2 Peter 3:7

2 Peter 3:7 but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Expanded Translation

but when God decides to destroy the earth a second time, the case will be different. The heavens that exist now and the earth (land), by means of the same word (which word caused the antediluvians to perish by water), have been kept in store (preserved) for fire, being kept, guarded and reserved unto the day of judgment and (the day of the) destruction (perishing) of ungodly and irreverent men.

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but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire

The earth (ge) in this passage can only refer to this globe. The word literally means land or groundterra firma (comp. 2 Peter 3:5) and is frequently used to refer to our planet as a whole, as opposed to the heavens (Matthew 5:18; Matthew 5:35; Matthew 6:10, etc.). But how limited is the term heavens here (or in 2 Peter 3:10; 2 Peter 3:12-13)?

The Jews divided the heaven into three parts, viz., (1) The air or atmosphere, where clouds gather and birds fly; (2) The firmament, in which the sun, moon, and stars are fixed; and (3) the upper heaven, the abode of God and his angels, the presently invisible realm of holiness and happiness, the home of the children of God.

It is this classification which is needed to explain Paul's third heaven of 2 Corinthians 12:2. But which of these three is meant by Peter in this chapter? Surely not the third, so we must either choose between the first and second, or combine them.

It is a debated question as to whether there is any real Biblical evidence that the second coming of Christ and the destruction of the world will involve any planets or heavenly bodies outside of our own. The references in Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-26, so commonly taken to refer to the second coming of Christ, speak of stars falling from heaven and the powers of the heavens being shaken. But many would limit these passages to the destruction of Jerusalem, making the stars, sun, etc., figurative, representing the rulers of Jerusalem and Judea. The coming of the Son of man, while referring to Christ, does not (according to these interpreters) refer to his second coming, but the presence and manifestation of his wrath upon the rebellious Jews.[75] Similarly, the sun, moon, and stars of the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12-17) are now thought by many exegetes to be symbolic of rulers and others of high political rank. If the student would take the time to carefully examine each of the above passages contextually, I believe you will agree that in each case the evidence is weighty against attaching a literal significance to the various celestial bodies mentioned.

[75] Compare our notes on the term day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12). See also 1 Peter 4:7 under the phrase, The end of all things is at hand.

In 2 Peter 3:10 the marginal reading, heavenly bodies for elements has caused others to believe that even Peter taught that planets and stars will be involved in the destruction of the world, But see notes on that passage, The marginal reading is not preferred.

It is my conclusion, based on the evidence of this chapter and the apparent teachings of Scripture elsewhere, that the heavens mentioned here have only to do with the atmosphere which surrounds our own globe. The evidence that other planets (or even the moon) will be involved in that great catastrophe seems, at best, to be shaky and uncertain.

by the same word have been stored up for fire

Just as God's Word brought the world into existence (2 Peter 3:5), and caused it to perish by the flood (2 Peter 3:6, compare Genesis 6:7), so he has, by that same infallible and unchangeable word, proclaimed that the world would be destroyed by fire. In that day long ago, God said yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years (Genesis 6:3). But we do not know what day God has set aside for the great conflagration spoken of in this passage. We do know its coming is certain!

being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men

All will appear at the Judgment Day (2 Corinthians 5:10). For the righteous it will be a day of acquittal. But for the unrighteous it will be the day their doom is pronounced. The word destruction (apoleia) is discussed in the previous verse.