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^“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).

One of the most popular Christian books of the 1970’s was Hal Lindsey’s “The Late, Great Planet Earth. Since then, there have been a whole host of other popular literature published regarding the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, otherwise known as the Day of the Lord. One of the most popular in the 1990’s was the Left Behind series by Dr. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

The phrase Day of the Lord refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in power, might and glory (Isaiah 13:9-13; Joel 1:15; 3:14; I Thessalonians 5:1-2). It is the time of God’s divine intervention and judgment upon the sinful and fallen world.

It was an expression used by OT prophets (as early as the eighth-century bc prophet Amos) to signify a time in which God actively intervenes in history, primarily for judgment. Thus “the day of the Lord” is also called “the day of the Lord’s anger” (Zephaniah 2:2).

The Day of the Lord is used in the OT not only to speak of a past judgment (Lamentations 2:22) but also to refer to future judgment (Joel 2:1–11). Ultimately, though, the term refers to climactic future judgment of the world (Joel 3:14–21; Malachi 4:5).

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary explains that, “Often, prophecy of a near-future event and an end-time prophecy are merged—the immediate judgment being a preview of the final Day of the Lord. The prophecy of Isaiah against Babylon is an example (Isaiah 13:5–10). Jesus combined events described there with other prophecies to explain his second coming (Mark 13:24–37). Another example is Joel’s prophecy of the Day of the Lord (Joel 1:15–2:11). Though the prophet initially spoke of God’s judgment on Israel by a locust plague, that judgment prompted further pronouncements about a final Day of the Lord far beyond Joel’s time (2:14–17, 31). That Day of the Lord extended even beyond the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost predicted by Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:16–21; Revelation 6:12–13). The NT uses the term exclusively to mean the end time.”

“The final Day of the Lord is characterized in the Bible as a day of gloom, darkness, and judgment. Associated with God’s judgment is language depicting changes in nature, especially a darkening of the sun, moon, and stars (Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:31; 3:15; Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12). Nations will be judged for their rebellion against God’s anointed people and king (Joel 3:19; cf. Psalm 2). Israel is counseled not to be eager for that day, because it will also include judgment on the chosen nation (Amos 5:18–20). But the prophets promise that a believing “remnant” will be saved by looking to the Messiah they once rejected (Joel 2:32; Zechariah 12:10). Following the judgment, the future Day of the Lord will be a time of prosperity, restoration, and blessing for Israel (Joel 3:18–21).”

“The more explicit NT expressions—“the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8), “the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14), and “the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10; 2:16)—are more personal and more positive. They point to final events related to Christian believers, who will not experience the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5:9). When the Day of the Lord comes, the earth will be renewed and purified through a judgment of fire (2 Peter 3:10–13). In the book of Revelation the final purging seems to come after the Millennium—that is, the 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 21:1).”

Another familiar image associated with the coming Day of the Lord is that it will come like a thief. The idea of a thief (κλέπτης; kleptes) is used with respect to an individual who does not announce his intended arrival. He comes secretly and suddenly, often when he is least expected. Jesus used this simile to communicate how unexpected His arrival would be (Luke 12:39-40). Jesus’ arrival will not only be sudden but also catastrophic.

When Jesus does return, the physical universe will feel the effects. The language Peter used is similar to the Old Testament and of Jesus (Isaiah 34:1-4; 64:1-4; Matthew 24:29-31).

Heavenly bodies could refer to (1) elements which make up the world such as the earth, fire and water; (2) astronomical bodies such as the sun, moon and the stars; or (3) angelic beings who have delegated power over nature. Most scholars favor #2.

It is at this time that the fallen world’s works will be exposed (εὑρεθήσεται; heurethesetai) or found to be what they truly are. It is these works that form the basis of God’s judgment upon unbelievers (Revelation 20:11-15).

Dr. John Walvoord explains that, “In the catastrophic conflagration at the end of the Millennium, the heavens (the earth’s atmosphere and the starry sky, not God’s abode) will disappear with a roar, which in some way will involve fire (2 Peter 3:7, 12). The elements (stoicheia, either stars or material elements with which the universe is made) will be destroyed by fire (and will melt, v. 12), and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare (eurethēsetai). This Greek word could mean that everything will be exposed for what it really is.”

