that no one sings for joy at tohu va bohu, for it is utter waste and destruction.

They would cry boohoo waa boohoo,
for it would be ALL GONE!

Editors Note: Question #1. How much time do you think passed between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2?
According to the fossil records it may have been millions, even billions of years. Question #2. How long do you think it takes for a chunk of coal to turn into a diamond or organic matter to turn into crude oil?

Now, Let's now go to the prophet Jeremiah and see what scoffers are so willingly ignorant of.

The context of what God is about to say is that if you think "all things continue as from the beginning of creation", it may have been millions and that He will not bring forth correction and a new earth age, then you are "stupid" indeed!

Why?

You are willingly ignorant of the destruction of the old earth age, the "world that then was" which Peter spoke of!

In other words, God did it before!

Jeremiah 4:22
For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

"Sottish" literally means "stupid" (God's words, not mine).

Editors Note: So, If you scolded me for calling you stupid awhile ago? Take it up with Him!

They have no knowledge of His Word.

[23] I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

This verse and the following few verses show us what the earth looked like after it BECAME without form and void, i.e. now was tohu va bohu.

There was NO LIGHT!

[24] I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

There was a great shaking of the earth.

[25] I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

No Men?

No Birds?

Obviously there was a creation before the earth became "without form and void", wasn't there?

And don't let anyone try to tell you this was Noah's flood.

Because the earth never became tohu va bohu at Noah's flood because there were birds and at the very least 8 men alive then.

And there was light also.

[26] I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

All vegetation was destroyed and pressed into the shale along with the dinosaurs and every living creature of which the fossil records declare.

And notice there were cities in the world that then was?

A lost city of Atlantis?

Probably!

[27] For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

God did not make a "full end" of the earth.

He simply wiped out the "world [age] that then was" and covered it with water, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and "being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Pet. 3:6).

He literally knocked it off its axis, which is why true north and magnetic north are out of sync and the earth wobbles and produces a jet stream and storms, etc.

And now the question:Why did He do it?

The answer in part was given in Jer. 4:26,
"by His fierce anger"!

You see, Satan rebelled in the "world that then was" and drew 1/3 of the sons of God away from Him (Rev. 12:4).

Our Father was not too happy about that and He judged and sentenced Satan to die, which sentence has not been executed yet.

Read all of Ezekiel chapter 28 concerning Satan and his rebellion.

(Live Link)to-Ezekiel 28

But because of His love for His children, our Father chose not to hold judgment for the other children who defected and sentence them to die also.

He rather destroyed the earth age that then was and instituted a plan to "restore His children to Him", to save them from the fate they deserve, which is eternal death.

We call His loving plan
"The Plan of Salvation",
the salvaging of the sons of God.

Then too, there were those who stood against Satan in that first earth age and were justified and chosen to be used by our Father in this present earth age to help bring about the plan of God. They are called God's elect.

And so it is easy to understand what the apostle Paul meant in Ephes. 1:4 when he says concerning God's elect:

Ephes. 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

"Before the foundation of the world" means before the "casting down" or "overthrow" of Satan. (See appendix 146 in the Companion Bible).

God's elect were chosen before Genesis 1:2 occurred.

[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Once you understand what happened in "the world that then was" there are a multitude of verses that are easily understood and questions that are simply answered.

Consider for example the following verse concerning Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

It makes sense now, doesn't it?

Our Father knows all of His children before He sends them through the womb of woman to be born innocent, i.e. without remembrance of the 1st earth age, so that they might have an opportunity to be saved.

Now you know why God told flesh man, male and female, to go "replenish" the earth.

It had been populated [plenished] before, though man was not
flesh during that earth age.

Now you know why God is able to say in Romans 9:13, "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated", even before they were born!

Esau was obviously disrespectful in the first earth age.

Isn't this exciting information?

Just wait!

Next see the Big Fisherman is going to talk about the "present" earth age and the "future" earth age to come.

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 earth ages!

Peter tells us that the scoffers in these last days are "willingly ignorant"

The Bible declares that there are 3 World Ages.

One has already passed away, one is present now, and one is yet to come.

The understanding of these 3 World Ages is essential to a having basic understanding of the overall plan of salvation.

(click link to see pamphlet)

#6203      Most Christians have a big problem here understanding the first two verses of the Bible!
#2221    Lucifer's Flood
#1003     "Is There a Conflict Between Science and the Bible?"
#6205 But why did God destroy the first heaven and earth age?

Peter's three heaven and earth ages:

Isn't it amazing that God's Word has the answers to so many intriguing questions
concerning such things as the identity of UFO's,
the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant,
the existence of lost cities such as Atlantis, the extinction of the dinosaurs, etc.?

We are constantly told by the "main stream" media and the "higher critics"
that the Bible is old fashioned and out of date,
but it is they who show their ignorance and remain confused by rejecting Him.

Here is what Peter has to say about the scoffers and mockers of the last days,
these early 2000s A.D, who walk according their own lustful desires.

First heaven and first earth

2 Peter 3:5-7
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This was of old, in the beginning, before Adam, before the flood of Noah.

