2 Peter 3:1-18 (verse-by-verse)

Passage: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Title: Know Your Prophecy

Summary: In Chapter 2 Peter didn’t mince words, he knew once he was off the scene that false teachers would creep in and try to lead the people astray. He hammered on the false teachers, and now here in chapter 3 he turns the attention to those who are in error about the return of the Lord. You see if you are not living for the immediate return of Christ, you will be easily lead astray by these false teachers as they try to entice people with their twisting of the Word.

2 Peter 3 (NKJV) 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.

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

Written to – Like Precious Faith

People with like precious faith. These people as we know from the first epistle were scattered from their homes because of the persecution that was upon them, everything they knew as familiar was gone, and they are living in areas foreign to them. But this book is timeless, an it is written to each of you who have that same precious faith that Peter and these people did:

(2 Peter 1:1 NKJV) Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Written Peter / 66AD / Dies 67AD / From Prison

Written by Peter around 66AD, it has been about 30 years now since Jesus had ascended into heaven; and in less than a year (According to church tradition/early writings) that Peter will be crucified (67AD). Because of such a late writing, many deduce that Peter is writing this letter from a prison cell in Rome (and according to the writings of the early church fathers).

Peter’s Knew Time Near / Just as Jesus Said – John 21 / Hands Spread

Peter clearly knew that his time was near:

(2 Peter 1:14 NKJV) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

Just as the Lord had shown him:

(John 21:18 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."

(John 21:19 NKJV) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

Your hands will be spread Peter and you will have no control over where they take you. Church tradition says that Peter was crucified, but Peter did not feel worthy to die in the same manner of his Lord, so he asked to be crucified upside down.

Time Near – Must Write / Outward Pressures – Inward Pressures / False Teachers – Mocking 2nd

Peter knows that his death is near and writes to the church. In his first letter he had turned his attention outward pressures that were coming upon the church such as the attacks of Nero, and the pressures of the world. But in this second letter he writes concerning pressures within the church such as false teachers, and people mocking the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. You know false teachers are not just these guys with funny hair trying to fleece people of their money; but they are people who diminish the power of Christ in people’s life. They water down the Word, they wink at sin, they twist the Scriptures and say this is ok, and that no longer applies. I believe the church is seeing more false teachers than any other time in the history of the church.

Why he Writes - Stirs Us Up

Peter tells us in this Second Epistle why he writes to them (and us), to stir us up, to remind us, that we hang on to the things we have been taught in the Old Testament, the Epistles of the Apostles, and the teachings in the Gospels. He says remember these things, hold on to them, no matter how hard life may get.

(2 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

(2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) 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,

Peter’s Heart / 30 yrs Later

Peters heart really comes across to us here, we see the heart of the Shepherd caring for his flock, and we see him 30 years later doing what Jesus told him to do, what a good shepherd is suppose to do, feed the flock:

(John 21:15 NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

(John 21:16 NKJV) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

(John 21:17 NKJV) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.

Peter Feeds / Wants them to Know / 16X / Peter’s Solution – Through His Divine Power

Peter feeds the flock, and we see this as the theme of this epistle. He wants them to “Know”. The word knowledge appears in some form 16 times in these 3 short chapters. It is not too much to say that Peter's primary solution to false teaching is knowledge of true doctrine, the solution against misunderstanding the “end times” is knowledge of true doctrine. But this knowledge is also the solution to every problem and situation in your life. Whatever problem or situation is going on in your life, God has a promise or example in His Word to meet us where we are at. And, it is through the knowledge of Him, that we tap into His divine power, and it is through that power that we have all we need to live this life.