The Day of the Lord is coming. It is sooner than it has ever been. Endeavor to share the gospel with those who are in need of Christ’s righteousness by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

Soli deo Gloria!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

^8 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ 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 3:8-9)

When studying any portion of Scripture, it is vitally important to not overlook the context of a particular passage. This means that the student of Scripture must never ignore the genre of the passage. Is the verse part of the Old Testament or New Testament? Is it a portion of Hebrew poetry or wisdom literature, history or prophecy? Is it a part of a New Testament Epistle, one of the four gospels or apocalyptic literature? Knowing the particular genre will be of tremendous help in understanding the meaning of the passage.

There must also be an understanding of the grammatical context. Are there any figures of speech used by the author which must be correctly understood? What are the similes or the metaphors being used? What about repetition or exaggeration? These questions the Bible student must be aware of and must be prepared to answer.

Additionally, we must also understand what the historical context is in which the human author wrote the biblical passage? What has occurred, is occurring or will occur in the lives of those in the text along with the author of the text? Was the author writing to the Jews or to a Gentile church? What nation was in political power: Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece or Rome?

One of the most common tendencies people have is to take a verse of Scripture out of all three of its contexts and make it stand alone as if the verses before or after do not matter. This is done more often than we probably care to admit and unfortunately, with confident assertion that doing so is a proper method of biblical interpretation. Not so!

Take 2 Peter 3:9 for example. The text reads, “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.” Let’s examine this verse in detail to see not only what it says, but also what it means.

The phrase, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,” refers the reader immediately back to the eight preceding verses which began Chapter Three. The word slow (βραδύνω; bradyno) means to hesitate or delay. The Apostle Peter was saying that the Lord Jesus was not hesitating or delaying to fulfill the promise of His returning to earth in power, might and glory. Unfortunately, the context indicates that false teachers, or apostates, were saying that very thing.

It is then that Peter indicated why the Lord had yet to return to the earth as He had promised. Please note that the historical context in which the apostle wrote this epistle was just some 30 plus years after Jesus had ascended. We are studying this same text close to 2,000 years since Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It is striking how much more pertinent this verse is regarding why Jesus has yet to return.

The reason the apostle gives for the seeming delay of Jesus’ return is answered by the latter portion of verse nine. “…but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” The word patient (μακροθυμέω; makrothymeo) means to exhibit internal and external control. It also literally means to be slow.

The false teachers mock the Lord’s failure to return as a sign that His slowness or delay in returning is because He never intended to fulfill this promise. The Apostle Peter said that Jesus patience, or slowness, to return is directed towards the church. The personal pronoun “you” refers us back to the noun “beloved” (2 Peter 3:1). The word “you” refers to the saved, or the people of God. The Lord patiently endures the endless mocking by false teachers (Romans 1:18-32) while at the same time He is calling, regenerating and redeeming His own.

The Lord’s delay in returning is not due to impotence on His part, but rather because He is not wishing (βούλομαι; boulomai), wanting, desiring, or purposing that “any” of those He is calling, regenerating and redeeming by His own will perish (ἀπόλλυμι; apollymi) or be ruined or destroyed. Rather, all those who God intends to call, regenerate and redeem should reach (χωρέω; choreo) or advance to repentance (μετάνοια; metanoia) which means conversion unto saving faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains that, “The repentance in view, for the sake of which God delays judgment, is that of God’s people rather than the world at large. God is not willing that any of His elect should perish (John 6:35-65). In the context of this epistle, the “any” of this verse refers back to the “us” of 1:3, indicating that Peter is talking about the elect, those whom God has granted everything necessary for life and godliness. The verse (2 Peter 3:9) is not teaching that God wants everyone to be saved such that He is frustrated by the fact that not everyone is saved, and it is not endorsing a universalism that says everyone will be saved in the end. God has an elect people whom He has purposed to redeem and who will therefore be saved, for no purpose of His can be thwarted (Romans 9:1-29; Job 42:2). The Lord does not delight in the death of the wicked, but His eternal purposes are not overturned and He is not thrown into depression when people reject His gospel (Ezekiel 18:32; I Timothy 2:1-4).”

