Soul-Stirring Promises

THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

REVELATION 22:1-21

SUBJECT: HEAVEN & THE RAPTURE

THEME: Believers should hold the hope of heaven in their hearts and believe the promise of Christ’s return.  Such believers will be marked by faithfulness, service, and spiritual motivation as we anticipate Christ’s return in the Rapture. 

INTRODUCTION:

There are four things John points out as He focuses the seven churches on the immanent return of Christ in the Rapture. We will only consider the third point mentioned in chapter twenty-two in this article. 

MESSAGE:

I.  He Completes the Stunning Previews (Rev. 22:1-5). 

In Rev 22:1-5, we move inside the city to see additional facts about the New Jerusalem and discover that it is like a beautiful garden, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. We are given a preview of the river of life, the tree of life, and eternal life with God. Secondly....

II. He Certifies these Serious Prophecies (Rev. 22:6-10).

John now seeks to assure the seven churches that the things revealed in the book of the Revelation can be trusted and relied upon.  Understand the vision of the future is now complete and John moves to point believers to the Word, and the Hope of the Rapture.  Likewise we too are to rely on the Word and look forward to the Rapture when Christ returns for us.  

III. He Communicates With Stirring Promises (Rev. 22:11-17).

It is important to understand the revealing of the future–The Revelation– is completed and John is still addressing believers in the seven churches directly.  He is trying to give them hope, to stir them to service and faithfulness to the Lord until He returns to receive us unto Himself in the Rapture.  It is important to understand that John is no longer talking to nor about tribulation conditions and saints, he has already exposed us to “the things which shall be hereafter” (Rev. 1:19).  Instead, he is talking directly to believers of that time down to the present age. Including you and me!  He wants to stir us to be watchful regarding the Lord’s return in the Rapture. He wanted them and us to be stirred by the following realities....

A.  STIRRED BY OUR CONTINUING STATUS (Rev. 22:11).

   1.  Whether One is Still Unjust and Filthy.    “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still”

       A.  Does Rev 22:11 Suggest That God Does Not Want Men to Repent and Change Their Ways?

             1.  No, because that would be contrary to the message of Revelation and of the Gospel itself.

             2.  The point here is not to condone what is evil, but to point out that if people do not heed this prophecy, they will continue in their wickedness.

       B.  The Angel's Words must Be Understood in Light of the Repeated Statement, "Behold, I come quickly" (Rev 22:7,12), as well as his statement, "For the time is at hand" (Rev 22:10).

Indeed, it may be so near that there would be no time for people to alter their lifestyles.

       C.  Jesus Christ's Coming Will Occur So Quickly That Men Will Not Have Time to Change Their Characters. 

               1.  Relatively speaking, the time of the Lord’s return is near and no major changes in mankind’s conduct can be expected.

                2.  “In verse 11 we have a solemn truth, sometimes referred to as "the permanence of character." I must once more at this point bring to my readers the concise and solemn lines of Swete. "It is not only true," he says, "that the troubles of the last days will tend to fix the character of each individual according to the habits which he has already formed, but there will come a time when change will be impossible-when no further opportunity will be given for repentance on the one hand or for apostasy on the other."”  — (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

       D.  Rev 22:11, Therefore, Is a Solemn Warning That Decision Determines Character, and Character Determines Destiny.

            1.  “The intention seems to be to stir men up to a realization of the nature of their conduct in continuing to reject the warnings of God. Note that the words immediately succeeding, as well as those immediately preceding, are connected with the judgment.” — (from The Pulpit Commentary)

            2.  “The angel is showing how our choices lead to consequences. Like a train running down a track, the consequences will ultimately come for the choices we make. God is always calling people to repent, but when Christ returns, the opportunity will have passed. This is a call to the readers to make up their minds now and live for God.”  — (from The Life Application Commentary Series)

   2.  Whether One is Still Righteous and Holy.  “and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

       A.  On the Other Hand Those Who Do Heed the Prophecy Will Continue to Do What Is Right.

              — “People will reap the consequences for the kinds of lives they have led; those who have done wrong and who have been vile will face that in eternity, and those who have done good and have been holy will be rewarded accordingly, as noted in 22:12.”  — (from The Life Application Commentary Series)

       B.  Suffering Believers Might Ask, "Is it Worth it to Live a Godly Life?" John's reply is, "Yes! Jesus is returning, and He will reward you!" Next comes John's second admonition.

