21. the Epistle of 2Peter—3:7-9

21. The Epistle of 2Peter—3:7-9

(3/27/19)

2 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) 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."

As we come to chapter 3, Peter begins to wind things down by talking about false prophets in particular and many unbelievers in general that will come in the last days scoffing (mocking) at the idea that Jesus is going to come back to the earth literally, physically and interrupt human history by judging the world and establishing His Kingdom.

Their mocking, sarcastic question—“Where is the promise of His coming?” betrays their ignorance of the Word of God which contains 500 prophecies (‘promises’) of Jesus’ Second Coming.

The statement—“…all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" is their way of saying that in all of human history God has never intervened to bring judgment on a world-wide scale.

But Peter responds in verses 5-6 by saying that these last days critics and mockers willfully ‘forget’ how God has intervened in time past by bringing a sudden catastrophic judgment upon the whole world known as the Flood.

This Peter draws on to say that, just as God intervened in human history in the past to judge the world and cleanse it of corruption—so He will do so again in the future:

2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) 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.

But as he said in v.4—the critics of this idea will respond with mocking sarcasm—"Where is the promise of His coming?”

In other words, “Where is He? You Christians have been talking about Jesus’ return for 2000 years!”

Peter responds to these critics (and to those Christians that became impatient waiting for the Lord’s return)—

2 Peter 3:8 (NKJV) 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.

Now, let me just say first that verse 8 has been used by those who don’t believe that God created the world in 6 literal days—rather they believe in the ‘day/age’ theory and use 2 Peter 3:8 to prove their point.

There are many Christians who don’t believe that God created the universe in six literal days.

And so, they try to say that the six “days” of creation in Genesis 1—were actually 6 one million or one billion-year periods of time or ages (hence the name—"day/age theory”).

They point out that the word ‘day’ is used elsewhere in Scripture to speak of indeterminate periods of time.

For example, “the day of the Lord” is an expression used throughout Scripture to signify—not a literal 24-hour day but an extended period of time where God pours out His judgment upon the earth.

And again, to prove their contention with regard to this, they point to 2 Peter 3:8 which says— “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

And so, these day/age theorists argue that the 'days' of creation spoken of in Genesis 1 were actually long periods of time or geological ages not literal days.

This they say explains how the earth is actually billions of years old instead of the six to ten thousand years in age the Bible seems to indicate that it is (based on the genealogies).

Some believe that during these ages theistic evolution took place. (Explain)

Others believe that while evolution was taking place in the animal kingdom—late in the process God made man who didn't evolve from apes but simply was made after millions of years of animal evolution.

There are numerous problems with the day/age theory view—not the least of which is that death didn't become a reality in the world until Adam's sin (Romans 5:12) therefore evolution driven by death—biblically couldn't have happened before Adam.

But even more to the point, nothing in the text implies that these were ages of time on the order of millions or billions of years in length—in fact the language in these verses demonstrates just the opposite.

Yes, it is true that the Hebrew word 'yom' translated day in the O.T. can mean an indeterminate period of time and not a literal day—but it's the exception not the rule.

By far when the word 'yom' is used in the O.T. it almost always refers to a 24-hour day—and it always refers to a 24 day without exception when it is coupled with a number or the words 'morning' or 'evening'.

In Genesis 1, God uses a number and both the words 'morning' and 'evening' to make sure we understand that He is not speaking figuratively but literally—for example:

Genesis 1:5 (NKJV) 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

The very same expression, “the evening and the morning were the second day, third day, fourth day" etc. is used for all six days of creation indicating that these days were all the same—literal 24-hour days.

If God had wanted to communicate that these were not literal days but rather extended periods of time—He could have easily done so by using different words and phrases.

However, if He wanted to communicate that these were literal 24 hour days (as He no doubt did)—He couldn't have made it any clearer from the language He chose to use!

And if there was still any confusion as to whether or not God took six literal days when He created the universe, He confirms it in Exodus 20:11 when He was laying down the Sabbath law and how the people of Israel were to work six days a week and the seventh day they were to rest—he said: “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day...”

Obviously, these were literal days and not one million or one billion-year periods—which would have made for a long work week!

