Lesson 39

Second Peter

Warning against dangers facing the Church

Chapter 3

The Certainty of the Believers Hope – The Return of Christ

3:10 But the day of the Lord will arrive like a thief, during which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements, burning intensely will be dissolved and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Summary of vs:10

1. The day of the Lord here refers to that time period more than 24 hours that includes from after the Rapture through the tribulation, the Millennial reign of Christ to the GWTJ.

2. Peter reminds us that it will come upon the negative, those spiritually asleep as a thief. (noted this in 1 Thes. 5:1-11)

3. Coming as a thief indicates that for the majority of mankind it will be unexpected and they will suffer great loss being in spiritual darkness.

4. The dissolution of the present heavens and earth will occur almost at the end of the day of the Lord, that is just after the Millennium and just before the GWTJ. Rev 20:11

- For those unbelievers at the GWTJ the earth as a prop will be gone, they have nothing to stand on but their own works.

5. Following the GWTJ which is the judgment of all unbelievers of all of human history will be the creation of the new heavens and the earth. 2 Pet 3:13; Rev. 21:1

6. Matter is not eternal, it has a beginning and an ending.

3:11 The Mental attitude of the advancing believer understanding these events therefore the application to the R/F

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, (as outlined in vs:10; 13)

Based on the reality of what is prophesied for the future Peter asks a rhetorical question.

what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

Peter is really challenging the believer of every generation of the church age here.

Since you understand the prophetic future for the heavens and the earth it should have an impact on your life today!

3:11 Since all these things are going to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to continue being (in the meantime) in holy conduct and godliness.

Summary Observations vs:11:

1. Based on the transitory nature of the universe we should focus on that which is permanent.

2. Jesus Christ taught this principle Mark 13:31; Matt. 24:35

(Olivet discourse orienting to the future)

3. Point is that the Word of God is permanent, not these earthly things.

4. The treasure we store up should be oriented to our heavenly citizenship.

5. These are the things that will not perish. Matt 6:19-21

- will be rewarded at the JSC

6. As believers we are obligated to conduct ourselves according to the N&S of the Word of God, that is our mental attitude and motivation in life must be consistent with DVPT.

7. This obviously includes being free from the contamination of the kosmos, the current worldview that is dominate.

- will deal with this aspect again in 3:14

8. Conclusion: Therefore we must be oriented to T.T.C. (things to come – prophesy) since we have a knowledge of the future it should motivate us to a holy pattern of life and godliness. Titus 2:11-14

3:12 What our modus operandi as believers is to be!

If we responsive to the exhortation of vs:11 to live set apart in our conduct and holiness than the following will logically follow!

looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,

So the question is earnestly desiring what? And the answer is the coming of the day of God.

Then Peter reiterates what must occur and will occur just prior to the day of God already covered in vs:10.

because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

Observations:

1. Our MA, our motivation in life should be focused on Eternity.

- this logically follows orienting to what is permanent over what is temporal vs:11

2. This is true even though the Eternal State is at least 1007 years away from us today.

- Peter exhorts this when for him it was at least 3000 years

3. For believers to eagerly expect and earnestly desiring to become a reality demands knowledge and its application.

- both characteristics eagerly expecting and earnestly desiring result from application of known truth about TTC.

4. Without doctrine mankind fears the destruction of the heavens and the earth, Luke 21:26.

- context is the end of the Tribulation and the severe judgments and mankind being ignorant of truth, therefore without hope and confidence they faint in fear of the destruction

5. Having a frame of reference based on doctrine we can make the same application as the patriarchs, Heb 11:13.