"THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER" The Day Of The Lord (3:10-13) INTRODUCTION 1. In our previous study, we saw where Peter encouraged us not to be troubled by those who scoff at the promise of the Lord's return: a. Remember that scoffers are to be expected - 2Pe 3:1-4 b. Remember that God's Word is consistent - 2Pe 3:5-7 c. Remember that God is not affected by time - 2Pe 3:8 d. Remember that God is longsuffering, not slack - 2Pe 3:9 2. In verse 7, he briefly alluded to what will happen when the Lord returns: "But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." 3. It is now in verses 10-13 that Peter describes our Lord's coming in greater detail... a. An event that is called "the day of the Lord" - 2Pe 3:10 b. Now, there are some who believe that "the coming of Christ" and "the day of the Lord" are actually two separate events... 1) That "the coming of Christ" is a secret coming in which He will "rapture" His saints 2) And "the day of the Lord" is the final day of judgment which occurs much later c. But Paul, like Peter, uses these expressions interchangeably... 1) Having described "the coming of the Lord" and its implications for the righteous (1Th 4:13-18), Paul calls it "the day of the Lord" as he discusses the timing of these events (1Th 5: 1-4) 2) A similar use of these terms is found in 2Th 2:1-2 d. So as we turn to our text in 2Pe 3:10-13, we are considering what is true about the coming our Lord Jesus, as promised in Ac 1:9-11 [What does the apostle Peter, who was among those who heard the promise of the Lord's return as Jesus ascended into heaven, have to say about our Lord's coming?] I. IT WILL BE "UNEXPECTED" (10a) A. LIKE "A THIEF IN THE NIGHT"... 1. Paul used the same expression in 1Th 5:1-3 2. And so did Jesus, in His Mt. Olivet discourse - Mt 24:42-44 3. So the Lord's coming at the Last Day will be unexpected, with no warning B. BUT NOT FOR FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS! 1. The day of the Lord should not "overtake you as a thief" - 1Th 5:4-6 a. Not because they know the "day or hour" of His coming, nor because of any revelation that pinpoints the time of His coming b. But because they heed the command to "watch!" - 1Th 5:6; cf. Mk 13:32-37 2. However, notice what Jesus said to those Christians who do NOT "watch" - Re 3:1-3 a. They must "remember", "hold fast" and "repent" b. Otherwise, the Lord will come upon them as a thief as well! [So the first thing Peter tells us about the day of the Lord is that it will come unannounced, like "a thief in the night." He also tells us...] II. IT WILL BE "CATASTROPHIC" (10b, 11a, 12b) A. "THE HEAVENS WILL PASS AWAY WITH A GREAT NOISE" (10b) 1. While "the heavens" could refer to the atmosphere, I believe it more likely refers to the universe, including the stars (see below) 2. The heavens will "pass away", or "disappear" (NIV, NEB), "vanish" (MOFFAT) a. Consider Mt 24:35; Re 20:11; 21:1 b. This certainly suggests that Peter is describing an "annihilation" of the universe, and not simply a fiery purification of it B. "THE ELEMENTS WILL MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT" (10b, 11a, 12b) 1. The "elements" likely signifies the celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars) 2. According to Jewish belief, in the last day even the stars will be destroyed - cf. Isa 34:4 (The New Testament Commentary, Peter and Jude, Kistemaker, p. 336) 3. The term "melt" {luo}, in verse 10... a. Means "(lit. or fig.):--break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-)loose, melt, put off" b. It is translated "dissolved" in verses 11 and 12 1) "all these things will be dissolved" 2) "the heavens will be dissolved being on fire" 4. The term "melt" {teko}, in verse 12... a. Means "to liquefy" b. As translated in The Emphasized New Testament (J. B. Rotherham): "...the elements becoming intensely hot are to be melted" C. "THE EARTH AND THE WORKS THAT ARE IN IT WILL BE BURNED UP" (10b) 1. Having described the destruction of the universe, attention is now given to the earth in particular 2. Some manuscripts have the phrase "laid bare" for "burned up" 3. This has led some to suppose that Peter is describing only a purification of the universe, not an annihilation of the present order 4. But as we have seen, both the immediate context ("pass away", "melt", "dissolve", in 2Pe 