 We can take great comfort in knowing that those whom God has purposed to save, He will save (Ephesians 1:3-14). Let us also take great care in rightly dividing the truth of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

^8 “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ 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 3:8-9)

It is easy to overlook the obvious. I came across this observation from a college professor. Perhaps, you can relate to her observation as I can.

“A few months ago, I was rushing across campus worried that I would be late for teaching a class. I wanted to check the time, but my phone was buried in my backpack, and I was carrying too many books to get my arm in a position to see my watch. Just then, the bells in the campus’ bell tower chimed, and I relaxed. It was 15 minutes before the hour. As a gesture of appreciation, I looked up at the bell tower and saw its clock face. There was the time staring right back at me. I’d been teaching at the college for 21 years, yet this was the first time I realized that I could tell the time on campus simply by looking up.”

“Was I uncommonly unobservant? Curious, I asked my colleagues and students if they knew of a way to tell the time while outside on campus without checking their phone or watch. Few mentioned the bell tower’s clock, and many laughed with surprise when I pointed it out. Our bell tower was built in 1897 and is located right in the center of the campus. I bet most students consulted its clock 100 years ago. Have we become so wed to our personal devices that we’ve forgotten how to look around and use external cues? Technology provides us with great information but so do our own eyes and brain.”

We often tend to overlook, or fail to observe, that which is right before us. It may be a friendship, a gentle touch given by, or to, a loved one, a task needing to be done, or a word of encouragement needing to be given. We overlook what we could and should do and proceed on our life’s path until later when we realize what we could, and should, have done.

Peter was all too aware of this tendency of humans: saints and sinners. In fact, with respect to the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle stated, “^“But do not overlook this one fact.” The word “overlook (λανθάνω; lanthaneto) means to not remember, to forget or to escape notice. What fact, of truth, are believers never to overlook?

Peter answered by saying, “…that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Peter wanted believers to not overlook the truth that while Jesus’ return to earth in power, might and glory from a human perspective seems long overdue, in His perspective it has only been a couple of days since His ascension (Acts 1:1-11).

We should never forget what the angels promised the disciples. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Believers may rest assured, and unbelievers would be well to take heed, that Jesus Christ will one day return in the same way as He departed: visibly, gradually, in the air and with the clouds (Acts 1:9-10; Daniel 7:13; Zechariah 14:1-4; Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Revelation 1:7; 14:14; 19:11-21).

As the Apostle John stated in Revelation 22:20, “He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”  

Let us live for the Lord today in obvious recognition of His soon return.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

^“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)

One of my good friends ended our friendship over the subject of the wrath of God and the Lord’s judgment upon the wicked. He placed great emphasis upon the love of God whereupon there was no room in his thinking to even consider God’s wrath. This was, and is, in spite of the clear teaching of Scripture, such as Romans 1:18-20, the Book of Revelation and today’s text from 2 Peter.

My friend did not necessarily mock or scoff at the idea of God’s Day of Judgement. Rather, he outright rejected the very idea of it. He could not reconcile within his mind the attribute of a loving God with that of a condemning God. Yet, this is the truth that the Apostle Peter is setting forth in 2 Peter 3:7.

Peter articulated that as God formed the heavens and earth by the means of water by His spoken word (Genesis 1-2; Psalm 33:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3; 2 Peter 3:1-6), by the same spoken word God will bring judgment upon the existing heavens and earth by the means of fire. This judgment is being kept (τηρέω; tereo), guarded, and retained until the Lord’s Day of Judgment.

The Day of Judgment (ἡμέρα κρίσις; herema krisis) is the period of time which God has set aside to bring judgment upon unrepentant sinners. The Day of Judgment will include the destruction (ἀπώλεια; apoleia) or ruination which belongs to the ungodly, or those who have no regard for God and His righteousness.

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “The present world system is reserved for future judgment, which will come by the word of God just as creation and the flood came. God will speak it into existence as well, after the present order is again destroyed. Humanity, since the flood, lives in the second world order. One of the obvious differences between the two world orders is that people live 70 years in the present world, not 900 years, which was a common age of pre-flood human beings. And Peter was making the point that there is a third form of the heavens and earth yet to come following another cataclysm.”

