2 Peter 3:13 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Nevertheless we, according to his promise: see Isaiah 65:17 Isaiah 66:22 Revelation 21:1,27, to which this text seems to refer, speak of a new state of the church here in the world, yet by way of allusion to the renovation of the world, which is ultimately there promised, and the perpetuity of the gospel church till then is thereby assured. Look for new heavens and a new earth; instead of the present world, which is to be consumed by fire, 2 Peter 3:10,12, or the first heaven and earth, which pass away, Revelation 21:1. These will be new heavens and a new earth, either as to their substance, or as to their qualities, refined and purified from all defilement, and free from all that vanity to which the creature was made subject by the sin of man, Romans 8:20,21. Wherein dwelleth; i.e. perpetually abideth, and not only for a time, Romans 8:11 2 Corinthians 6:16 2 Timothy 1:14. Righteousness; either this may be understood of righteousness in the abstract, that together with the destruction of the world the kingdom of sin shall be destroyed, and God's elect, the inhabitants of the new world, shall be filled with righteousness, whereas before sin had dwelt in them: or else the abstract may be put for the concrete, and by righteousness may be meant righteous persons, who only shall be the inhabitants of the new world, the wicked being turned into hell, Revelation 21:27; and by this way of expressing it may be implied the perfection of the righteousness of such. Not only the new heaven is mentioned, but the new earth, because the whole world will then be the possession and kingdom of the saints, who follow Christ wherever he goes.