B.  STIRRED BY OUR COMING SAVIOR (Rev. 22:12-16).

Clearly the coming of Christ in the Rapture is a stirring promise to be embraced by every child of God.

   1.  The Promise of His Return (Rev. 22:12-13). (This seems to be related more to the Rapture then the Revelation.)

        A.  It Will Be Quickly (Rev. 22:12).  “And, Behold, I come quickly”

              1.  “The coming of Christ is the preeminent theme of both the Prologue and the Epilogue (Rev 1:7; 22:7,12,20). By quickly (v. 12) is not meant that the Second Advent would occur soon after John completed the writing of this book. Rather, it means that the events of the Second Coming will occur so fast, one event quickly following another, that many will be taken completely by surprise.”   — (from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)

              2.  Bear in Mind that the Second Coming Has Two aspects The Rapture and The Revelation.

The first is before the Tribulation and the second is after the Tribulation. The next event on God’s prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the saints.

        B.  It Will Be Rewarding (Rev. 22:12).  "My reward is with Me"

              1.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ!

Believers will be judged according to their works; and rewards will be given to those who have been faithful. This implies that God is mindful of our sufferings, and our service, and nothing will ever be done in vain if it is done for Him.

The Bible records God rewarding his people for good works according to his justice. No act of mercy will be forgotten; no true believer will be abandoned. (For more on rewards, see Matt 16:27; 19:27-30; Luke 6:23,35; 1 Cor 3:8,13-15; 9:25; James 1:12.)

              2.  We Have the Responsibility of Serving the Lord. 

Throughout church history, there have been those who have (to use Dwight L. Moody's words) become "so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good." They quit their jobs, sold their property, and sat and waited for Jesus to return. All of them have been embarrassed, of course, because it is unbiblical to set dates for His coming. It is also unbiblical to become careless and lazy just because we believe Jesus is coming soon. Paul faced this problem with some of the believers in Thessalonica, (2 Thess 3).

              3.  There Will Also Be Rewards in the Kingdom.

Christ here spoke, reiterating that He would bring a reward that would be given to his people, according to what each had done (Rev. 20:12-13.) Our reward will include a place in God's kingdom (see Matt 25:34-40; Mark 9:47; 10:29-30), not on the basis of merit (good deeds) but because of God's gracious promise to people of faith (Luke 12:31-32).

               4.  Some Rewards Will be Personal and Individual.

Although all God's people will be saved and will enjoy the reward of eternity with him, a number of rewards seem to be given to individuals, according to what they have done. God will look at each individual's heart; thus, it may be that a quiet saint praying daily beside her bed will receive even greater reward than a flamboyant, well-known preacher. It may be that the woman who used her gifts to the fullest extent will be rewarded more greatly than the one who believed, but was too afraid to reach her potential. God will not bestow his rewards in ways that we humans might. Each believer's job is to serve God to his or her fullest potential with a heart that is right with him.

        C.  It Will Be Personal (Rev. 22:13). He will Personally Complete what He began in your heart!

Next, Christ repeated the words he had spoken at the beginning of the Revelation: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (see Rev. 1:8,17).

                1.  Creator. (Alpha, Beginning, First)

The Creator began and will end time itself. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; it's like saying he is the A and the Z, or even A-to-Z.

               2. Completer. (Omega, End, Last) 

Rev 22:13 is a great encouragement to anyone who seeks to serve the Lord. Whatever God starts, He will finish; for He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last.

Philip. 1:6,  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philip. 2:12-13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

   2.  The Provisions of His Return (Rev. 22:14-15).

Notice John added, "Blessed are they that do His commandments" (Rev 22:14). Once again God associates blessing with a call to obedience!  If we really believe that Jesus is coming soon, we will watch and be faithful (Luke 12:35).

        A.  Access to the Tree of Life (Rev. 22:14).

             1.  Practice.

                    A.  This picture symbolizes the necessity to remain pure in practice and free of a sinful way of life as we wait on the Lord to return.

                           — We do not need to earn salvation; but we are to continue to “do His commandments” and so remain clean, faithful, and ready.  Works are always the fruit of genuine salvation.

                           — God is issuing a call to believers to strive daily to remain faithful, obedient, and ready for Christ's return.

                   B.  Christ said that he would reward his followers–believers–for their deeds–“according as his work shall be.”

                            — This means that we will give an account of our faithfulness. Jesus is coming back -- we know this is true.

                            — Does this mean we must quit our jobs in order to serve God?