God put the rainbow in the sky to signify that he would never destroy the world again by water (Gen. 9:13). In the future, God will destroy the heavens and the earth by fire (cf. Isa. 66:15; Dan. 7:9–10; Mic. 1:4; Mal. 4:1; Matt. 3:11–12; 2 Thess. 1:7–8). In the present universe, the heavens are full of stars, comets, and asteroids. The core of the earth is also filled with a flaming, boiling, liquid lake of fire, the temperature of which is some 12,400 degrees Fahrenheit. The human race is separated from the fiery core of the earth by only a thin 10-mile crust. Far more than that, the whole of creation is a potential firebomb due to its atomic structure. As man from atoms creates destructive bombs that burn a path of death, so God can disintegrate the whole universe in an explosion of atomic energy (see notes on 2 Pet. 3:10–12).”

 In conclusion, Dr. MacArthur states that, “The earth waits for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. The godly will not be present on earth when God speaks into existence the judgment by fire (cf. 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).” 

What an incentive for believers in Christ to share the gospel with the lost. Always remember that at one time, we were included in those who the Bible calls the lost. Take time today to thank God for His grace and mercy which are received by faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

⁴ They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.” (2 Peter 3:4-6).

Scoffers always seem to have short memories. The Apostle Peter comments that false teachers indignantly mock the promise of Jesus Christ’s return in power, might and glory. They continually comment that all things in this world continue as they have from the very beginning of creation. What they conveniently forget is an event the Scriptures call the Flood.

Peter states that scoffers “deliberately overlook this fact.” The word deliberately (θέλω; thelo) means, within this context, to presently, purposely and actively have an opinion concerning something. What scoffers have a mind set upon is to overlook (λανθάνω; lanthano), forget, to lose sight of and to not remember a fact (οὗτος; houtos) or a reality. The reality to which the apostle refers is God creating the world out of water, and through water by the word of God (Genesis 1:1-2).

One commentary explains that, “Aristotle and his adherents (the Peripatetics) believed that the universe was eternal. His view caught on even outside Peripatetic circles, and Philo had to address the idea. (Like Plato, Philo believed that God created the world from preexistent matter, but unlike Plato, he believed that God had created that preexistent matter too.) Epicureans denied that God acted in the world; they also believed that matter was indestructible (on the atomic level) and that the universe was infinite. The Stoics believed that fire was eternal, that the universe would periodically be resolved into the primeval fire (see comment on 3:7) and that eternity was a cycle of ages. Whether matter was created out of preexisting substance in chaos (as in most ancient thought) or from nothing (as is most likely in Gen 1) was debated in Diaspora Judaism.In Genesis 1, God created the world through his word (also Ps 33:6–9). Some later Jewish traditions counted ten commands in Genesis 1 and suggested that they represented the Ten Commandments, the word of the law on which God founded the world.”

It was also with water that God deluged the ancient world and destroyed it, and its sin, with the Flood. Dr. John Walvoord writes that, “Peter met the arguments of the scoffers by reviewing some ancient history. Just as water by God’s command played a significant role in the early formation of the earth, so water also was the agent for destruction of the earth at God’s command. The heavens existed refers to the expanse or sky created on the second day of Creation (Gen. 1:6–8); and the earth was formed out of water and with water refers to the land appearing from the water on the third day of Creation (Gen. 1:9–10).

 Dr. Walvoord continues by stating, “God the Creator is also God the Judge. In His sovereign will, any change in process can occur at any time for He designed and controls these “natural” processes. The scoffers deliberately (thelontas, “willingly”) forget God’s Creation and the Flood, an interesting contrast with Peter’s constant reminders to his readers to “remember” (2 Peter 1:12–13, 15; 3:1–2, 8). The scoffers deliberately put aside God’s Word and then complained that God was not doing anything. Interestingly Peter was both a creationist and a believer in the universal Flood (cf. his other references to the Flood: 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5).”

 I wonder how many scoffers there are in the churches we are members of and where we serve the Lord Jesus. These would be individuals who play church and dismiss the sovereignty of God and His impending judgment upon this fallen world. The judgment to come will be as devastating as the ancient flood but it will not be by water, but rather by fire. More to follow when we meet again.

Soli deo Gloria!

 

 

“They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:4)

How will scoffers mock and ridicule the prophesied and promised return of the Lord Jesus Christ? They will indignantly and persistently ask “Where is the promise of His coming?”

