2 Peter 3:1–2  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

The Need to Remember

Peter summarizes here the reason for his letters, which is to arouse the minds of believers to a remembrance of the truth they have known and have been taught. The call to the children of God to remember is found throughout Scripture. There is a need for us to recall God’s leading in our lives and His mercy and goodness. The darkness of the world and its faith-destroying influences, both subtle and obvious, requires us to constantly remember lest we allow our “heart [to] be lifted up, and [we] forget the Lord [our] God . . . and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them” (Deuteronomy 8:14, 19). To forget God and seek other gods is not limited to the worship of idols, as with ancient Israel. Anything that takes our time and affections that should be given to God becomes an idol to steal our hearts. Ideas, practices, entertainment, and possessions are but a few of the many gods that believers make for themselves to the neglect of true love and commitment toward Jehovah.

We are not to allow anything into our minds or lives that would lessen the influence of the Word of God. We are to have a faith that is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). The Christian experience is not one of inactivity, of merely making a profession and claiming heaven is our home. Peter’s letters have constantly called believers to persistent endurance and the effort that comes from genuine faith and love for God, and he closes his counsel with this same admonition.

2 Peter 3:3–7 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Scoffers in the Last Days

Both the prophets and the Apostles speak of the last days and the condition of the world before Christ comes. The prophets speak of “the day of the Lord,” and the Apostles speak of the coming of Christ. To the Christian, the Second Coming, though long delayed, is something to look forward to. All true believers long to be with their Lord and are weary of this world of sin and sorrow.

“The grace of God [that] has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people” is the same grace that leads us “to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.” We are to “live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.” The earnest believer is “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11–12 NLT, verse 13 KJV).

There is another class of individuals found in the world and increasingly in the church. They are skeptical of the counsel of Scripture and are spiritually ignorant of God’s Word. They may claim belief in God and heaven, but they live in the lusts of the flesh rather than by the fruit of the Spirit. Whether they are believers in the church, or unbelievers who are doubtful of all religion, they do not believe that the gospel of Jesus is pure and holy, that it makes its adherents clean in heart, and that its followers are to seek to live godly lives. They desire to follow their own sinful desires without concern of future judgment.

Such individuals deny or neglect the restraints on the flesh that the everlasting gospel brings to the life, neither do they believe that they will be called to accountability at the coming of Christ. With “profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20), skeptics seek to prove to themselves or others that the coming of Christ is not true. The source of doubt or opposition regarding the counsel of Scripture is the desire to follow their own course of life rather than the life of liberty that comes from “being made free from sin, and [becoming] servants to God, [with] fruit unto holiness” (Romans 6:22). Disbelief is often the result of being influenced by the false teachers Peter warned us of in the previous chapter.

One argument of doubters against the coming of Christ and the end of all things is that life has continued on more or less the same for thousands of years. For those who believe in evolution in one form or another and that the earth is billions of years old, a sudden change as envisioned by the coming of Christ seems out of place.

Such an argument for the continuation of all things as they have always been was also made by those who lived before the flood. They argued that it had never rained, and there was no record of any flood since the beginning of time.

Today it is claimed that the intervention of God with a worldwide flood is only an ancient myth. The evidence that is seen for a worldwide cataclysmic flood is largely attributed to geological factors working over hundreds of millions of years.

The flood, Peter says, is evidence to us, unless we choose to be willingly ignorant. The flood proves that things can change rapidly, and fixed laws and the continuation of all things as humanity understands things can be turned upside down when God intervenes or removes His protecting hand.

Scripture records the warning Noah gave to the world before the flood and records the flood itself. Jesus makes mention of the flood as a real event, and He tells us that the same skepticism, unbelief, and increasing evil that was rampant in the days before the flood will be prevalent in the world before He comes. The suddenness of the flood to those who were unready finds a parallel to Christ’s coming. For those who are living in the darkness of unbelief or sin, the day of the Lord will overtake them like a thief; in other words, with suddenness and surprise.

The world may be saying, “All is well and secure, and, there is peace and safety, then in a moment unforeseen destruction (ruin and death) will come upon them as suddenly as labor pains come upon a woman with child; and they shall by no means escape, for there will be no escape. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:3, 6 verse 3 AMP).

God said to Noah, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3). For 120 years, God’s mercy lingered as Noah warned of coming doom. His mercy since the flood has lingered for thousands of years, but the flood proves to those willing to believe that the Word that decreed a flood is the same Word that will bring forth fire to cleanse the earth of all sinners and every trace of sin.