                            — No, it means we are to use our time, talents, and treasures diligently in order to serve God completely in whatever we do. For a few people, this may mean changing professions.

                            — For most, however, it means doing daily work out of love for God. Be faithful in what you have been given.  Keep on working for God's glory!

             2.  Privilege. (Rev. 22:14).

                  A.  The word “right” points to the privilege or access of the saints to eat from “the tree of life” in heaven when we finally arrive there.

                           — The word “right” means authority, privilege, jurisdiction, liberty, freedom, power, capacity, and strength (See Matt. 28:18; Mk. 1:22, 27; 6:7; John 20:22).

                           — “That they may be entitled to approach the tree of life; that this privilege may be granted to them. It is not a right in the sense that they have merited it, but in the sense that the privilege is conferred on them as one of the rewards of God, and that, in virtue of the divine arrangements, they will be entitled to this honor. So the word used here-exousia (NT:1849)-means in John 1:12, rendered "power." The reason why this right or privilege is conferred is not implied in the use of the word. In this case it is by grace, and all the right which they have to the tree of life is founded on the fact that God has been pleased graciously to confer it on them.”   — (from Barnes' Notes)

                  B.  Those who do so can exercise their privilege to eat the fruit from “the tree of life.”

                          — In Eden, Adam and Eve had been barred from any access to “the tree of life” because of their sin (Gen 3:22-24).

                          — In the New Jerusalem, God's people will eat from “the tree of life” because their sins have been removed by Christ's death and resurrection. Those who eat the fruit of this tree will live forever.

                  C.  Since the “tree of life” is literal, though sometimes presented figuratively (see Prov. 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4), it suggests a quality of life involving an intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ forever.  This may be a fulfillment of Christ’s provision of eternal life, and more abundant life (see John 10:10).

        B.  Access to the City of New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:14).  “May enter in through the gates into the city”

              1.  Entering the city indicates joining the redeemed people in eternity by entering through the gates of the city!  All citizens are welcome home and have free access!

              2.  No one can enter into the city unless their name is written in “the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27; 13:8; Jn. 1:29). 

              3.  This “blessing” is refferring to those justified by faith who express that faith in obedience (see Eph. 2:8–10).

              4.  The obedient overcomer is promised the reward of entering through the gates of the city, possibly a privilege reserved for those who share in the Lord’s victory procession.

        C.  Acceptance in the City of New Jerusalem.  (Rev. 22:15).  “For without are dogs, and sorcerers”  We will be Living in an Environment totally Free of all Sinners!

              1. The contrast here is between those who do God's commandments and enter the city, and those who reject His Word and are excluded from the city (see Rev 21:8,27).

              2. “By contrast, judgment is pronounced on those who are unsaved . . .  As in the similar description of the unsaved in 21:8, 27, the wicked works which characterize the unsaved are described. Though some saints have been guilty of these same practices, they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and are acceptable to God. But those who refuse to come to the Lord receive the just reward for their sins. Though the world is excessively wicked, God will bring every sin into judgment. And the time for Christ’s return may be drawing near, when this will be effected. ”  — John Walvoord

3.      It is not likely that those who "do His commandments" are a special or an elite group of saints.                                  

4.      The phrase is similar to "them that overcome" and characterizes all the people of God. Obedience to God's Word is a mark of true salvation.

5.      We must keep our lives clean, faithful and committed.

   3.  The Person of His Return (Rev. 22:16).  “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.”

The entire Book of Revelation was delivered by Christ through His angel, and its message is for the churches. Our Lord's titles in Rev 22:16 are most interesting because the Lord identifies Himself in unmistakable terms.

       A.  Jesus.

           1.  Jesus Means Jehovah Savior.

           2.  Jesus is the Name of His Humiliation.

                 A.  From the glory of heaven as God to a life of love, obedience, and humility as man, a life fully and mysteriously human and divine, to death as a capital criminal on a Roman cross-this is the story of Jesus, our savior; Jesus, the one who offers Himself fully as the sacrifice that gives us life.

                 B.  Children have such a difficult time grasping what their parents sacrifice for them. In fact, it usually isn't until they perform similar sacrifices for their own children that they begin to grasp how much their parents loved them. The time, emotional energy, money, physical strength, personal desires, all sacrificed for the sake of the child, are often taken for granted, as though it is all owed to him. He may not be mature enough to take it any other way. (Source Unknown)

                 C.  We face a similar danger as Christians, not being able to grasp all that Jesus has done for us. We risk taking it all for granted, thinking that what Jesus has done for us is owed us, or that it was of little consequence.