3) and the remote context ("pass away", "no place found for them", Re 20:11; 21:1) speaks strongly for annihilation - cf. also He 12:25-29 [The "day of the Lord" will truly be a cataclysmic end to the earth and universe as we know it! Should this be cause for despair? Not at all, for Peter also tells us that...] III. IT WILL "USHER IN A NEW ORDER" (13) A. "A NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS" 1. This "new order" is described more fully by John in Re 21:1-5 2. It includes "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven" for which... a. Old Testament saints looked forward - He 11:10,13-16 b. New Testament saints were said to seek - He 13:14 3. Indeed, this "new heavens and new earth" with its "heavenly city" is the ultimate destiny of the redeemed! B. "ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE" 1. We look forward to this "new heavens and new earth" because of God's promise 2. Which promise? The only promise made concerning such things prior to Peter and John's is that found in Isa 65:17-25; 66:22-24 a. In which the same themes are discussed as those found in Re 21-22 b. But in language and figures that would have provided special comfort to the Israelites of Isaiah's day 3. If Peter is indeed alluding to the promises of God through Isaiah, there is an important implication... a. Isaiah not only foretold events pertaining to the "inauguration" (the first coming) of the Messianic age - e.g., Isa 2:2-4; 7:14; 9:6-7 b. Isaiah also foretold events pertaining to the "culmination" (the second coming) of the Messianic age - e.g., Isa 65: 17-25; 66:22-24 c. And some passages in Isaiah - e.g., Isa 11:6-9... 1) Which the premillenialist applies to a 1000 year reign on earth 2) And some amillenialists apply to the current "Christian age" ...may in fact have reference to the "new heavens and new earth" of which Peter and John speak! [In any case, we certainly have the promise of Peter and John of the "new heavens and new earth" as found in the New Testament. And without question an important implication of this promise which will be fulfilled in the day of the Lord is that...] IV. IT SHOULD INSPIRE HOLY LIVING (11b, 12a) A. WE OUGHT TO BE PEOPLE OF "HOLY CONDUCT AND GODLINESS" (11b) 1. Everything we may acquire in this life will be "dissolved" (our wealth, our fame, our physical relationships) 2. The only thing that has "promise of the life to come" is GODLINESS - 1Ti 4:8 3. HOLY CONDUCT is able to "store up...a good foundation for the time to come" - 1Ti 6:17-19 B. WE OUGHT TO BE "LOOKING FOR AND HASTENING THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD" (12a) 1. If we "look for new heavens and a new earth" (v.13), we should certainly "look for...the coming of the day of God"! 2. Indeed, we should "hasten" the coming of that great day! a. It may be that "hastening" means "earnestly desiring" the day of the Lord b. But it can also mean in this passage "to speed its coming" 1) Is it possible to shorten the time set for the coming of the Lord? 2) If the delay is due to God's longsuffering so that men can repent, what if they repent? Would there be reason to delay any longer? c. Not only can we pray for the Lord to come (1Co 16:22), but Peter says elsewhere that we may do something to speed His coming! - cf. Ac 3:19-21 1) "Repent therefore and be converted..." 2) "...that He may send Jesus Christ..." CONCLUSION 1. According to Peter, then, "The Day Of The Lord" will be... a. A day that is unexpected b. A day that will be cataclysmic c. A day that will usher in a new order d. A day for which we ought to look and hasten 2. Peter does not describe all the events that will occur on that day... a. He says nothing about the resurrection, though that is clearly implied b. He says little about the judgment per se, though it too is an important feature ...but what he says is adequate to encourage us to consider how we shall respond 3. How shall we respond to the words of Peter? I know of three possible ways... a. We can mock them b. We can ignore them, delaying obedience, and likely be found unprepared c. We can humbly heed them, responding to God's longsuffering through obedience to the gospel -- Just as there were three different reactions to the preaching of Paul - cf. Ac 17:30-31 Dear friend, how will YOU respond...?Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
