God promised in the Bible that He would not destroy the earth with a flood again. This promise is found in Genesis 9:11-17, where God makes a covenant with Noah after the great flood, symbolized by the rainbow. However, God has spoken about how He will bring about the end of this age and the final judgment.
According to the Bible, God will not use a flood again, but He will bring about the end of the world in other ways, primarily through fire and judgment. Here are a couple of key passages that address this:
- 2 Peter 3:7 – “But by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” This verse indicates that, in the last days, God will use fire to purify the earth and bring judgment.
- 2 Peter 3:10 – “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” This passage describes the day of the Lord when the earth will be purified and judged by fire.
- Revelation 20:9 – “They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city He loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.” In the final judgment, fire from heaven will be used to defeat the forces of evil.
These scriptures show that, in the last days, God’s judgment will come through fire, purging the world of sin and wickedness, and bringing about the final renewal of creation. God’s judgment by fire is consistent with His promise not to use a flood again but still brings an end to the current state of the world to make way for a new heaven and new earth.
The return of the Lord Jesus, as Christ of the last days, brings this judgment and salvation. This is part of the purification process to fully save those who accept Him and His truth, which is a key part of the good news for today.
All manner of disasters will befall, one after another; all nations and places will experience calamities: Plague, famine, flood, drought, and earthquakes are everywhere. These disasters are not just happening in one or two places, nor will they be over within a day or two; rather, instead they will expand across a greater and greater area, and become more and more severe. During this time, all manner of insect plagues will arise one after another, and the phenomenon of cannibalism will occur everywhere. This is My judgment upon all nations and peoples.
—The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Utterances of Christ in the Beginning, Chapter 65
Almighty God says, “No one knows that the reason for God’s repeated reminders and exhortations
is because He has prepared in His hands a calamity
like never before, one that will be unbearable to the flesh and soul of man. This calamity
is not merely a punishment of the flesh, but also of the soul. You need to know this: When God’s plan falls through, and when His reminders and exhortations
are not repaid
, what kind of rage will He unleash
? It will be like nothing that has ever been experienced or heard by any created being. And so I say, this calamity
is without precedent, and will never be repeated. For God’s plan is to create mankind only this once, and to save mankind only this once. This is the first time, and it is also the last. Therefore, no one can comprehend the painstaking
intentions and fervent
anticipation with which God saves mankind this time.“