                 D.  Ted Engstrom, in his book The Fine Art of Friendship, tells a story which helps us grasp some of what Jesus has done for us. A young husband with a crippling, terminal neurological disease writes a letter to the unborn child in his wife's womb which he may never live to see:

Your mother is very special. Few men know what it is like to receive appreciation for taking their wives out to dinner when it entails what it does for us. It means that she has to dress me, shave me, brush my teeth, comb my hair; wheel me out of the house and down the steps, open the garage and put me in the car, take the pedals off the chair, stand me up, sit me in the seat of the car, twist me around so that I'm comfortable, fold the wheelchair, put it in the car, go around to the other side of the car, start it up, back it out, get out of the car, pull the garage door down, get back into the car, and drive off to the restaurant. And then, it starts all over again: she gets out of the car, unfolds the wheelchair, opens the door, spins me around, stands me up, seats me in the wheelchair, pushes the pedals out, closes and locks the car, wheels me into the restaurant, then takes the pedals off the wheelchair so I won't be uncomfortable. We sit down to have dinner, and she feeds me throughout the entire meal. And when it's over she pays the bill, pushes the wheelchair out to the car again, and reverses the same routine. And when it's over-finished-with real warmth she'll say, “Honey, thank you for taking me out to dinner.” I never quite know what to answer (103–104).

When I read this story, I felt I ought to take off my shoes … that I was standing on holy ground. That dear wife is a saint. She has the thumbprint of God deep in her soul. Even so, without in any way diminishing what she did, it pales in comparison to what Jesus has done for us. If we truly grasped what Jesus has done for us, we wouldn't know quite what to answer. The Person of the return of Christ is of course Jesus!

       B.  The Root–Divinity.

            1.  As "the Root ... of David," Jesus Christ brought David into existence.

            2.  Jesus is the Source of David. Jesus is greater than David

Isaiah 11:1,  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 

Isaiah 11:10, And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

       C.  The Offspring–Humanity.

            1.  As "the Offspring of David," Jesus came into this world, born a Jew from David's line.

            2.  Jesus is the Son of David, and the rightful heir to the throne of David.

            3.  Both the deity and the humanity of Jesus are evidently set forth. For a parallel, see Matt 22:41-46.

       D.  The Bright and Morning Star–Majesty.

            1.  Historically Christ comes from David (Matt. 1:1; Isa. 11:11; Rev. 5:5).

            2.  Prophetically, His coming is like the morning star, the beginning of a bright new day.

                   A.  The "root" is buried in the ground where no one can see it, but the "star" - is in the heavens where everyone can see it.

                   B.  In "the Root and Offspring of David" we have Jesus' Jewish, national name, but in "the Bright and Morning Star" we have His universal name. One speaks of humility, the other of majesty and glory.

            3.  The "morning star" announces dawn's soon arrival. Jesus Christ will come for His saints as "the Morning Star." But when He returns to judge, it will be as "the Sun of righteousness" in burning fury (Mal 4:1-3).

            4.  Because God's people look for their Lord's return, they keep their lives clean and dedicated to Him (1 John 2:28-3:3).

C.  STIRRED BY OUR COMPELLING SUMMONS (Rev. 22:17).

As we await the Lord’s return we should maintain a call to salvation by proclaiming the Gospel with zeal.

   1.  The Invitation from the Spirit and Bride.  “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.”

In the meantime, the Spirit of God, through the church (the bride), calls for Jesus to come; for the bride wants to meet her Bridegroom and enter into her home. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20).

   2.  The Invitation from the Listener.  “And let him that heareth say, Come.”

      A.  In Fact, it Seems God's Favorite Word Is Come.

            — Come, let us talk about these things. Though our sins are like scarlet, they can be as white as snow. (Isa. 1:18).

            — All you who are thirsty, come and drink. (Jn. 7:37)

            — Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.

            — Come to the wedding feast.

            — Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

            — Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.

      B.  God Is a God Who Invites. God is a God who calls. God is a God who opens the door and waves his hand pointing pilgrims to a full table. His invitation is not just for a meal, however; it is for life. An invitation to come into his kingdom and take up residence in a tearless, graveless, painless world. Who can come? Whosoever wishes. The invitation is at once universal and personal.