The call of Peter to consider the judgment of the flood and the surety of a future judgment of fire is not intended to motivate to faithfulness by means of fear. Rather, Peter, like every true teacher of God, cannot fail “to declare unto [us] all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). This counsel includes the fact that “every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). There is an eternal, unchanging principle that neither skepticism nor unbelief can alter, and it is that God “will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6). “He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness” (Romans 2:7–8 NLT).

2 Peter 3:8–9 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Longsuffering of God

Followers of the true God, as well as people of different religions or no religious profession at all, have questioned over the ages why, if there is a God, sin and suffering must continue. While God does have the power to end things in a moment’s time, He allows sin to run its course. Sin is an intruder; it is the mystery of iniquity that began with the fall of Lucifer. He was “perfect . . . from the day that [he was] created, till iniquity was found in [him]” (Ezekiel 28:15). To safeguard the whole of creation from another fall and another cycle of sin and death, God in His perfect wisdom has given Satan and all those who choose to follow him time to work out their principles. It can seem unfair that all of us are caught up in the great controversy between good and evil; however, the cross of Christ proves God’s eternal attribute of mercy and His desire for all to escape the snares of sin and the sorrow it brings.

God is not the author of the sorrow and suffering we see around us or experience for ourselves; rather it is the result of sin and the work of the devil and his angels. Therefore, let us keep in mind that with God all time is as nothing; time is neither long or short for Him. Further, His eternal purpose is for the eventual elimination of all sin and sinners and every trace of the effects of sin. Then a glorious new earth and an eternity of joy and peace will come into effect.

The Apostle John records for us this promise of God:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21:1–5)

The Lord, as revealed in His Word and by His grace and mercy personally experienced, desires that we would know and love Him. Then we will know that “the Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).

2 Peter 3:10–14 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

How We Are to Live If We Look for Christ’s Coming

The expression of Christ coming like a thief in the night is often thought of as a description of the church being secretly raptured before the final days of tribulation. However, in every case in the New Testament, thief in the night or similar expressions refers to the surprise or suddenness—not secrecy—of Christ’s coming. The reason for the surprise is that many will be unprepared. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:4–5).

At the coming of Christ, heaven and earth will be rent asunder. Eternal heavenly realities will open the minds of all, both lost and saved, to a new dimension. One class will experience indescribable fear and the other indescribable joy. (See Isaiah 25:9; Revelation 6:13–17; 16:17–21.)

When Christ comes, the heavens, meaning the atmosphere, will apparently be vaporized, creating a worldwide conflagration that sets the whole planet on fire. The prophet speaks of the coming day of the Lord when he writes that “with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4). In Revelation we are told that at Christ’s coming, “the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth” (Revelation 19:21). The destruction of the world and the lost at Christ’s coming, whatever its exact nature will be, could only happen after the living saints and resurrected saints are caught up to meet the Lord, as we read, “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).

We are to understand the reality of a worldwide flood that came upon the ungodly, who said no to God and His love and way, that they might follow the “imagination of the thoughts of [their] heart [that] was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). The last generation upon the earth will have also said no to God, choosing the final confederacy of apostasy called Mystery Babylon to rule over them. The mark of the beast will be implemented; this mark exalts the laws and traditions of mankind above the law and Word of God. This last generation will meet the same fate as those who died in the flood, as the “heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:12).

It is typically taught that when Christ comes He will set up a millennial reign upon the earth. However, we learn in the book of Revelation that the saints are in heaven for a thousand years, and the earth will be a desolate, depopulated ruin where Satan is bound. Revelation 20–22 tells us that after the thousand years and the great white throne judgment, sinners are judged, and whoever “was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). After this, God creates a new heaven and a new earth, and New Jerusalem becomes the eternal city of light, with God and the Lamb dwelling there.

The Word of God describes two classes of people in the end times: one having sown to the flesh reaps eternal loss while the other having sown to the Spirit reaps an eternal life of joy, peace, and harmony. Seeing by faith the final result of sin and sinners, and motivated by love not by fear or hope of reward, we should seek to appropriate the grace of God for ourselves. Then we “may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

The beloved are “the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26), and as such we have hope in God’s Word, His promises, and the coming of Christ. “And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). Thus it is with diligence—a seriousness and earnestness to live a life of faithfulness—that the saints will be “found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

2 Peter 3:15–16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The Need for Careful Study

The fact that time apparently continues on is due to the patience of God. This extension of time makes salvation possible for all who will respond to the drawing of grace. The mercy of God and the salvation He freely offers was the theme of the Apostle Paul’s extensive ministry and his letters to the churches. These letters make up much of the New Testament and were inspired by divine wisdom.