Since God made it so clear that the days of creation were literal 24-hour days—why then do so many Christian pastors, professors and lay people embrace the day/age theory?

It is because they have been convinced that science has proven that the earth is billions of years old and that evolution is true.

And because of it they have to make the Bible (and in particular the creation account in Genesis), compatible with the teachings of modern science so that we Christians don't look like backwards,

4 brainless idiots—it’s a capitulation to the scientific ‘wisdom of man’ at the expense of the Word of God.

“Yes, but what about 2 Peter 3:8, doesn’t this verse ‘prove’ the day/age theory?”

When people try to use 2 Peter 3:8 "…that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" as a biblical justification for the day/age theory just let them know that this has nothing to do with the creation account in Genesis 1.

In verse 8, Peter no doubt had in mind what Moses said in Psalm 90:4: “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.”

One author— “Peter was simply using a simile. What to people, including scoffers, may seem like a long time is to the Lord very short. The present Church Age has lasted, in God’s eyes, not quite two days!”

Another said— “Peter did not give some prophetic formula, saying that a prophetic day somehow equals a thousand years. He instead communicated a general principle regarding how we see time and how God sees time. When people use this verse as a rigid prophetic key it opens the door for great error.”

And so, with that in mind, Peter is responding to the critics that will come scoffing at the promise that Jesus will come and bring judgment upon the world before establishing His Kingdom.

He said they will mock at that idea since (in our day) Christians have been talking about Jesus’ return for 2000 years—and still, He hasn’t come!

However, he points out that, from God’s perspective, it’s only been a couple of days and His promise of Jesus’ Second Coming—is a sure thing!

“Yes, but why has the Lord waited 2000 years and still Jesus hasn’t yet come?”—

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT2) 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed [in hell], but wants everyone to repent.

And so, coming back to verse 7—

2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) 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.

For the remainder of our time tonight (we’ll finish 2 Peter next time) lets look at the judgment Peter tells us is coming upon this whole world before Jesus returns.

He likens it to the judgment in Noah’s day—the very thing Jesus Himself likened it to in Matthew 24—

Matthew 24:37-38 (NKJV) 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark…

Now there is nothing evil about eating, drinking, marrying and giving your daughter in marriage.

The point that Jesus was making is that the people in Noah’s day were going about their lives as usual—right up until the day Noah and his family entered the ark—“…and did not know [what was coming] until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (v.39)

In other words, God’s judgment took them by surprise!

However, there is one more thing I believe the Lord is emphasizing here.

Some say the point He was emphasizing in these verses was that it was “business as usual”—as in people going about their daily routines when God’s judgment fell on them taking them by surprise—and I believe that is essentially true.

But Jesus didn’t say that the people in Noah’s day were “buying, selling and conducting business” as usual—instead He chose to emphasize they were “eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage”.

I personally don’t think the “eating and drinking” He is referring to here was normal everyday eating and drinking—but rather the eating and drinking associated with celebration and merriment—as when people attend a party or a wedding feast.

In other words, not only was Jesus saying that when God’s judgment fell on the people of Noah’s day it caught them by surprise, He is saying it caught them by surprise because—they were totally oblivious to the fact it was coming.

I mean if people know judgment is coming but they don’t know when—that reality hangs over their lives like a dark cloud making merriment impossible.

Apparently, the people in Noah’s day had no thought in their minds that they were about to be judged (executed by a Holy God for their sins)—until it happened!

Now understand it wasn’t that they hadn’t been warned—the Bible calls Noah a “preacher of righteousness” (2Peter 2:5) who for 120 years (the time it took to build the ark) preached a message of repentance to the people of his day—but no one listened to him.

In fact, it was such a non-issue to them that they never gave it a second thought—as evidenced in the fact that they were partying and celebrating up to and including the day that Noah and his family entered the ark and judgment came.

Jesus is saying that there is coming a future generation that is going to be caught off guard when the judgment of God (that He has been talking about in Matthew 24:5-28 and John spelled out in Revelation 6-19) comes upon the world.

This is a judgment that is coming soon upon the people of this world—and they are just as oblivious to this coming judgment as the people in Noah’s day were to that judgment.