   3.  The Invitation to the Thirsty Soul.  “And let him that is athirst come.”

      A.  This invitation by the Spirit remains open to anyone who will come by faith to Christ to accept the Lord’s gracious offer of eternal life.

      B.  Those who hear are encouraged to respond and also to extend the invitation to others. The wonderful promise is given that all those who are thirsty may come and will receive God’s free gift of salvation.

   4.  The Invitation is to Whosoever Will.  (Rev. 22:17) “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

       A.  Believers ought also to invite lost sinners to trust Christ and drink the water of life. Indeed, when churches live in expectancy of Christ's return, such an attitude provokes ministry and evangelism as well as purity of heart.

       B.  We want to tell others of the grace of God. A true understanding of Bible prophecy should both motivate us to obey God's Word and to share God's invitation with a lost world. What will you do with these great promises that stir the soul in the most profound ways?

The Day of The Lord Will Come!

2 Peter 3:1-10

Subject: The Day of the Lord Judgment 

Theme: Christ will come again to judge this world as He promised; therefore, trust Him and grow in His grace. Do not attach your hopes for a meaningful life to things that will not exist tomorrow.

Introduction: First-century Christians were familiar with the words of the Old Testament prophets about Christ’s Second Coming.  In addition there were the promises of the Lord Himself and the constant reminders of apostles.  This is where Peter begins his focus, with the Scriptures and their reliable instructions for waiting saints.    

Lecture:

I.                   Remember the Words of Scripture (2Peter 3:1-10).  Peter Issues a Reminder that “the Day of the Lord” will come as the Prophets Predicted. His purpose was to “stir up” and stimulate wholesome thinking; that is refresh their memory relative to the promises of the Lord’s Coming and provoke them to live meaningful lives in light of His Coming.  

A.     Remember Christ Will Return for Worldwide Judgment As The Prophets And Apostles Stated (3:1-2).  Peter points out the unity of this letter with the former one, and the consistency of his teaching with that of the prophets and apostles. The Bible really is the only true safeguard in days of declension.

                                                1.      Be Mindful Of The Words Of The Holy Prophets (3:2). The only way Peter’s readers could recognize the errors of the heretical teachers was to compare their teaching with the teaching of the holy prophets and apostles. Others, like Peter, referred to the holy prophets (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Eph. 3:5), whose words were oracles regarding the day of the Lord and related topics (Psa. 102:26; Isa. 34:4; 51:6; 54:10; Jer. 31:35-36).  As Peter had already reminded his readers in 1:21, “holy men of God” spoke words given to them by the Holy Spirit, which were therefore utterly reliable.

                                                2.      Recall Also The Commandments Of Our Lord and Savior and Of The Apostles (3:2).  The commandment of our Lord and Savior refers to His teachings, which were then proclaimed by the apostles (Matt. 5:18; Heb. 1:11-12; 2 Pet. 3:7-12; Rev. 6:14; 20:11). These are Jesus’ teaching relative to end time events as a whole proclaimed by the apostles (Jn. 14:26). Our Lord and Saviour is the final authority behind both prophets and apostles (Eph. 2:20) and He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away” (Matt. 24: 35; Mk. 13:31; Luke 21:33): Trust the teachers of the established Christian Faith instead of these false teachers (Jude 17). This is Peter’s counsel.

                                                3.      Look to God’s Word for Completely Reliable Teaching!  Peter’s linking the prophets and apostles placed them on the same level of authority (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.                                             

B.     Remember Scoffers Will Attempt to Cast Doubt On These Predictions (3:3-7).  They do so because they choose to ignore the power of the Word and the Flood of Noah’s time.

                                                1.      Scoffers Deny The Lord’s Return Because Of Their Own Lustful Desires (3:3).

i.         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 these same type of warnings. The word Scoffers, together with the reference to “their own lusts” and evil desires, suggests that the false teachers of chapter 2 are still in mind.

a.       Those who give way to their own lusts always mock at any incentive or motivation to holy living.

b.       It seems they reject the prophecy of Christ’s return because of their sensual desire to live in carnality. The faithfulness and veracity of the predictions is not really the primary issue at all.

ii.       Peter understood that we are living in the last days, the period of time between the Lord’s First and Second Advents. “Knowing this first” means “above all” (as in 1:20), that which is foremost in importance. Christians are to make a priority of remember this. They should not be blown away by the arrogant and blasphemous denials of these men. Rather they should see in them a definite indication that the end of the age is nearing.

iii.      Again Peter indicated their scoffing is accompanied by “their own lusts,” that is evil desires (see 2 Peter 1:4; 2:10, 18; Jude 16, 18). These mockers follow their own passions; they are happy in their sin and love their lifestyle and do not want to change (3:3). So, having rejected the knowledge of God, they fearlessly indulge their appetites. They advocate permissiveness with total disregard of any impending judgment. It was arrogant snobbery and disdain for the idea of a coming judgment that led to their sexual perversion.

