By Brakoru Deborah Peremene
Growing up, many of us were taught that if we failed to live a holy and righteous life, we would end up in hell, a place of eternal punishment and torment. But if we remained right with God, we would inherit everlasting life in heaven, where there would be no sickness, suffering, or want, and where we would join the angels in praising God.
But there is one question that has always lingered in my mind: What then happens to Earth?
If heaven is where we are eventually going, and our earthly lives are only temporary, why was Earth created in the first place? What happens to this world when humanity’s journey on it comes to an end? Does Earth simply cease to exist, or does it have a purpose beyond being the place where our lives begin and end?
These questions may seem simple, but they open the door to a much bigger conversation about life, death, faith, and the future of the world we call home.
What Christianity Teaches About Life After Death
In church, we were taught that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
We were also taught that on the last day, when Christ comes again, He will take those who are holy and righteous with Him. For those who remain on Earth, many churches teach that there will be a period of suffering and that they will still have an opportunity to remain true to the faith. Those who remain faithful will eventually be saved, while those who fail to remain faithful will face hell and eternal punishment.
This teaching is connected to passages such as Matthew 24:30–31 and Revelation 20.
What Islam Teaches About the Earth and the Hereafter
Islam also teaches that Earth is a temporary place for humanity, where people are tested through their actions, choices, and faith.
The Qur’an says, “He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed” (Qur’an 67:2).
According to Islamic belief, life on Earth will eventually come to an end. On the Day of Judgment, people will be resurrected and judged for their deeds. Those who are righteous will go to paradise, while those who are condemned will face hell.
Qur’an 11:108 states, “As for those who are happy, they will be in paradise, abiding therein…”
What Hinduism Teaches About Life After Death
Unlike the Christian and Islamic beliefs described above, Hinduism teaches that life continues after death through samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
A person’s karma, or actions, affects what happens to them after death. Hindus believe in Svarga (heaven) and Naraka (hell), but neither is permanent. After spending time enjoying Svarga or enduring Naraka as a consequence of their actions in the earthly world, known as Bhu-loka, a person is reborn.
The ultimate goal is moksha, which means freedom from the cycle of rebirth. The Bhagavad Gita 9:21 explains that those who reach heaven eventually return to the mortal world when their good karma is exhausted.
What Buddhism Teaches About the Cycle of Life
Buddhism, like Hinduism, teaches that life is part of samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Buddhists believe in heavenly realms, often associated with devas, and hellish realms known as naraka. The ultimate goal is nirvana, meaning freedom from the cycle of rebirth and suffering.
Unlike a place that everyone enters at the same time, nirvana is something each person attains individually. The Dhammapada 153–154 describes the Buddha’s realization of the end of the cycle of rebirth.
So, What Happens to Earth?
This brings me back to the original question: What then happens to Earth?
If heaven or hell is the final destination, what was the purpose of Earth in the first place? Why would God create a world for us to live in if we are all eventually going to leave it?
The Qur’an suggests that the Earth we know today will not remain in its present form. Qur’an 14:48 says, “On the day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens as well.”
It also describes the mountains being removed and the Earth being transformed. So, in Islamic teaching, Earth is not humanity’s final destination. It serves a purpose in this temporary life, while the focus shifts to the eternal life of the hereafter.
But what exactly will this “new Earth” be like, and what role will it play after the Final Judgment? These are questions the Qur’an does not explain in complete detail.
Was Earth Created Merely as a Temporary Home?
The Bible tells us in Genesis that after God created the heavens and the Earth, He looked at what He had made and said it was good (Genesis 1:31).
This shows that Earth was not created accidentally or as a meaningless waiting room before heaven. It was part of God’s creation and had a purpose.
In Genesis 1:28, God also gave humanity responsibility for the Earth and its living things, telling them to “be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.”
So, if God created Earth, called it good, and gave humanity a purpose and responsibility on it, was Earth only meant to be temporary? And if it is temporary, what happens to it when humanity’s time here is over?
The Bible itself gives an interesting answer. Revelation 21:1 says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth.”
Similarly, 2 Peter 3:13 speaks of believers looking forward to “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
What Is God’s Original Purpose for Earth?
Maybe, then, the question is not simply whether we are going to leave Earth behind. Maybe the biggest question is: What was God’s original purpose for Earth, and what does the Bible mean when it speaks of a new Earth?
These are questions that have made me look beyond what I was taught about heaven and hell and think more deeply about the place we call home.
