It is natural for men to feel that the purpose of God grinds slowly because our lifespan is so short, but God lives for eternity so that finite time is insignificant to him, a thousand years being like a single day.v.82 Peter 3:8XWaiting for response But God is not slack concerning his promise and the apparent slackness which men attribute to him not keeping his word is, in fact, due to his longsuffering and concern that men and women have time to repent and save their lives.v.92 Peter 3:9XWaiting for response Nevertheless, the time of destruction did arrive, in A.D.70, as will the time for the re-creation of the Jewish heaven - a new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.v.13;2 Peter 3:13XWaiting for response Isaiah 65:17-25Isaiah 65:17-25XWaiting for response True and faithful disciples of Christ look for this promised new constitution when Jesus will be established as King of Israel, and if we are such we should heed the apostle’s exhortation: “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless”.v.142 Peter 3:14XWaiting for response Unfortunately, very few look for the coming of Christ to do what God has promised. The common practice now, and for many centuries past, is to wrest the word of God and use the terminology to concoct fables which blind people’s eyes to the truth. Peter lamented that people did it with his writings, and those of the apostle Paul, to their own destruction.v.162 Peter 3:16XWaiting for response We should avoid this trap and understand the words we read both in the immediate context and that of the scriptures as a whole. Thus can we heed Peter’s warning to “beware” v.172 Peter 3:17XWaiting for response and also “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen”.v.182 Peter 3:18XWaiting for response
Verses 1-7,12
2 Peter 3:1-7,12XWaiting for responsePeter stated his purpose in writing this second letter was to make them remember the word of God and the commandments delivered to them through the apostles.vs.1-22 Peter 3:1-2XWaiting for response This stirring up was vital in view of the scoffers among the disciples who, influenced by their own lusts, would begin to challenge the vital doctrine of Christ’s return.v.32 Peter 3:3XWaiting for response They would say: “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”.v.42 Peter 3:4XWaiting for response Jesus had promised to return but, as decades passed by without him coming, some disciples would begin to question it. The “fathers” were those disciples who had been with Jesus from the beginning 1 John 2:141 John 2:14XWaiting for response who would fall into the sleep of death before Jesus returned. In the opinion of the doubters nothing would have changed since the beginning of the new creation in Christ when men and women by belief and baptism became new creatures. They would hold these opinions through ignorance of the scriptures v.52 Peter 3:5XWaiting for response which taught that before Jesus’ coming the Jewish political heavens and earth would be swept away, just as the political constitution in Noah’s day had been eliminated.vs.5-72 Peter 3:5-7XWaiting for response Noah’s world was destroyed by water, but the Jewish one would be destroyed by fire.vs.7,122 Peter 3:7,12XWaiting for response This would be effected by Jesus, in control of world events, using the Roman legions against the people of the land. Jesus taught by a parable that he would do this because of the Jews’ wickedness Matthew 22:7Matthew 22:7XWaiting for response and he warned his disciples of it, directing their attention to Daniel’s prophecy Daniel 9:26Daniel 9:26XWaiting for response that the Romans as “the people of the prince” would come and destroy Jerusalem.