Nuggets from Seeking and Finding God—The COMING “Big Bang”

What Hebrews:11:3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
See All... tells us is that the visible universe was not made out of anything visible, for that would mean that something visible always existed and the universe was simply manufactured from materials at hand. On the contrary, that could not be the way it came about, because nothing visible is eternal. Any “material,” therefore, would have entropied during the endless time before it was allegedly used to create the universe—and who might have done that? In fact, the universe was created by the Word of God: “God said, Let there be…” (Genesis:1:3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
See All...,6,9, and so on), and everything that is visible came into existence in obedience to His Word. That same Word, which created all and holds all together, will speak again, and all that is visible in the old creation will dissolve back into nothing:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word [by which they were created] are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter:3:7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
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The English translation, “kept in store” and “in Him all things consist” (Colossians:1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
See All...) have the connotation in the Greek of being “held together.” Peter goes on to describe the destruction of the universe as being “dissolved” in a “fervent heat” that will burn up the very elements. The English word, “dissolved,” is translated from the Greek luo, which in its forty-six usages in the New Testament denotes a loosing, or letting go, of something being held together—a scientifically accurate description of the loosing of the force binding the nucleus of the atom together.

All matter is made of atoms, which consist of negatively charged electrons orbiting round a nucleus composed of positively charged protons and neutrally charged neutrons. The electrons are of course held in orbit by the positively charged nucleus—but what holds the nucleus together, since its protons ought to repel one another?

Physicists hypothesize a mysterious “strong force,” or “cosmic glue,” which overcomes the electromagnetic repulsion that otherwise would push the protons apart and destroy the atom. Without this mysterious force, the very elements of the entire universe would dissolve in one giant ball of fire—exactly as Peter describes.

Long before the second law of thermodynamics had been discovered, Jesus put it very clearly: “Heaven and earth shall pass away” (Matthew:24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
See All...). The universe, however, is not destined to simply wear out due to the passage of untold billions of years. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter explained that all life on earth as we have known it will be summarily terminated, and the entire universe will be destroyed by God in judgment of man’s and Satan’s rebellion. In its place, a new universe will be created:

On the day of judgment…the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up…. The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved…. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. (2 Peter:3:7-13 [7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? [13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
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The word “heavens” is used in two ways in Scripture: for all that is physical in dimensional space beyond earth; and for the nonphysical abode of God, called by Jesus “my Father’s house… [of] many mansions” (John:14:2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
See All...). One is visible and temporal, while the other is invisible and eternal. This visible, temporary universe is not all that exists. There is another dimension of existence that is neither physical nor visible—and it doesn’t wear out or grow old with the passage of time, nor can it be destroyed, nor will it ever cease to exist.