Those who don't believe it are willingly ignorant, according to Peter!

[6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

And the earth became without form, and void, "tohu va bohu".

It perished!

(The Greek word for perish is apollumi, to destroy fully)!

And darkness was upon the face of the deep (water). The earth was overflowed with water and it perished!

But isn't this passage talking about the flood of Noah?

No, it is not.

The flood of Noah belongs to the next verse,
the heaven and earth age which are NOW, the age of flesh man.

Noah's flood occurred about 2348 B.C.

Second heaven and second earth

2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

And there will yet be another heaven and earth age, the third and final one.

Third heaven and third earth

2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

So Peter declares that there are three heaven and earth ages:
1) The world that then was, which perished, Verse 5
2) the heaven and earth which is now, Verse 7 and
3) the new heaven and new earth age to come. Verse 13 Sorry for the side track, but this is knowledge you must possess, if you want to understand what God is teaching us in His Word!

Let's pick up where we left off, where Peter had just told us that the scoffers in these last days are "willingly ignorant"[meaning they are unwilling to study God's Word] of the fact that the Word of God declares that the 1st heaven and earth age, which Peter calls "the world that then was", perished.

And guess what?

That means they are also "willingly ignorant" of the fact that the same Word of God declares that this present earth age in which we live, the 2nd heaven and earth age, is going to pass away, also!

Read it for yourself:

2 Peter 3:6 Whereby the world (World #1) that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
[7] But the heavens and the earth, (World #2) which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Note: In verse 13 Peter will tell us about (World #3)

This present earth age is going to end at the Great White Throne Judgment following the Millennium and we shall have a new heaven and a new earth age (Rev. 21:1), the third and final one which will be for all eternity.

Hallelujah!

[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

But be patient and knowledgeable about the difference in the dimensions!

Our reckoning of time is not on the same scale as our Father's is in the spiritual realm.

A thousand years to us is simply one day with Him.

[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Yes, God will keep all of His promises just as we know He has so far!

But there is really good news in the fact that His answers and promises seem slow to come to flesh man.

And that is that He has patience with us [thank God] and through His patience all who will can come to repentance and receive salvation.

But the sand will eventually run out of the hour glass no matter what the scoffers say, for it is written that it shall.

And when it does and that final trump sounds, it shall overtake those who are "willingly ignorant" as a thief in the night and rob them of their chance for salvation in this earth age.

2 Peter 3:10
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.

The Day of the Lord doesn't come upon everyone as a thief in the night, only to the willingly ignorant who walk in the darkness of the world.

1 Thes. 5:4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

It isn't going to surprise the Children of Light, the watchmen of God!

Rev. 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

But if you do watch and take heed
He will not come on thee as a thief!

Let's read 2 Pet. 3:10 again:

2 Peter 3:10
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.

To understand the rest of this verse you must know a few things:

(1) God is a consuming fire as documented by Hebrews 12:29; "For our God is a consuming fire."It is His fire that warms the heart of His children while at the same time consuming away stubble.

(2) The word "elements" comes from the Greek word stoicheion, Strong's #4747, and means "rudiments" or "principles", which are spiritual things and not physical matter or "material elements".

(3) Fire does not burn or melt spirit. For example you can not burn an "attitude" with a blow torch. Neither can you burn either good works or bad works with a match.

This verse simply says that the evil rudiments shall be destroyed at His coming.

[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

Well, you don't want to be among those counted as stubble, do you?

Peter spent the entirety of his first letter instructing us how to conduct ourselves.

[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Again, we look forward to the purifying effect of God's presence, the consuming fire, which fire purifies gold and completely destroys chaff, straw and stubble.

Now here comes verse 13:

2 Pet. 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for (World #3) new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

There is a new heaven and a new earth coming, the 3rd Heaven and Earth Age.

The Word of God declares it.

He has promised it and He will keep that promise!

And only "righteousness" will dwell there for the evil "rudiments" shall all be burned with fire and consumed away!

[14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Take heed and study His Word, thereby growing in the grace and knowledge of Him, and "grace and peace will be multiplied unto you" (2 Pet. 1:2).

[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

And understand and consider God's longsuffering, His patience with us, as salvation; even as Paul who wrote about longsuffering in Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and the Books of Timothy.

[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Notice that Peter gives credentials to Paul and calls his epistles "scriptures".

And yes, some of Paul's writings would be, and are for the unlearned, hard to understand if one doesn't know about the 3 Earth Ages. Eph. 1:4 where Paul talks about God's elect being chosen before the foundation/destruction of this earth age is really hard for some to explain.

But those who have eyes to see and ears to hear and "take heed" by growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord, find it quite simple and no mystery at all, for they can be "reminded" of the other scriptures and stirred up again, for they have studied them in earnest.

[17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Beware, take heed, and be stedfast.

Luke 21:8 "And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."

Instead, draw near to Him and to His Word.

[18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

To Him be glory both now and for ever.

And thank you Father for giving us your instructions through Peter, a fisher of men indeed!

Amen.