PM Nov 29th 2Peter 3

November 29^th   2 Peter 3           C. The Attitude of Expectancy   3v1-18 Be ready

1: This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2: 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 Saviour: 3: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4: 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. 5: 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: 6: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7: 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. 8: 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. 9: 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. 10: 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.

Again Peter tells his readers that he is writing to remind them of the things that previously he had spoken. It’s interesting that when Paul wrote to the same people in his letter to the Galatians he marvelled that they had so soon changed their minds about the freedom they had in Christ and were returning to Judaism. History tells us that in this area was a group linked to the Gaul’s of France and who were notorious for their ability to change their mind and change loyalties. Peter reminds them of the words of Christ and of the commandments of the Apostles. He reminds them that in the latter days (The end of the Apostolic era and the Tribulation period) There will be men who will scoff at the Prophesies of the OT and who will live according to the flesh. Not only are they ignorant of the scriptures but they are wilfully ignorant. Peter reminds them that one day appears to be like a thousand years to the Lord. Because the Lord has seen all time and it appears to be a short time. And that the Lord is not lazy concerning his promises. It is just that his delay in judgment is based on his longsuffering. God will suffer Israel for a long time wishing them to return to him and come to repentance. He reminds then that, The Day of the Lord will come when men do not expect it. The Day of the Lord will include a remaking of the earth and a destruction of the plans and empires of men.