Theme

This knowledge, will give us power. The theme of this book is given to us in chapter 1:

(2 Peter 1:2 NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

(2 Peter 1:3 NKJV) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Outline of 2 Peter

Introduction - (1:1-3) Know Your Salvation - (1:3-11) Know Your Scripture - (1:12-21) Know Your Adversaries - (2:1-22) Know Your Prophecy - (3:1-18)

Outline of Know Your Scripture - (1:12-21)

Remind Them of the Word, and Remind Them Often - (1:12) Men Die, but the Word Lives On - (1:13-15) Experiences Fade, but the Word Endures Forever - (1:16-19) The World Darkens, but the Word Shines Brightly – (1:19-21)

Outline of Know Your Adversaries - (2:1-22)

· Dangers of False Teachers – (2:1-3)

Destruction of False Teachers – (2:4-9) Description of False Teachers – (2:10-22)

Outline of Know Your Prophecy - (3:1-18)

The Lord and His Delay - (3:1-9) The Lord and His Day - (3:10-18)

More than Birth / Growth & Development / Can’t Live Godly Life

The Christian life is more than just a birth, it is also a growth and development. It is only through the knowledge of Christ that you can live down here and grow to be more a more godly person. Everything that you need to live a life of godliness is provided for us by God. We cannot live that life in and of ourselves. We don’t have the capacity. I can’t say, Well I’m going to live like God. And by my resolve, do it. But God has given to us all that is necessary to live that life of godliness. It’s imparted to us, that is, through the word of God.

Don’t Need Further Revelation – New Truth / New Experiences of Old Truths / Form their God

We do not need further revelation. We need not be interested in new truth. We just need to lay hold of the truths already revealed to us here in the Word. It’s all there! I am not interested in these religious systems that want to peddle their formulas for the church. Or the Cults like The Latter Day Saints with their special revelations, the Holy Laughter movement, etc. Don’t need it. All that is necessary to live the life of godliness has been provided for us, and we don’t need further revelations. That also applies to each individual; those who they form in their mind who they think God is, but that is incorrect, it is only though His Word can we know who He is.

Chp 2 False Teachers / Now Mockers of Return / Miss Return – Easily Lead Astray

In Chapter 2 Peter doesn't mince words, he knew once he was off the scene that the dogs would creep in and try to lead the people astray. He hammered on the false teachers, and now he turns the attention to those who are in error about the return of the Lord. You see if you are not living for the immediate return of Christ, you will be easily lead astray by these false teachers as they try to entice people with their twisting of the Word.

The Lord and His Delay - (3:1-9)

(2 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

Peter Can’t Just Preach Warmth – But Must Also Warn

So Peter, no doubt, like the rest of any true preacher, he doesn't want to come with the heavy things. But as a shepherd, a shepherd is to protect the flock of God as well as feed the flock of God. And we cannot sit and camp only on the sweet warming doctrines of the Lord of love and joy, best friend, life forevermore. There's a place that the Lord takes precious ink, precious time that the space is used to warn. And here Peter, he's warning about these false teachers who are full of themselves in immorality themselves. And yet they preach in a phoniness, they preach a watered-down gospel. And now here he comes to speak of the last days and the mocking that will come with that.

Passion Put into Remembrance / Repetition Key to Learning / Simple Truths - Established

Peter had a passion to put people in remembrance of the truth, a sign of a good Shepherd, a good teacher, a good friend. Again, the key to learning is repetition, and Peter is not trying to impress people with deeper doctrine, but impress upon them the simple truths. Remember his words in chapter 1, I know you know these things, but I will keep reminding to keep you or make sure you are established in them:

(2 Peter 1:12 NKJV) For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.

Wise Words to You Teachers / Part of Fallen Nature

Wise words to all you Sunday Scholl teachers, parents, Youth Workers, and Bible teachers - keep repeating yourself over and over again. Part of our fallen nature, we forget things we should remember, and remember things we should forget. Did I already tell you this?

(2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) 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,

Study the OT Also / We Do Bible Studies

Verse 2 - that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets:Speaking of the Old Testament; it is important to be a student of the Old Testament, to know the Old Testament. For many people this fellowship will not be their flavor, because they come, especially on a Sunday, to hear a sermon, to hear preaching, but that is not what we do here. We study the Bible, even on Sunday morning, for this is a teaching center, that is what the church is to be, because:

(2 Peter 1:2 NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

(2 Peter 1:3 NKJV) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

(2 Peter 3:3 NKJV) knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

(2 Peter 3:4 NKJV) 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."

