2 Peter 3:10-13
Today we are going to look at verses ten through thirteen of 2 Peter 3, but to get started, we need to look back at the ending of verse 9, where it says:
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
We must never forget the incredible patience with which God deals with humankind. He gave His only begotten Son so that we can be with Him forever. He is not willing that any should perish and calls us all to repentance.
The sticking point is our need for repentance. Turning around and going the opposite direction from what we naturally do (repentance) does not appeal to us. We are born spiritually dead (separated from God) and by nature live according to the desires of our flesh. To have a relationship with God, we must acknowledge our desires as sinful and ask God to save us. We must repent, which means turn around. The majority of humanity is not willing to do this. Jesus said:
Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV) 13“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14“Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is] the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
God waits to judge the world so that people can repent and be saved. However, the awful truth remains that there is a “Day of the Lord” coming! He will not wait forever.
2 Peter 3:10 says:
2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Peter’s description of the “Day of the Lord” is terrifying. In the “Day of the Lord,” the heavens will be destroyed. We can assume that the stars, planets, and galaxies are included in this destruction. In addition, the heaven Satan fell from will be renewed. A “great noise” will accompany this destruction, adding to the terror of that day.
The elements also will melt. The Greek word used in this context is “λύω” (luō). Luō is a term whose primary meaning is to “loose” something or someone from bonds or prison. In this sense, it also means to dissolve. The literal reading of the phrase used in Peter is “the elements will be loosed.” The Bible says God holds all things together, so He can make it all come apart or dissolve.
After describing the “Day of the Lord,” Peter tells us how we should live in light of this truth. 2 Peter 3:11-12 says:
2 Peter 3:11-12 (NKJV) 11Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Since this world and all that is in it will dissolve, doesn’t it make sense to store our treasures in heaven where moths and rust do not destroy? Peter asks the question, “What manner of person ought you to be?” The term “manner” has two meanings. The primary meaning is “of what country or people.” The secondary meaning is “of what sort or quality.” We need to consider both meanings in our conduct because, as citizens of heaven living on the earth, we represent the King, and our home is not here. We are foreigners and sojourners on earth. Why would we invest our lives in things that will dissolve while we watch?
Peter says that the “manner of people” we are to be is “holy and godly.”
To be holy is to be set apart. Holy conduct then is to live life for God instead of for oneself. Jesus defined a life set apart for God as taking up one’s cross daily and following Him. In addition to being holy (set apart), Peter tells us to be godly. Godliness is a result of holiness. If we are set apart for God, we will seek to please Him. Godly conduct is pleasing God. We should observe the ten commandments and practice them, but God’s standard goes beyond the ten commandments. The Bible says that all God’s law is summed up in two commandments: 1) love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and 2) love your neighbor as yourself.
Holiness defines our position, or condition, as children of God. (We are all made holy by the blood of Jesus, God’s Son.) Godliness defines our conduct as children of God. In Ephesians 4:1-3, the Bible says:
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
If heaven is our eternal home, shouldn’t we live with heavenly values? Such values are reflected in holiness and godliness, but Peter does not stop there. He goes on to say, “…looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.”
According to this, just as we are to live “holy and godly” lives, we are to look for and hasten the day of God.
Many places in the Bible tell us to live godly lives. Jesus said if we love Him, we will keep His commands, and we just looked at Ephesians 4, where we are instructed to walk worthy of our calling. But what about looking for the day of God?
The Bible tells us to store up our treasures in heaven and commit our way to the Lord. We are instructed to acknowledge Him in all that we do and do all things as to the Lord since we live for Him. These instructions reflect the attitude of one who is “looking for” the day of God. Looking for the day of God will make us live holy and godly lives, just like we have been talking about.
But, how are we supposed to “hasten” the day of God?
What possible influence can we have on the timing of the end of the world?
Our influence is greater than we think.
When Jesus ascended to heaven, He left a job for us to do. All four gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) repeat His command. My favorite version of this command is from Matthew, and it says:
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen. {Compare Luke 24:46-49, Mark 16:15, John 20:21-23}
Preaching the gospel and making disciples are what Jesus commanded us to do until He comes, and this is one way we “hasten” the day of God.
In Matthew 24:14, Jesus says:
Matthew 24:14 (NKJV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
The word “nations” in this verse translates the Greek word “ethnos.” The meaning of this word is critical to our understanding of what Jesus is saying. The dictionary entry is as follows.
Outline of Biblical Usage:
- a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
- a company, troop, swarm
- a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
- the human family
- a tribe, nation, people group
Mark 16:15 quotes Jesus, saying, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The significance of this is also seen in Revelation 7:9.
Revelation 7:9 (NKJV) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
John saw people from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue (language) in heaven. Our job is to get the gospel message to people so they can be part of the great multitude in heaven. God is waiting for this to happen.
Another aspect of the reason God is waiting is His relationship with Israel. Romans 11 says:
Romans 11:25-27 (NKJV) 25For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27For this [is] My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
God is waiting for the “fullness of the Gentiles” to come in. We do not know the number He has set, but we do know that His number includes some from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue. So, as long as we are doing the job Jesus left us with, we will be “hastening” that day.
There is one more thing that we can be doing. It is obvious once you think of it. We can pray, and we are commanded to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says in plain language, “Pray without ceasing!” We are to give thanks in all circumstances and take all our concerns to the Lord according to Philippians 4:6.
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
These prayers will affect us reaching all people. One prayer we are instructed to keep before the Father will undoubtedly have a significant effect.
Matthew 9:37-38 (NKJV) 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly [is] plentiful, but the laborers [are] few. 38“Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
We are to pray for workers to preach the gospel. Along with workers, we can pray for provision, protection, and productivity (a great harvest) for those workers.
While prayer may affect the day of God, why should we pray for it? What is the advantage?
The advantage is great in every way. Because for believers in Jesus Christ, we will live forever in a new heaven and a new earth. Peter points this out in 2 Peter 3:13.
2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
It is because of this new heaven and earth that the Bible ends with:
Revelation 22:20 (NKJV) He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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