2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3:1-18
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2 that you 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 Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to 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 creation.”
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 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.
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.
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?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
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,
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.
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.
Like Paul, Peter is concerned about falling away from the great treasure we’ve been gifted. Many of these corrupting questions and diversions that cause this come from worldly considerations of timing and immediate results determining legitimacy. When wondering about this or that it is critical that the God side of this or that is understood before these things destabilize and undermine growth in unity with the Father. From the time of this writing till now the hope of Jesus’ coming has been proclaimed with great expectancy. Now more than ever it would seem that it is imminent and yet there is little urgency even among church members. The lack of judgment and extended waiting for His return, though, speaks more to the mercy and compassion of God than a disqualified promise. Rather than falling away in skepticism, there is an opportunity to grow in intensity and fervency, ensuring preparation for readiness in His presence at His coming. We will see Him face to face at that time to come, but only if we are coming to Him and entertaining His presence continually now by the Spirit in rapt awareness of His glory. His coming is only for those who are cleansed, prepared, and oiled for the magnifying of His glory and not its diminishing by tainted vessels.
With this warning comes a responsibility. Ignorance can no longer be a reason for unholiness and fellowship with the world over fellowship with Him. He came first to make a way to the holy of holies. He is coming again for those who have accessed that way and have holy transformation as verification.