Will Dark Energy Destroy the Earth?

Could a mysterious force be in the process of destroying us?

According to a recent release from the prestigious HubbleSite , "Scientists have found that an unexplained force is changing our universe, forcing galaxies farther and farther apart, stretching the very fabric of space faster and faster. If unchecked, this mystery force could be the death of our universe, tearing even its atoms apart."

What is dark energy?

Ten years ago, astronomers made the stunning discovery that the universe is expanding at a faster rate than previously anticipated, based on the amount of matter the cosmos contains. More recent observations indicate that this mysterious force is also affecting members of the Milky Way's local group of galaxies.

Scientists refer to the driving force behind this unexpected acceleration as dark energy. Simply put, dark energy exerts a force that is opposite of gravity, pulling apart and expanding rather than drawing together.

HubbleSite further explains, "Since space is everywhere, this dark energy force is everywhere, and its effects increase as space expands. In contrast, gravity's force is stronger when things are close together and weaker when they are far apart. Because gravity is weakening with the expansion of space, dark energy now makes up over 2/3 of all the energy in the universe."

Many scientists now consider dark energy as the most likely cause of destroying the universe by tearing it apart, and have coined the term "the Big Rip." Yet HubbleSite admits, "We have no firm idea about what makes up 74% of the universe." But it concludes, "The universe still has at least a few tens of billions of years left—which leaves us plenty of time to look for the answers."

A more dangerous form of dark energy

However, the Bible reveals that another form of invisible dark energy poses a more immediate threat. That threat is from Satan the Devil and his demons. The apostle Paul refers to them as "the rulers of the darkness of this age" and "spiritual hostsof wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
See All...). Satan is also described as "the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon" (Revelation 9:11And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
See All...)—meaning "destruction" and "destroyer."

God has plans for dealing with Satan and his demons. Appropriately, their fate is to be cast into the restraint of everlasting darkness (2 Peter 2:4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
See All...; Jude 1:6And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
See All...).

But in the meantime mankind, under the unseen influence of this evil power, is rapidly being drawn farther and farther away from God and toward inevitable universal devastation and annihilation. Thankfully, God promises to intervene to prevent mankind from these catastrophic consequences (Matthew 24:21-22 [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

See All...), but not before the world is plunged into literal darkness and cosmic chaos (Matthew 24:29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
See All...; Acts 2:20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come:
See All...; Revelation 8:12And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
See All..., 9:2, 16:10).

How the earth will be destroyed

As for the physical universe, the Bible reveals that it will ultimately be destroyed and how. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10But 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.
See All...).

Peter therefore admonishes all of us to consider our conduct in view of this impending universal destruction. "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of personsought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:11-12 [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?

See All...).

How you can avoid the threat of destruction

Only God can deliver us from this universal cataclysm. For those who believe and obey Him, Paul writes, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed usinto the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Colossians 1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
See All...).

The hope of all mankind and the focus of God's people is to, "according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
See All...).

You owe it to yourself to find out more about the fate of mankind and how you can be assured to face the future with confidence. Our free booklets Are We Living in the Time of the End? Is There Really a Devil? and The Gospel of the Kingdom will help you understand what lies ahead and what you can do about it.