In his second epistle, Peter discusses the subject of Christ’s return and the coming New Creation. In the process, he addresses two issues of continuing relevance to the Church. First, why the apparent “delay” of his “arrival.” Second, the understanding that believers can, in fact, “hasten” these final events.
The growing weariness of some believers was
an open door for false teachers and outside critics to exploit. Instead of the
predicted terrestrial and cosmic upheaval, daily life was continuing as it
always had.
[Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash] |
However, as Peter reminded his readers, the Spirit of God warned of this very thing and the rise of deceivers and self-serving false prophets in the Assembly:
- “Scoffers who will come with scoffing and declaring, Where is the promise of his coming, for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” - (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Nevertheless, he reassures the Assembly
that despite present circumstances, the “Day of the Lord” will come just
as promised, and AT THE
APPOINTED TIME. The promise has not failed.
Regardless of the claims of “scoffers,”
God is not slack concerning His Word and promises, but He also does not
operate according to man’s timetables and expectations.
- (2 Peter 3:10-13) – “Howbeit, the day of the Lord will be here as a thief in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away, while elements becoming intensely hot will be dissolved, and earth and the works therein will be discovered. Seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be, all the while in holy ways of behavior and acts of godliness, expecting and hastening the presence of the day of God by reason of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements, becoming intensely hot, will be melted. But new heavens and a new earth according to his promise are we expecting in which righteousness will dwell.”
The Greek word translated as “coming”
in the passage is ‘Parousia’, which means “advent, arrival, coming,
presence.” It signifies the actual “arrival” of someone or something, not the
process of his or its “coming.” It often refers to the “arrival”
of a royal person to a city, and it is applied several times to the return or “arrival”
of Jesus - (Matthews 24:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
Peter reminded the Assembly of the past
acts of God. Not only did He create the Earth, but He also destroyed much of it
with the Great Flood. In their disparagement of the failure of the ‘Parousia’
to appear, scoffers ignore the past, “When the Heavens and the Earth that
now are, by the same word have been stored with fire, being kept for the Day of
Judgment and destruction of the ungodly men.”
The alleged “delay” is NO DELAY AT ALL, but evidence of the mercy of God. He is not bound by humanity’s presumptions, nor is He “slack concerning his promise.” Instead, He is “long-suffering, not wanting anyone to perish but that all should come to repentance.”
His alleged “delay” is His patience. This is so the Gospel
has time and opportunity to reach all men and bring about their repentance and
redemption.
HURRYING EVENTS ALONG
Nonetheless, the “Day of the Lord”
must come, and its “arrival” will be like the home invasion of a thief
- UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN,
UNFORESEEABLE. The homeowner certainly can anticipate attempts by
criminals to rob him, but he cannot ascertain WHEN they will strike - (Matthew 24:42-43, Luke
12:39, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, Revelation 3:3, 16:1).
When that Day does arrive, “The Heavens
with a rushing noise will pass away, while elements becoming intensely hot will
be dissolved.” This description parallels other passages that link
terrestrial and celestial disruptions to the “arrival” of Jesus and the
“Day of the Lord.” Here, Peter refers to nothing less than the
dissolution of the old order - (Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12-17).
This does not mean its complete
annihilation, but its replacement by the “NEW
HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH.” The disruption of the old prepares for
the arrival of the new, a creation that will be “according to promise.”
This last clause echoes the promise found in the Book of Isaiah, “For,
behold, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A
NEW EARTH” - (Isaiah 65:17).
When Peter refers to the “coming of the
Day of God,” once again, “coming” represents the Greek term ‘Parousia’.
Thus, the “Day of God” is synonymous with the “Day of the Lord,”
and in this way, the Apostle connects the “arrival” of Jesus, the “Day
of the Lord,” and the “Day of God.” Each term refers to the same final
event - (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2).
[Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash] |
Thus, Peter places the judgment and destruction of the ungodly, the “Day of the Lord,” the dissolution of the old creation, and the inauguration of the New Creation at the “arrival” of Jesus.
Peter concludes with an exhortation for right conduct and holy living,
especially in consideration of all that the future holds. The actions of the
Assembly could easily “hasten” the arrival of that Day.
Moreover, said actions must include the
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus. He declared himself that the “end”
would not come until “this Gospel of the Kingdom is proclaimed to all nations.”
If anything, the apparent “delay” in the ‘Parousia’ demonstrates conclusively that the Assembly has not yet completed its primary mission. If God is waiting for anything, it is for the Church to finish its task of bearing witness to the nations of the Earth.
RELATED POSTS:
- The Coming Storm - (Consistently, Scripture warns of the final apostasy that is linked to the "Man of Lawlessness" with his "lying signs and wonders")
- Has Bible Prophecy Failed? - (After decades of failed expectations and predictions, it is time for believers to reexamine popular ideas about the Last Days)
- Indisputable Evidence - (“The Spirit expressly says that in later seasons some will revolt from the faith, giving heed unto seducing spirits and teachings of demons” – 1 Timothy 4:1)
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