Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

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.

The elements

Bible References

As a

Matthew 24:42
“So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming.
Luke 12:39
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
1 Thessalonians 5:2
For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night.
Revelation 3:3
So remember and take to heart the lessons you have received and heard. Keep and obey them, and repent [change your sinful way of thinking, and demonstrate your repentance with new behavior that proves a conscious decision to turn away from sin]. So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
Revelation 16:15
(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.”)

In the which

Psalm 102:26

“Even they will perish, but You endure;
Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment.
Like clothing You will change them and they shall be changed.
Isaiah 51:6

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
Then look to the earth beneath;
For the heavens will be torn to pieces and vanish like smoke,
And the earth will wear out like a garment
And its inhabitants will die in like manner.
But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness (justice) [and faithfully fulfilled promise] will not be broken.
Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Romans 8:20
For the creation was subjected to frustration and futility, not willingly [because of some intentional fault on its part], but by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope
Hebrews 1:11

They will perish, but You remain [forever and ever];
And they will all wear out like a garment,
Revelation 20:11
And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away].
Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (vanished), and there is no longer any sea.

The elements

2 Peter 3:12
[while you earnestly] look for and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the [material] elements will melt with intense heat!

General references

Psalm 97:3

Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries on all sides.
Psalm 114:4

The mountains leaped like rams,
The [little] hills, like lambs.
Proverbs 27:12

A prudent man sees evil and hides himself and avoids it,
But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
Matthew 24:36
“But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.
Mark 13:24
“But in those days, after [the suffering and distress of] that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
Luke 12:39
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into.