November
29th 2
Peter 3
C. The Attitude of Expectancy
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.
- What were the commandments of the Apostles?
- What are the latter days?
- Why does God delay his judgments?
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