2 Peter 3:10-18 | He Is Coming!

2 Peter 3:10-18
He is Coming

I.     Introduction

1. We will finish Peter’s second epistle.
2. He will continue his teaching about the coming judgment upon this world.
3. He will use both the severity and the beauty of the coming events to exhort the believers to living holy lives.

II. v. 10 A day of judgment is coming.

¹⁰ 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.[1]

1. The Day of the Lord.
   • This is an often-repeated phrase that is used over 75 times according to Dwight Pentecost.
     • “The term Day of the Lord occurs in the following passages: Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18 (twice), 20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7, 14 (twice); Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5; Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10. In addition, the phrase that day or the day or the great day occurs more than seventy-five times in the Old Testament.”^[2]
   • Not all agree on the exact timing of the period that this Day will include.
     • Some see this as only a judgment period beginning with the great tribulation.
       • “There are some who use the Day of the Lord to include the Millennium as well as the Tribulation period, based upon 2 Peter 3:10. But as will be shown later in this chapter, this verse is best seen as applying to the Tribulation only, rather than including the events following it.”^[3]
     • Others see this Day including the tribulation but also events all the way out to the events of the millennium and the new heaven and earth.
       • “It is thus concluded that the Day of the Lord is that extended period of time beginning with God’s dealing with Israel after the rapture at the beginning of the tribulation period and extending through the second advent and the millennial age unto the creation of the new heavens and new earth after the millennium.”^[4]
       • I would take a soft landing on this second understanding.
   • Another helpful discussion touching on the Day of the Lord is the importance of distinguishing it from other similar phrases.^[5]
     • As noted above the Day of the Lord begins after the rapture of the church and runs through the creation of the new heaven and new earth.
     • The Day of God (2 Peter 3:12) is the time when the redeemed will enjoy the new heavens and new earth.
     • The Day of Christ is a reference to the rapture of the Church (1 Cor 1:7-9; Phil 1:10; 2:16).
2. The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.
   • Jesus preached about His coming being like a thief (Matt 24:43).
   • In Revelation Jesus again mentioned His coming like a thief (Rev 16:15).
   • Paul also wrote about Christ’s coming in this manner.
     
     1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 ¹ But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
     
     • Paul made it clear that believers will not be overtaken by Jesus as a thief.
     • It is the unbelieving that will find the Second Coming of Christ as a thief.
3. The Day of the Lord will end with fire that makes way for a new creation of God.
   • This is an event that will happen at the end of the millennial reign of Christ (Rev 20).
   • This is when people will be cast in the lake of fire which burns forever and ever.
   • Following the Great White Throne judgment the Lord will then bring His fire of judgment upon this planet.
     • “It is reserved (tethēsaurismenoi, ‘being stored up like a treasure’) for fire and kept (tēroumenoi, ‘guarded’ or ‘held’) for judgment. Isaiah (66:15–16) and Malachi (4:1) associated fire with the return of the Lord. References to it are also found in the Qumran literature (Dead Sea Scrolls) as well as other sources shortly before and after Christ’s birth. ‘The day of the Lord’ (2 Peter 3:10) includes the Tribulation, the Millennium, the great white throne judgment, and the destruction of the present heavens and earth. At the great white throne after the Millennium, ungodly men (i.e., the wicked dead) will be judged and then thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11–15). This, as Peter wrote, will be their day of judgment (cf. 2 Peter 2:9) and destruction. After they are cast into fire, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire. God intervened catastrophically before (in the Flood), and He will do so again.”^[6]
4. The Lord will then usher in a new heaven and earth.
   
   Revelation 21:1–8 ¹ Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” ⁶ And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
   
   
5. You may deny that the Lord will judge and that your sin is no big deal to God.
   • However, a day of reckoning is coming for all who reject the Lord.
   • We plead with you to come to the Lord and be done with the passing pleasure of sin.
6. Key events of the last days.
   • Church age (Acts 2, Rom 11).
     • The church is involved in fulfilling the great commission of evangelizing the world.
   • Rapture (1 Cor 15, 1 Thess 4, 2 Thess 2).
     • Jesus calls His church to meet Him in the air before the Great Tribulation.
   • Tribulation (Dan 9, Rev 6-19).
     • The Great Tribulation or Daniel’s 70^th week lasts for 7 years upon earth to judge the world for their ungodliness and wakes up the nation of Israel to be saved.
   • Millennial reign (Rev 20:1-2).
     • A 1000-year reign of Christ upon earth while Satan is bound from influencing the affairs of man.
   • Satan released one more time (Rev 20:7).
     • Satan is released from captivity and leads one final rebellion against God.
   • Satan thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10).
   • Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15).
   • This present earth and heaven are destroyed with fire (Rev 21:1).
   • New heaven and new earth created (Rev 21).
     • God destroys earth with fire and ushers in a new world and heavens (starry abode).
     • Satan is thrown into the lake of fire.

III. vv. 11- 12 Peter exhorts us to holiness and hastening

¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking 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?

1. Therefore, the believer’s manner of life in light of the coming judgment should be marked by holiness.
   • Understanding what is in store for this world should serve as a great motivator to live a pure life.
   • Give Satan no opportunity to ensnare us in his clever ways.
     • It seems however that there has come a great lethargy of holiness upon the church.
     • We have time, it doesn’t matter, everyone is struggling, I am so busy, God doesn’t really care how I live, He has others doing the work…
   • What a day of awakening it is going to be when those who played the game are left behind to endure the Great Tribulation.
     • The church of Thyatira is warned of being cast into the great tribulation.
       
