Peter is pointing a contrast between water being the agent of destruction at Noah's time, and fire which will be used at the second coming. "The heavens and the earth" of Noah's time were not literally destroyed - "all flesh" which was sinful was destroyed (Gen.7:21 cp. 6:5,12). 'Heavens and earth' therefore refers to a system of things or of human organization.
Petro anaonyesha tofauti kati ya maji yakiwa ni wakala wa kuangamiza kwenye kipindi cha Nuhu, na moto utakaotumika atakapokuja mara ya pili.'Mbingu na nchi’ za kipindi cha Nuhu zenyewe hazikuharibiwa - wenye miili wote’ wenye dhambi waliharibiwa (Mwa. 7:21; 6: 5, 12).'Mbingu na nchi’ kwa sababu hii unatajwa utaratibu wa mambo au muungano wa watu.