Scripture doesn't say the earth will be destroyed, just the ungodly. They've already been judged, but the Father is patient, waiting for repentance. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 2 Peter 3:7 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV Also, the heavenly bodies will be destroyed, but not this earth. The heavenly bodies burning is repeated twice. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:10 ESV. How else can we hasten the day of God? We cant burn the heavenly bodies for God, but we can wait actively and destroy the wicked and ungodly to prepare for the return of Jesus. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 2 Peter 3:11‭-‬12 ESV New doesnt always indicate the physical. We're new creations in Christ, but our bodies are still the same. We have a re(new)ed mind with a new way of thinking, but our brains still appear the same. We have a new spirit, from our Father made way by Jesus, but we can only see and show that from our actions. But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 ESV Isaiah further bolsters my point, as Jerusalem has always been a specific place, not a people, as Israel is considered. If the whole earth is getting destroyed, then why speak as if theres still similar creatures or people? A lot of this seems metaphorical rather than physical, but we have no way of knowing until that day. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. Isaiah 65:17‭-‬18 ESV There will even be serpents, but they will not be the same, but rather, cursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord. Isaiah 65:21‭, ‬23‭, ‬25 ESV I know this is jumbled together but im showing you why I have the opinion I do. Otherwise, the Catholics did the right thing by killing people who wouldn't convert. Hitler did the right thing by killing the Jews. Stalin did the right thing. Mao did the right thing. The people who destroy this planet and the people therein are doing the right thing, etc. which obviously isn't the heart of the Father. Jesus also describes rhe heavenly bodies being removed. Since this is mentioned in past (Isaiah) present (himself) and future (Peter), I assume this is a physically identifiable action. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:29‭-‬31 ESV As well, during this same talk, the generation Jesus spoke to did pass away, so we see Jesus speaks metaphorically as well. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. Matthew 24:32‭-‬35 ESV