Many people wonder if the earth has a limited time span and will be destroyed by natural causes or by mankind's mismanagement? If we were to ask a variety of scientists whom study this very question we would no doubt get a variety of answers based upon "what if scenarios". For example ...... If mankind continued down such and such a path then this would happen ...... Or if such and such were to happen outside the control of humans then this would happen ......
So we see / nor expect that leading experts can foresee or control mankind's behavior nor that of other universal significant events affecting our solar system. No matter how hard they try they will never be able to control the sun, moon or stars.
The question then is, is there anyone whom can tell us the real future of the earth?
If we turn our attention to mankind's oldest book the Bible we find that it claims to record not only the history of the earth but also it's future.
Granted, some people may be skeptical about finding answers in a book that was written thousands of years ago however if we consider closely other information contained in the bible and compare it to what we now know to be accurate in our modern day we can get an idea as to it's level of credibility.
If we read what the bible says about the beginning of the earth and compare that with what modern day scientists currently believe we can see that this information actually agrees. For example they say that the universe and the earth had a starting point. Compare Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". Most of the world's leading scientists say that the earth did have a beginning and in the beginning the earth started as a waste rock mass. Compare Genesis 1:2 "... the earth was formless and desolate ...". Scientists also agree that the order of the building of the earth and living things on it is the correct order as stated in the bible.
Over the centuries mankind (including scientists) have always been behind in their knowledge in confirming different facts that were long stated in the bible. The bible stated long ago that the earth was round Isa. 40:22: “There is One who is dwelling above the circle of the earth.” And at Job 26:7, speaks of God as “hanging the earth upon nothing.”
For more evidence that the bible is a credible source of reliable information consider what it predicted about human nature in advance. At 2nd Tim 3:1-5 it says that "in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having an appearance of godliness but proving false to its power ...
It also predicted that the earth would end up ravaged by both national and international wars, earthquakes and famines. Matthew 24:6-7.
Our current 2020 coronavirus (COVID-19) also gets a mention indirectly being referred to as a pestilence at Luke 21:10 "... in one place after another pestilences ..."
It predicted that there would be a world wide global preaching campaign just before the end. Matthew 24:14.
The bible also provides information about the coming and going of different world powers at Daniel 2:31-45.
This is all good news for humanity because we can see that there is someone whom has oversight of earths affairs.
So the question is ... how long will the earth remain according to the bible? Grab your own bible and read the scriptures outlined below for yourself;
Psalm 37:29 "The righteous themselves will possess the earth,
And they will reside forever upon it."
Psalm 104:5 "He has founded the earth upon its established places; It will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.
We also need to consider the overall context of the bible to believe the above mentioned scriptures.
Consider God's original purpose for humans and the earth at Genesis 1:28 "Further, God blessed them and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving upon the earth."
In other words, humans were to populate the earth and live on it and work as caretakers.
Compare Isaiah 45:18 "For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the [true] God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.
Psalm 115:16 "As regards the heavens, to Jehovah the heavens belong, But the earth he has given to the sons of men".
So we understand that according to the bible the future of the earth and mankind is guaranteed to be positive and everlasting. God assures us he is in control and will fix all current problems on the earth.
Isaiah 65:21 "And they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage."
There was also a warning provided in the bible over two thousand years ago that mankind would pollute and damage the earth to the point of ruining it and those people / governments would need to be stopped. Read the latter part of Revelation 11:18 which explains that.
Revelation 11:18 "But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time for the dead to be judged, and to give [their] reward to your slaves the prophets and to the holy ones and to those fearing your name, the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”
And just think about the point that "who could have predicted over 2,000 years ago" that mankind with the industrial revolution, mining activities and consumerism would lead the planet down the path of destroying it? Surely, only God could foresee so far into the future with such accuracy to have it recorded in the bible.
Further recommended bible based reading about earth facts and the future of the earth can be found on the following links;
What the end means in terms of the bible and when will it come?
The Watchtower | January 2009 Only God Can Save the Earth
Does Science Agree With the Bible? Are there scientific errors in the Bible?
The Watchtower | September 2014 Will Man Ruin the Earth Beyond Repair?