Last Days – The Cumulation to the Final End Sum

And with this mocking,…… I love the word last days, I really do. Cause it tells me at some point it all sums up and gets done. That I don't have to sit here and go that this is never going end. That I know at some point God's going say enough and there's a summing and accumulating that then brings all of this to an end

And so here among them, wheats and tares, just as Jesus said there would be. And so he has to warn against the wheat and tares just like the birds in the tree (which is really a bush – mustard seed). Something abnormal is going on. Don't think that it's all wonderful. He warns that something can look so wonderful yet be so abnormal because a mustard seed was never supposed to be a tree and birds of the air didn't rest in bushes. So people who heard that would go, Hey, this doesn't sound right. What's he saying here?

Matthew 13:31–32 (NKJV) 31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Matthew 13:24–30 (NKJV) 24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

There Own Lust

V3 - walking according to their own lusts, - Verse three is the reason they scoff because they're living in their own lost. It's not that they're deceived, it's not that they don't understand, it's because they're living in darkness and they choose the darkness.

Remember John 3:16, it's a beautiful passage, but verse 19 and 20 says, why people don't receive because they love darkness and don't want to come to the light. That's why we preach the light and let them decide. We don't have to try to unravel the mysteries of the universe. All the details of creation and evolution go into their history of their upbringing or their current situation. All those things are outliers. What's in the middle in the heart of the issue is are they willing to repent and turn from their sin and ask God to forgive them and ask for a savior and humble themselves before the sight of the Lord. New paragraph verse five, Peter, under inspiration, Holy Spirit makes it clear the very design and order of the universe proves there's a creator. And then if you wanna challenge that it's in disorder because of hurricanes and earthquakes. Well the answer is because it was formed in perfection and now it is in a fallen state of imperfection. And that's why we see what we see with all these natural disasters and the likes. But he's speaking saying the very God who had the ability to speak this into existence has the very same power to speak it out of existence. And someday he will. In the moment in a big bang it will be done wrapped up.

John 3:16–21 (NKJV) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

2000 Years Hearing That / Where is He / They Fulfill Prophecy

Verse 3 - knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts: We all have been challenged by this, well where is your Christ, people have been saying that for 2000 years, every December 31styou have your update and say He is coming soon, well……..where is He. Guess what, that person saying that is fulfillment of prophecy, this prophecy…….in the last days scoffers will come. Thank you, thank you, your words get me excited, He is even nearer than I realized.

The Spider in Cornfield

Here might be food for thought....There was once a spider who lived in a cornfield. He was a big spider and he had spun a beautiful web between the corn stalks. He got fat eating all the bugs that would get caught in the web. He liked his home and planned to stay there for the rest of his life.

One day the spider caught a little bug in his web, and just as the spider was about to eat him, the bug said, "If you let me go I will tell you something important that will save your life." The spider paused for a moment and listened because he was amused. "You better get out of this cornfield," the little bug said, "The harvest is coming!" The spider smiled and said, "What is this harvest you are talking about? I think you are just telling me a story."

But the little bug said, "Oh no, it is true. The owner of this field is coming to harvest it soon. All the stalks will be knocked down and the corn will be gathered up. You will be killed by the giant machines if you stay here."

The spider said, "I don't believe in harvests and giant machines that knock down corn stalks. How can you prove this?" The little bug continued, "Just look at the corn. See how it is planted in rows? It proves this field was created by an intelligent designer." The spider laughed and mockingly said, "This field has evolved and has nothing to do with a creator. Corn always grows that way." The bug went on to explain, "Oh no! This field belongs to the owner who planted it, and the harvest is coming soon."

The spider grinned and said to the little bug, "I don't believe you," and then the spider ate the bug for lunch.

A few days later, the spider was laughing about the story the little bug had told him. He thought to himself, A harvest! What a silly idea. I have lived here all of my life and nothing has ever disturbed me. I have been here since these stalks were just a foot off the ground, and I'll be here for the rest of my life, because nothing is ever going to change in this field.

Life is good, and I have it made." The next day was a beautiful sunny day in the cornfield. The

sky above was clear and there was no wind at all. That afternoon as the spider was about to take a nap, he noticed some thick dusty clouds moving toward him. He could hear the roar of a great engine and he said to himself, "I wonder what that could be ... ?"

Peter Knows he Is Leaving – And He Knows Who is Coming!

