Well, according to the Puranas, we have exactly 427,000 more years to go before Kalki arrives, kills all the miscreants, and sets things to rights. Then a couple of hundred years of setting things to rights, and another Satya Yuga, which lasts, IIRC, 1,800,000 years. In which the earth is like a Garden of Eden and all is well. And so it goes, for a long time, until Brahma's night, when everything is destroyed. Then in his morning, all is created again, and goes through the yuga cyles.
Cycles within cycles, destruction followed by creation followed by destruction etc.
But beyond all this cyclic creation and destruction is the eternal Paravyoma, the eternal Kingdom of God. This material creation is just a shadow or cloud in the eternal sky.
And yes, I take it as absolutely true.
The opinion from both sides of the crevo debate would be helpful to this survey... hint.
I thought we were in Kali Yuga which is the destructive period which is why I likened it to 'in ruin', but I defer to you as I am not up on the details. Thanks for the clarification.
It would be comforting to be able to accept any scripture on faith, but I cannot fully do that at this point in my life. If I had to make a choice though, the Vedas would be it.
Thank you so much for the explanation!