The word “where” (ποῦ; pou) disrespectfully implies that Jesus’ coming should have occurred by now. Since it hasn’t occurred, scoffers may reason, then it probably won’t.  

 The word “promise” (ἐπαγγελία; epangelia) means an agreement that is to be fulfilled. Since Jesus has yet to return to the earth in power, might and glory, scoffers gladly proclaim that Jesus’ promise to come again (παρουσία; parousia) will never be fulfilled.

There reasoning for this rejection of God’s promise is based on the continuing cycle of life and living which has continued unabated since Jesus’ ascension. In fact, scoffers reason that life continues as it has since creation. They conclude that ever since the Jewish forefathers (πατήρ; pater) feel asleep (κοιμάω; koimao) or died, all things are continuing as they always have since the beginning of creation.

The word all things (πᾶς; pas) refers to that which exists in the natural world. This is what sceptics and scoffers solely focus their attention upon. They do not believe in God’s revealed truth: the Scriptures.

Dr. John Walvoord comments that, “From the time of the promise of Christ’s coming as Saviour and King being given to the fathers, down to the present time, all things continue, and have continued, as they now are, from “the beginning of creation.” The “scoffers” here are not necessarily atheists, nor do they maintain that the world existed from eternity. They are willing to recognize a God, but not the God of revelation. They reason from seeming delay against the fulfilment of God’s word at all.^”

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains that, “Peter points us to the predictions of the prophets and apostles in order to give us confidence that false teaching is in fact no surprise to God. For the apostles and prophets did predict that in the last days scoffers will arise deriding the promise of Jesus’ return (vv. 2–4). The questions and assertions of the false teachers described in verse 4 were not innocent inquiries regarding the second coming; rather, the teachers in question mocked the orthodox belief in Jesus’ return as Judge.”

“However, this should not be surprising to us. Peter does tell us that the scoffing of the false teachers is predicted by the Word of God. In view here are passages such as Malachi 2:17 where the prophet warns the people that they have wearied the Lord by speaking as if God is not concerned with justice. As false teachers do the same in these last days, Malachi’s warning is fulfilled and made all the more intense because those who deny judgment while living under the revelation of the new covenant are even more guilty of sin.”

Dr. Sproul concludes by saying that, “Peter’s quotation of the prophet Joel in Acts 2:16–21 makes it clear that the entire time between the first and second advent of Christ is to be regarded as the last days. As such, we are not to be surprised at the presence of false teaching throughout church history, nor are we to assume necessarily that the seeming proliferation of false doctrine in our own day means that Jesus will return in our lifetime. Jesus could return at any time, and yet the entire period between His two advents is indeed the last days. Thus, we must not be surprised that the predictions about the rise of false teachers (Matt. 24:11) are fulfilled in every generation of the church.”

 Are you frustrated by the increasing amount of false teaching that is occurring within the evangelical community? It seems the church is running headlong in rejecting objective, biblical truth and accepting anyone’s subjective opinion as a replacement for biblical truth. In a very real sense, it is good that believers in Christ are disturbed by the increase of false teaching. Therefore, we must resolve to do everything we biblically can to combat false teaching, where and when it occurs.

May the Lord find us faithful in doing so.

Sol deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“…knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” (2 Peter 3:3)

It should come as no surprise that since Peter wrote his second epistle to remind his readers to remember the prophets and the apostles’ message concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ that it would be for a particular reason. That reason is given in 2 Peter 3:3. It is that scoffers will come with scoffing about Jesus’ return.

Peter wanted his readers then, and now, to presently and actively know and understand a truth that is of primary importance. The truth is that scoffers will come. Scoffers (ἐμπαίκτης; empaiktes) are those who mock and make fun of Jesus Christ and His followers.

I was recently at work and asked a fellow employee how her strained back was doing. The previous day she couldn’t even stand straight which necessitated her making an appointment with a local chiropractor. I told her, prior to her appointment, that I would pray for her. Another employee must have heard what I told her because the next day, after she said she was feeling better following her chiropractic appointment, he began to shout the word hallelujah exclaiming that God had healed this lady. Knowing this young man as I do, he clearly was mocking her, me, and the Lord Jesus. This is what scoffers do.