Peter shows here his recognition of the authority of Paul as an Apostle called of God. Paul’s letters contain the same themes as that of Peter’s instruction; however, Peter acknowledges that some of Paul’s writings can be taken wrongly. Our safety in determining the meaning of Paul’s letters, and indeed all of Scripture, is a careful and prayerful reading of the whole counsel of God, allowing the Bible to interpret itself. Paul is consistent and easily understood when we read all of his writings and do not pick out verses here and there on which to build a belief or doctrine.

Those individuals Peter refers to, as being unlearned and unstable, are those who are such spiritually, regardless of what their education and knowledge in worldly matters may be. In contrast those who have been born again are like “newborn babes, [and] desire the sincere milk of the word, that [they] may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). As in the natural world so it is in the spiritual world: milk is a short-term food for infants, and we are to grow beyond the need for milk. If we continue with milk all our lives, we remain “unskillful in the word of righteousness: for [we are] a babe” (Hebrews 5:13). To be unskillful means to be “inexperienced, i.e. ignorant.”¹ In contrast, through a study of the Scriptures we are to grow in wisdom and spiritual discernment, having our “senses and mental faculties . . . trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.” (Hebrews 5:14 AMP).

Are heaven and salvation only for those who read the Bible correctly? Peter speaks much of knowledge and closes this epistle with a call to knowledge. The knowledge that matters most is “to know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:3). This knowledge motivates us to search the Scriptures that we might know God, His character, and His purpose and commands for our lives. In contrast, ill-informed and unbalanced people “twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction Paul’s writings, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16 AMP, words in italics added). Heaven and salvation are not for those who can pass an exam of biblical knowledge. But it is possible to live a life displeasing to the Lord and to follow erroneous practices that misrepresent God and His truth. By misinterpreting the Scriptures we may be in danger of creating a false idea of God. The neglect, changing, or misunderstanding of the Scriptures, or following false teachers, can lead to our eternal ruin.

2 Peter 3:17–18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

A Final Call to Watchfulness and Sanctification

Peter closes his letter with warning and encouragement. He admonishes his readers that reading the Scriptures and receiving instruction from teachers is not sufficient. We must “be on guard so that [we] will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose [our] own secure footing” (2 Peter 3:17 NLT). Peter warns of false teachers and those who are uninformed and pervert the Scriptures. Constant vigilance to walk in faith and love is the price to pay to be spiritually secure and safe.

Peter’s hope, and God’s will for us, is that each of us would grow in grace. This means to “be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:16–19). If we are growing in grace, we will also grow in the knowledge of God and Christ. Such a life leads to trust and obedience as, with a developing love and understanding, we “seek . . . first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

To grow in grace and knowledge will lead us to “walk worthy of the Lord, in all pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:10–11 KJ21).

We are to understand and experience the knowledge and grace of God that leads to growth. The life of a Christian is one of development; when we are born of God, we become His children, yet we are not to remain such. Those who content themselves with the grace they received when they first gave their hearts to God are in a continual state of infancy. However, as in the natural world, the infant who does not grow is sickly and soon dies. So it is in the spiritual world: those who do not grow up and seek the high calling of God in Jesus Christ are sickly and will die spiritually. This is why Peter tells us to add to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and then godliness and love. To lack these graces is to have a spiritual life where we are “blind, and cannot see afar off, and have forgotten that [we were] purged from [our] old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).

All our praise and honor should go to Christ, for He “loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). Even in heaven the revelation of love demonstrated in the death of Christ draws forth praise and honor. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:11–13).

Dear reader, you and I, as well as everyone who has ever lived or ever will live, “have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, Christ is our life if we will believe, for He “was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death . . . that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9). The death that Christ experienced was ours; it was the wages of sin, which Christ took upon Himself. And now we are called by the “gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). “Thank God for His Son—His Gift too wonderful for words” (2 Corinthians 9:15 TLB).

May we each know the love and mercy of God in having our sins forgiven and our lives renewed by grace. Then our praise now and through eternity will be to the glory of the Lamb for ever and ever, amen.

Endnotes

1. Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament. Accordance 8 Bible Software Hypertexted and formatted by Oaktree Software, Inc.

 

 

 

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