For those who believe the heavens and the earth are to be literally destroyed . . . ?
How do you explain:
(Genesis 8:21, 22) “21 And Jehovah began to smell a pleasing aroma. So Jehovah said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground on man’s account, for the inclination of the heart of man is bad from his youth up; and never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done. 22 From now on, the earth will never cease to have seed-sowing and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night.””
(Ecclesiastes 1:4) “ 4 A generation is going, and a generation is coming, But the earth remains forever.”
(Proverbs 2:21, 22) “21 For only the upright will reside in the earth, And the blameless will remain in it. 22 As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, And the treacherous will be torn away from it.”
Even Peter tells us it was the 'world of the ungodly' who are destroyed at the flood.
Peter tells us the 1st heaven and earth were destroyed by water and yet we are still living on the same planet, and looking at the same nightly sky Adam and Eve saw. What changed was the "expanse between the waters".
Gen 8:21
(MKJV) And Jehovah smelled a sweet odor. And Jehovah said in His heart, I will never again curse the ground for man's sake,. . And I will not again smite every living thing as I have done.
(ESV) “I will never again curse the ground because of man,. . . Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
(NASB) "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, . . . and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.
The NWT is correct.
Thank you Joe for a complete answer to my question.
I can understand your comment concerning Gen 8:21 but it disagrees with vs 22.
Eccl may be poetic, but it is still truth; which means in Pr 2 is forever. Ps 37:29
True Peter is talking about a future event 2Pe 3:13
As to 'new heavens' Barnes' Notes "The heavenly bodies often represent kings & princes."
Is there a new king & his princes?
Yes, Jesus and those who rule along side him.
Da 7:27; Mat 19:28; Rev 1:6; 5:10; 20:6; 22:5