Page 151 - Foundations

us. Similarly, in the second earth we find that light returned, but there was still evil present among
the creation, for the serpent was in the Garden, and Satan was actively seeking to lead humanity into
sin.

As Christians we live an existence that parallels the second earth. There is warfare present in our
members between good and evil, light and darkness. This condition cannot continue forever, even as
this present earth, even when it is under the rule of Christ as it will be in the Millennial period, cannot
continue in its present form. A complete and final end must be made to sin, darkness, and evil.

Peter tells us that this present heaven and earth are being reserved for fire. They must be consumed.
This will be a far more thorough judgment than what occurred in Genesis 1:2 when the earth was
made formless, void, and sealed in darkness. This present physical world must be completely done
away with. Similarly, these mortal bodies that know sin and death must also be destroyed in order
than we might receive new glorified bodies that will no longer no sin or death.

I Corinthians 15:53-54
For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when
this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then
will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

The third and last earth which has no seas and no darkness is symbolic of the final and glorious state
of man. Seas represent death throughout the Scripture. When the Israelites crossed through the sea
after departing Egypt, the apostle Paul states that they were “baptized into Moses” (I Corinthians
10:1-2). Baptism is symbolic of dying and being resurrected to new life. When we go under the water
we die. When we come back up out of the water it is symbolic of entering into new life. The last earth
cannot have any seas, for there will be no death. Similarly, mankind must lay aside these mortal and
corruptible bodies and put on that which is immortal and incorruptible.

The illustration above shows the three creations of the earth and man. There is the first man Adam
in his innocence. He corresponds to that first earth that was before the fall of Satan and prior to sin
entering the creation.