While man will live forever, it will not be on the earth. In fact, Peter, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote that when Jesus comes again, the heavens and the earth shall be “burned up.” Peter stated: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2 Peter 3:10-12 NKJV) Would not even a casual reader of the above text understand the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up? Some, however, might ask, “But does not the context also mention a new heaven and a new earth?” Yes, it does. After saying the earth will be burned up when the Lord returns, Peter then said, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). The new heavens and the new earth are used as a figure for describing the future dwelling of God’s people. They are used in both the Old and New Testament (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22).