The reality of scoffers is a telltale sign that we are living in the last days. The last days is the time immediately prior to the promised return of Jesus Christ in power, might and glory. It is at this particular time in the church’s history that scoffers will come with scoffing (ἐμπαιγμονή; empaigmone) which is to make fun of someone by pretending that he is not what he is or by imitating him in a distorted manner—in order to mock, to ridicule.” This is what my co-worker did and what many entertainers, filmmakers and television programs do as well.

Why do scoffers do this? It is because they are following their own sinful desires. Note that scoffers are not following anyone else’s lusts, but their own cravings and evil desires. Those who do not follow them and their sinful cravings are mocked and ridiculed.

Believers can take heart that such mockery is an indication of Jesus’ soon return. The logical inference is that as scoffing increases in intensity against the church, the Lord’s return is that much sooner.

Dr. John Walvoord writes that, “Peter understood that he and his readers were living in the last days, the period of time between the Lord’s First and Second Advents. First of all means “above all” (as in 1:20), foremost in importance. Scoffers are the false teachers who deny Jesus Christ (2:1) and His return (3:4). Jesus had said these heretics would come (Matt. 24:3–5, 11, 23–26), and Paul had written the same (1 Tim. 4:1–3; 2 Tim. 3:1–9). Peter echoed the warning, adding that their scoffing is accompanied by their … evil desires (epithymias, also used in 2 Peter 1:4; 2:10, 18; Jude 16, 18). Arrogant snobbery and disdain for the idea of a coming judgment led to sexual perversion.”

These current days of scoffers mocking and ridiculing believing Christians for their faith, while at the same time celebrating their unbridled sin and licentiousness, should make us take heart that Jesus is returning soon. Let us call it anticipation in the midst of agitation.

Soli deo Gloria!

       

 

 

 

“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ² that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,” (2 Peter 3:1-2)

The purpose of Peter’s second letter to the same collection of displaced believers he previously wrote (I Peter 1:1-2) was to stir up their sincere minds. The word sincere (εἰλικρινής; eilikrines) means these believers did not have any hidden motives. Their minds (διάνοια; dianoia), or their thinking, was in keeping with God’s truth.

The English word “sincere” is from the Latin words sine cera, “without wax.” Some pottery salesmen would use wax to cover cracks and weak places in pottery. Such a cover-up could be detected only by holding the jug up to the sun to see if any weaknesses were visible. Such a vase was called “sun-judged” (the lit. meaning of the Gr. eilikrinēs). The Lord wants believers in Christ to possess sun-judged minds, not minds which their sin have been covered over.”

Please notice that Peter referred to the recipients of his letter as beloved. These are people who are near and dear to the apostle’s heart. They are his dear friends. He will use the term beloved (ἀγαπητός; agapetos) four times in this chapter (vs, 1, 8, 14, 17). Most importantly,  they are beloved by God.

Knowing the sincerity of these believers, Peter wanted to remind them that they should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandments through the apostles. The word predictions (ῥῆμα; rhema) is referring to a message, a word, or a saying originating from a specific source. The word commandment (ἐντολή; entole) refers to an order. Both pertain to what God’s Word says about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The two sources Peter mentions regarding this message and commandment were respectively the holy prophets and the apostles. The word holy (ἅγιος; hagios) refers to that which is pure, dedicated and separate from sin. This adjective pertains to the Old Testament prophets of God. The prophets spoke utterances and messages from God. The apostles did the same thing with the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter was one of the apostles. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of not only the holy prophets but also the apostles.

Dr. John Walvoord explains that, “Peter again reminded his readers of the need to remember (cf. 1:12–15). Others, like Peter, referred to the holy prophets (cf. Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Eph. 3:5), whose words were oracles regarding the day of the Lord and related topics. The command of our Lord and Savior refers to His teachings, which were then proclaimed by the apostles (cf. Jude 17). Peter’s linking the prophets and apostles placed them on the same level of authority (cf. Eph. 2:20). This also suits Peter’s earlier purpose of distinguishing the true servants of the Lord from the false. Believers do well to recall the writings of both Testaments regarding the Lord’s return.”

Believers in Christ are wise to not only study the New Testament regarding the Lord’s return in power, might and glory but also the Old Testament. Both testaments are inspired, inerrant and God’s revelation (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Soli deo Gloria!