                                                2.      Scoffers Challenge The Lord’s Return To Judge The World On The Basis Of A Misconception—‘things have never changed before’ (3:4).

i.         Their primary scoff has to do with the coming of Christ to judge (3:4). Their attitude is, “Where is the promise of His coming?” meaning, “Where is the fulfillment of the promise?” But what do they mean by His coming?

a.       Do they mean Christ’s coming for His saints, which we speak of as the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13–18)? It is doubtful that these scoffers know anything about this first phase of the Lord’s return.

b.       Do they mean Christ’s coming with His saints to set up His universal kingdom (1 Thess. 3:13)? It is possible that this could be included in their thinking.

c.       But it seems clear from the rest of the passage that they are thinking of the final judgment of God on the earth, or what is commonly called the end of the world. They are thinking of the fiery destruction of the heavens and earth at the end of the Millennium.

ii.       Their conclusion is based on the careless hypothesis that “since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” Rejecting this promise, rests on the hypothesis of uniformitarianism. They say that nature invariably follows uniform laws, that there are no supernatural interventions, that there is a natural explanation for everything. This is the view that the cosmic processes of the present and the future can be understood solely on the basis of how the cosmos has operated in the past. There is almost an incipient deism here which rules out divine intervention in the universal order. In a universe governed by natural laws miracles, mockers argue, simply cannot happen. Therefore they say Jesus Christ could not come again.

                                                3.      Scoffers choose to ignore the Creation, the Power of God’s Word, and the former world’s judgment of the flood (3:5-6). H. L. Willington said, “They utterly and eternally close their minds to those truths revealed in both God’s world and in His word.  “For this they willingly are ignorant of” (3:5).  An agnostic is therefore not a person who says “I can’t believe,” but rather “I won’t believe.”  They are without excuse. (See Rom. 1:18-20)”

i.         They willingly ignore the reality of Creation and the pre-flood world—the heavens and the earth were created by the Word of God (3:5).  It was J. Walvoord who observed, “Peter met those arguments head on 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.”

a.       The scoffers deliberately ignore one fact—the flood (3:5). God did intervene at one time in the affairs of men, and the specific purpose of His intervention was to punish wickedness. If it happened once, it can happen again.

b.       It is a withering indictment of these men that they are willfully ignorant. They pride themselves on being knowledgeable. They profess to be objective in their reasoning. They boast that they adhere to the principles of scientific investigation. But the fact is that they deliberately ignore a well-attested fact of history—the deluge. They should take a course in geology!—W. MacDonald

ii.       They willingly ignore the catastrophic worldwide flood of Noah’s time which altered the heavens and the earth significantly (3:6-7a).

a.       From its inception, the earth was stored with the means of its own destruction (3:6). It had water in its subterranean depths, water in the seas, and water in the clouds above. Finally God released the waters from below and above (Gen. 7:11), the land was inundated, and all life outside the ark was destroyed.

b.       “The world” (kosmos) refers to inhabitants, since the earth itself was not destroyed in the Flood. Similarly in John 3:16 “the world” (kosmos) means the globe’s inhabitants (John 1:9; 3:17, 19; 4:42; 6:33; 7:7; 15:18-19; 17:14, 21, 23, 25; 1 John 2:2; 3:13; 4:14). It is “the world” of people who “perished.”(3:6)

c.       The critics willfully disregard this fact of history. It is interesting that the flood has emerged in recent years as the object of bitter attack. But the record of it is written in stone, in the traditions of ancient peoples and modern, and best of all, in God’s Holy word.

iii.      Obviously God has intervened in human history before! 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 (“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 (his other references to the Flood: 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5).i.          