       Revelation 2:21-22 ²¹ “And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²² “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
       
       
     • Church of Philadelphia is promised to be kept from the hour of trial.
       
       Revelation 3:10 ¹⁰ “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
       
2. The reason for us to pay close attention to our manner of life is because this present earth will melt away along with all its works.
   
   1 John 2:15-17 ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  ¹⁶ For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.  ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
   
   • We should choose holiness because a life that lacks it will be a life that is wasted.
   • We have the exhortation to store up treasure for the day we will stand before the Lord.
3. Hastening the day of the Lord.
   • This is a difficult phrase to understand.
     • Do we understand this to mean we can hurry the coming of the Lord?
     • Do we understand this to mean that we should be eager for it?
   • If we are hastening the Day of the Lord, it ought to be by:
     • Godly living (current passage).
     • The work of evangelism (Rom 11).
     • Praying (Matt 6:10; Rev 22:20).
     • “It means to hasten the coming of the Day of God [DSB, EGT, HB, HNTC, ICC, LN, NTC, TG, TH, TNTC, WBC; NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB, TEV, TNT]. The translation ‘earnestly desiring’ or ‘being eager for’ the coming of the Day of God is quite possible and fits the context, but the evidence of usage and similar belief in the literature current at that time supports the meaning ‘hastening’ as more likely [HB, HNTC, ICC, NTC, TH, WBC]. God delays the Lord’s return to give opportunity for his people to repent; it can be inferred from that, as seen from a human point of view, that when they do repent and live holy lives his return is hastened [WBC]. Evangelism, prayer, Christian behavior, and repentance and obedience all contribute towards that goal [HB, TNTC].”^[7]
   • Lenski and others argue that “hastening” could be an exhortation to live in a high expectation of the Lord’s future plans.
     • “We need not labor the sense by taking σπεύδω in the sense of ‘hasten,’ speed up the coming of the day of the Lord, so that it will come sooner than it would otherwise come. We question whether the holy conduct of Christians can hasten the day of judgment, whether this is the teaching of the Bible. The decline of faith and the coldness of love would have more of a tendency to hurry the day along. This verb is widely used in the sense of ‘to be eager’ (see Liddell and Scott for illustrations), which fits perfectly here as an intensifying synonym of ‘expecting.’”^[8]
   • Whatever is the proper understanding of this word it remains clear we should not only expect the coming of the Lord, but we should be eager for its coming.

IV. vv. 13-15a Waiting with diligence.

1. v. 13 We hope for the new order.
   
   ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
   
   • The coming destruction serves as a warning to live a holy life but ultimately the promise of heaven should be our hope and motivation.
   • Peter gives this exhortation in light of our hope.
   • Our final dwelling place will be a newly created heaven and earth where righteousness dwells.
     • In the millennial kingdom, the Lord will enforce righteousness with a rod of iron (Rev 2:7, 19:5).
     • But in the new heavens and earth righteousness will dwell (v. 13) suggesting that it will not be enforced.
2. v. 14 Be diligent in your pursuit of peace and holiness.
   
   ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
   
   • σπουδάζω ③ to be especially conscientious in discharging an obligation, be zealous/eager, take pains, make every effort, be conscientious…^[9]
   • Exert oneself to live at peace and holiness with God.
   • There is no time to be slack in our holiness.
   • If we fail to put forth real effort we should not expect to experience the fullness of what is ours.
   • When we walk in sin it creates chastening and difficulty in our walk with God, He wants there to be peace.
3. v. 15a The Lord’s patience is working salvation.
   
   ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation–as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
   
   • As we studied last time God is delaying His coming so others might have the time to repent and get right with God.
   • Many of the New Testament writers spoke of the coming of Christ and our gathering to Him.

V. vv. 15b-16 Beware of those who twist scripture.

¹⁵ –as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

1. Peter acknowledges that the writing of Paul was Scripture.
   • Paul wrote on difficult subjects.
   • Peter is not saying Paul is a bad writer or controversial.
2. He warns against those who twist what has been written.
3. There will never be a shortage of those who take the Word of God to insert their own views.
   • Remember that every interpretation of Scripture must be determined based upon the context of the immediate verses, the book in which it was written, and the other books of the Bible.
     • Some say this is what it means “to me,” but no Scripture is of private interpretation.
   • Anyone who allows a single passage devoid of context to become their basis for teaching will eventually be found in serious error.

VI. vv. 17-18 Closing exhortations.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

1. v. 17 Be steadfast in your walk with the Lord.
2. v. 18 Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus.
   • We are exhorted to gain ground through growth.
   • The Christian life should have an ever-increasing understanding of the truth and the nature of God.
   • Likewise, we need to be growing in grace.
     • Growing in grace is a general way of saying we should be growing in the Christian life.
   • Our growth is also based upon gaining more knowledge of Jesus Christ.
     • It is not an increasing of doctrinal knowledge without the vital link to Jesus.

VII. Conclusion and Prayers

1. Pray for those who need to come to faith
2. Pray for diligence in your walk with the Lord.
3. Pray that you will be eager for the coming of the Lord.
4. Pray for one another to be steadfast and grow in the faith.

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[1]  All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

^[2] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), 230.

^[3] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah: A Study of the Sequence of Prophetic Events, Rev. ed. (Tustin: Ariel Ministries, 2003), 172–173.

^[4] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology 230–231.

^[5] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1996), 462.

^[6] Kenneth O. Gangel, “2 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1985), 876.

^[7] David Strange, An Exegetical Summary of 2 Peter, 2nd ed. (Dallas: SIL International, 2008), 274.

^[8] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Peter, St. John and St. Jude (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1966), 348.

^[9] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 939.