“But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence and the elements shall be melted with heat and the earth and the works which are in it shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness? Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat? But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promises, in which justice dwelleth” (2 P 3:10-13).

St Symeon  the New Theologian (1994) said that, “This does not mean that the heavens and the elements will disappear, but that they will be re0rdered and renewed, and will come into a better and an incorruptible condition” (p. 100). He added that heaven and earth, with everything they contain, is to be “renewed and to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, and these elements together with us will become partakers of the brightness proceeding from the Divine fire” (p. 101). Creation having become useless because of our sinfulness, it will be melted “in the fire by God the Creator and recast, and will appear new” (p. 101). Such is the meaning of the coming of the day of the Lord.

Reference

St Symeon the New Theologian. (1994). Adam and the first-created world. In The first-created man: Seven homilies (S. Rose, trans.). Platina, CA: St Herman of Alaska Brotherhood.