                                                2.      Scoffers fail to realize the current world is sustained by the Word of God and will be judged by fire (3:7).

i.         Clearly the current world is being sustained by the Word of God (3:7). When God created the earth, He seeded it with sufficient water to destroy it. In the same manner, He seeded the heavens and the earth with enough fire to destroy them (3:7).

a.       In this nuclear age, we understand that matter is stored-up energy. The splitting of an atomic nucleus results in the fiery release of enormous quantities of energy. So all the matter in the world represents tremendous explosive potential. At present it is held together by the Lord (Col. 1:17, “by Him all things consist”). If His restraining hand were removed, the elements would melt. In the meantime the heavens and the earth are being reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

b.       In the past the world was destroyed in the Flood by God’s Word and by water; in the future it will be destroyed by the same Word and by fire. Having decided to judge the world (2:3-4, 9, 17), God is simply holding the earth on layaway. It is reserve, “being stored up like a treasure” for fire and kept (“guarded” or “held”) for judgment. --(Adapted from Walvoord)

ii.       Certainly this world will be judge in the future by fire in the day of judgment (3:7).

a.       Verses 7, 10, and 12 are the only places where the New Testament depicts the future destruction of the world by fire. Isaiah (66:15-16) and Malachi (4:1) associated fire with the return of the Lord. “The day of the Lord” (2 Peter 3:10) includes the Tribulation, the Millennium, the great white throne judgment, and the destruction of the present heavens and earth. At the great white throne after the Millennium, ungodly men (the wicked dead) will be judged and then thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). This, as Peter wrote, will be their day of judgment (2 Peter 2:9) and destruction. After they are cast into fire, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire.

iii.      God has the power to “break in” at any time and accomplish His will. He can send rain from heaven or fire from heaven. “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased” (Ps. 115:3).

iv.     Obviously God is directly involved with the world currently and will supernaturally intervene again in the future. God intervened catastrophically before (in the Flood), and He will do so again.

C.     Remember God will Judge the World in His own Timing (3:8-10).  He delays judgment to save repentant sinners, but He will eventually destroy this world entirely.

                                                1.      The Lord is eternal by nature and not locked into our reference of time (3:8).

i.         Once again, Peter exposed the ignorance of the scoffers. Not only were they ignorant of what God had done in the past (2 Peter 3:5), but they were also ignorant of what God was like. They were making God in their own image and ignoring the fact that God is eternal. This means that He has neither beginning nor ending. Man is immortal: he has a beginning but not an ending. He will live forever either in heaven or hell. But God is eternal, without beginning or ending, and He dwells in eternity. Eternity is not just “extended time.” Rather, it is existence above and apart from time. Peter was certainly referring to Psalm 90:4—“For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”—W. W. Wiersbe

ii.       Why then the long delay in God’s judgment? Why is the Lord so long in coming?  Well, we should remember that God is timeless (3:8). He does not live in a sphere of time as we do. God counts time differently than does man. After all, time is determined by the relation of the sun to the earth, and God is not limited by this relationship. People see time against time; but God sees time against eternity. In fact time only seems long because of man’s finite perspective.

iii.      With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. He can expand a day into a millennium, or compress a millennium into a day. He can either spread or concentrate His activities.

iv.     Once again Peter challenged us to know and remember this also (“be not ignorant of this one thing”). The scoffers forget (3:5), but believers should not. Christians should recall Psalm 90:4, which Peter quoted.

                                                2.      The Lord is longsuffering for the time and desires to save more sinners (3:8-9).

i.         God has promised to end the history of ungodly men with judgment. If there seems to be delay, it is not because God is unfaithful to His promise (3:9). It is because He is patient and merciful. He does not want any to perish. His desire is that all should come to repentance. He purposely extends the time of grace so that men might have every opportunity to be saved. This is the heart of God toward sinful rebellious human beings who constantly offend His gracious and holy heart!  He suffers with men and even extends the opportunity of grace so that many more will be saved. 

ii.       Since a thousand years are as one day to the Lord, we cannot accuse Him of delayed fulfillment of His promises. In God’s sight, the whole universe is only a few days old! He is not limited by time the way we are, nor does He measure it according to man’s standards. When you study the works of God, especially in the Old Testament, you can see that He is never in a hurry, but He is never late. —Wiersbe

iii.      The scoffers did not understand God’s eternality nor did they understand His mercy. Why was God delaying the return of Christ and the coming of the Day of the Lord? It was not because He was unable to act or unwilling to act. He was not tardy or off schedule! Nobody on earth has the right to decide when God must act. God is sovereign in all things and does not need prodding or even counsel from sinful man (Rom. 11:33–36).

God delays the coming of Christ and the great day of fiery judgment because He is long-suffering and wants to give lost sinners the opportunity to be saved. “And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15).