And once again it’s not that they haven’t been warned—there are many preachers of righteousness on T.V., radio, the internet and in pulpits across our country and around the world that are calling people to repentance before the judgment of God comes.

Unfortunately (as it was in the days of Noah) we see that most people today mock, ridicule, and dismiss these warnings as utter nonsense—the ravings of religious nuts and bigots!

And it will be that way up until the Church is taken off the earth at the Rapture and God’s judgment falls upon them.

Now, speaking of the Rapture let me read the next three verses that Jesus connects with the days of Noah—

Matthew 24:40-42 (NKJV) 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

When most Christians read these verses, they automatically assume they’re talking about the Rapture where Christians are ‘caught up’ to meet the Lord in the air and instantly disappear off of the earth!

And even though I can see why Christians believe that when they read these verses—remember the context! In Matthew chapter 24 Israel and not the Church is in view.

Remember that the Church won’t even be born for another 55 days—not until Pentecost.

These men weren’t thinking like N.T. Christians at this point—they were thinking like O.T. Jews!

And because of it we need to understand that the main question the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 24:3—“What will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age?”—was a Jewish question, asked by Jewish men who were looking for the Jewish Messiah’s return (Matt.23:39) to establish the Jewish Kingdom.

Therefore, the events Jesus speaks about in Matthew 24 are directed at Jews who will be living during a period of time the N.T. calls the “Tribulation Period”; but the O.T. refers to as “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jacob = Israel).

We can see this clearly from the context—Jesus talked about Judea (Matt. 24:16), the Sabbath (Matt. 24:20), and the prophecies of Daniel concerning the Jewish people (Matt. 24:15).

The problem is that most Christians think of the O.T. as relating to Israel; and the N.T. as relating to the Church—so much so that when they read the N.T. they automatically assume it is speaking to Christians living in the Church Age.

And therefore, they just naturally see the Church in Matthew 24 and verses 40-42 as a reference to the Rapture of the Church.

But Jesus’ disciples weren’t thinking about the Rapture of the Church—in fact they didn’t even know what the Rapture was at this point.

The Rapture, for the most part, remained a mystery (Eph. 3:1–12) until God revealed the details to Paul and he gave them to the Church in 1Corinthians 15 and 1Thessalonians 4.

Matthew 24 is Jewish territory—where the Lord Jesus was discussing events that will take place on earth during the 7-year Tribulation Period.

Whereas, the Rapture takes place before the 7-year Tribulation Period begins—before the Antichrist is revealed.

So then—what is Jesus referring to in Matthew 24:40-41 when He said, “two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.”?

The key lies in understanding what happened in the days of Noah at the time of the flood.

The Lord gives us a hint in v.39 when He said—“…and [the unbelievers] did not know [judgment was coming] until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

The verb translated “taken” in Matthew 24:40–41—“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left…”—I believe means—“taken away in judgment.”

You see at the time of the Rapture—the righteous are taken off the earth and the unbelievers are left to undergo God’s judgment.

With regard to the Flood in Noah’s day—the unrighteous were taken away in judgment and only the righteous (Noah and his family) were left on the earth to begin a new world.

As we pointed out last time—the flood in Noah’s day was used to cleanse the earth of all unbelievers and corruption, so that when Noah and his family exited the ark—they inherited a new world unpolluted by sin.

And Jesus says that’s how it’s going to be when He returns—just like it was in the days of Noah.

The unbelievers will be taken away in judgment and the righteous will be left on the earth to begin a new world—the Kingdom Age.

This interpretation is reinforced by the parable that Jesus gave to illustrate what He has just said—

Matthew 24:45-51 (NKJV) 45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Hades—Revelation 19)

When Jesus returns, some (unbelievers) will be taken away in judgment from the earth and others (believers) will be left to enter the Kingdom.

This is the same separation described in the next chapter when Jesus talks about judging the nations and separating them like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (25:32–46).

Now based on what Peter says in v.7 and then in verses 10-13—it seems he is saying that the last days (v.3) will continue all the way thru the Kingdom Age and culminate with the final judgment of the wicked at the Great White Throne Judgment before God destroys this present fallen universe and creates a new one.

We’ll study that next time as we finish Peter’s second epistle.