Is II Peter 3:10 referring to the complete annihilation of the earth?
Although verse 10 begins by citing “the day of the Lord,” it uses this event as the opening benchmark in time which unleashes a long series of end-time events culminating in what was mentioned in verse 7. Of course, verse 7 establishes the context of what Peter was focusing upon: “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” This is the time of the judgment and destruction of incorrigible and unrepentant sinners that remain on the earth (Matt. 3:12). It also is the culminating event (Rev. 20:13-15) in God’s Plan of Salvation to occur just before the New Heavens and the New Earth discussed in the two final chapters of Revelation. It is understood that an extensive series of events take place from the time of the “day of the Lord” until the culminating event of the lake of fire which engulfs the earth. Revelation chapter 20 lists this series of intervening events to occur after