God’s “delay” is actually an indication that He has a plan for this world and that He is working His plan. There should be no question in anybody’s mind whether God wants sinners to be saved. God “is not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). First Timothy 2:4 affirms that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” These verses give both the negative and the positive, and together they assure us that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11). He shows His mercy to all (Rom. 11:32) even though not all will be saved.

If God is long-suffering toward lost sinners, why did Peter write, “The Lord... is long-suffering to us-ward”? Who is meant by “us-ward”? It would appear that God is long-suffering to His own people! – Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

                                                3.      The Day of the Lord is certain to come unexpectedly and destroy the heavens and the earth (3:10, 12).

i.         The Day of the Lord will come! (3:10)

a.       “The day of the Lord” describes end-time events that begin after the Rapture and culminate with the commencement of eternity. In the middle of the 70th week of Daniel the Antichrist will turn against the people of God in full fury (Dan. 9:24-27; see 1 Thes. 5:2; 2 Thes. 2:2-12). “The day of the Lord” also refers to any period when God acts in judgment. It was used in the OT to describe any time when God punished evildoers and triumphed over His foes (Isa. 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Obad. 15; Zeph. 1:7, 14; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:5). In the NT it is a period of time with various stages:

                                                                                                                        1)      It refers to the Tribulation, a seven-year period when God will judge unbelieving Israel (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Thess. 2:2).

                                                                                                                        2)      It includes His return to earth when He will inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus (2 Thess. 1:7–10).

                                                                                                                        3)      It is used of the Millennium when Christ will rule the earth with a rod of iron (Acts 2:20).

                                                                                                                        4)      It refers to the final destruction of the heavens and the earth with fire. That is the meaning here in chapter 3.

b.       It will be unexpected “like a thief in the night.”

                                                                                                                        1)      When the Lord does come, it will be both surprising and catastrophic. It will come as a thief—that is, unexpectedly and destructively.  This simile was used by our Lord Jesus (Matt. 24:42-44) and repeated by others (1 Thes. 5:2; Rev. 3:3; 16:15).

                                                                                                                        2)      Having refuted their false claims, Peter then reaffirmed the certainty of the coming of the Day of the Lord. When will it come? Nobody knows when, because it will come to the world “as a thief in the night.” Our Lord used this phrase (Matt. 24:43; Luke 12:39) and so did the Apostle Paul (1Thes. 5:2ff). When the world is feeling secure, then God’s judgment will fall. The thief does not warn his victims that he is coming! “For when they shall say, ‘Peace and safety’; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thes. 5:3). –Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary

ii.       It will cause the heavens to “pass away” and out of sight (3:10).

a.       In the catastrophic inferno at the end of the Millennium, the heavens (the earth’s atmosphere and maybe the starry sky, not God’s abode) will disappear with a fantastic roar, which in some way will involve fire (2 Peter 3:7, 12). This certainly means the atmospheric heavens, and may mean the stellar heavens, but it cannot mean the third heaven—the dwelling place of God.

b.       It will cause the very “elements” to “melt with fervent heat.” As they pass away with a deafening explosion, the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat (3:12).  The elements here refer to the constituent parts of matter. All matter will be destroyed in what resembles a universal nuclear holocaust.

c.       It will consume the earth and all the works of mankind will burn up. Not only the works of the natural creation, but all civilization will be consumed. The great capitals of the world, the imposing buildings, the phenomenal scientific productions are all marked for utter destruction.

iii.      The Day of the Lord will gravely affect the heavens and the earth (3:12).

a.       The heaven shall be dissolved with fire

b.       Many Bible students believe that Peter here described the action of atomic energy being released by God. The word translated a great noise in the King James Version means “with a hissing and a crackling sound.” When the atomic bomb was tested in the Nevada desert, more than one reporter said that the explosion gave forth “a whirring sound,” or a “crackling sound.” The Greek word Peter used was commonly used by the people for the whirring of a bird’s wings or the hissing of a snake.

c.       The word melt in 2 Peter 3:10 means “to disintegrate, to be dissolved.” It carries the idea of something being broken down into its basic elements, and that is what happens when atomic energy is released. “Heaven and earth shall pass away,” said our Lord (Matt. 24:35), and it appears that this may happen by the release of the atomic power stored in the elements that make up the world. The heavens and earth are “stored with fire” (2 Peter 3:7, wuest), and only God can release it.