Peter knows that he's leaving this world, but here's what else he knows ……. He knows who's coming and Jesus is going come back for his bride. He's going set all this right. All these things will be put into its place before He comes back. He's going take us up. We're going be with him. What a beautiful picture and story full of warmth. And so Peter spends the time writing to make sure everyone knows what the Lord is saying. I'm coming back. This world's not going continue as it is, I'm coming back and there will be a day that I'll be here.

There are some 300 times, it speaks in the scriptures of the second coming of Christ, and speaks of us to be ready. And it speaks to us to comfort us to know that these things aren't out of control. He sees all things, and He can control anything if He so desires. And He gives us the calling to be steadfast as we wait. Because He's coming. He's coming to get us for the rapture and then shortly after that He's coming back with us at the end of that tribulation period. And He's going set up his kingdom here on earth for a thousand years.

He's coming and He wants us to remember today I'm coming in the last days. It's because men love sin and I won't mix it and let someone young here hear me say it's horrible. What? I'll tell you it is horrible, the consequences. But the moment can be so pleasurable. Moses would say sin is pleasurable for a season. But then comes the judgment and consequence of it. God gives us a warning cuz He loves us and He wants to protect us. But in these last days, people do it because they love it and they don't want to separate from it no matter what. They know it's true or no matter what is presented, they don't want to turn from it. And that's the context here. And let it be pointed that it's only carnal reasons that they reject that a flood happened. They have no scientific reasoning behind it. Because if anyone would do a casual study, the fossil records show that somewhere on this earth, some time on this earth, better said, was a global catastrophic event. And mockers, we can thank them cuz they simply confirm our faith by confirming that this word that was spoken is true. Because here they are, mocking the second coming, mocking the return of Christ.

(2 Peter 3:5 NKJV) 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,

(2 Peter 3:6 NKJV) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

God’s Judgement is not Unprecedented.

verse six. It speaks the word that God judging is not something that is unprecedented. He's spoken at once as he spoke of Noah, he spoke it again as he spoke of Sodom and Gomorrah. Now he comes back to the flood again, meaning God has judged and God does judge, therefore God will judge and it will not go on continually forever. At some point last days have a period at the end of that word days and God's judgment comes

Like Day of Noah / Rain? / 120 Pounding & Preaching / Chp 2 False Teachers – Never Come

Peter likens this day to the day of Noah. Rain, never heard of it, you are a fanatic. Yet for 120 years Noah pounded on boards and preached to the people. As we saw in chapter 2, false teachers came along saying he was all wet, they counter his preaching. No doubt saying, where is this rain you speak about, so they kept living, as the day would never come.

(Matthew 24:38 NKJV) "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,

(Matthew 24:39 NKJV) "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Willfully Ignorant / have to be Accountable

v.5 - For this they willfully forget - Verse 5 says they were willingly ignorant, they didn't want to know, or else then they would have to be accountable to what they knew, so too is it today.

Rain did Come / Imagine those 40 days – Relocate – Pound on Ark / God Shut them IN

The rain did come, the water canopy breaks and the deluge begins. 40 days; I wonder how many days it rained before the people realized, this is serious. I can imagine at first it was fun and new, refreshing and interesting. But after a few days, like rain usually is, this is getting old, stop already. I wonder how many days until they had to relocate due to the rain flooding the living room. How long until they were pounding in the ark, how long until fear set in, but at that point it was out of Noah's control to do anything for them, for God had shut them in:

(Genesis 7:16 NKJV) So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.

Shut In – Shut Out / God’s Grace Limited

God shut them in, which also meant the God shut them out. Yes the God of love did that. God's grace does have a limit, in the days of Noah it was 120 years, but today, all we know, is today:

(2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV) For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

(Matthew 24:42 NKJV) "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

(Matthew 24:43 NKJV) "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

(Matthew 24:44 NKJV) "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

(2 Peter 3:7 NKJV) 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.

Motivated by Lust

Ungodly men, verse 3 gave their motivation, they walked according to their own lust:

(2 Peter 3:3 NKJV) knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

Reserved

Reserved - means being stored up, but at some point will be released, poured out.

Fire – Never Flood Again

This judgment will be with fire, because the Lord promised never to flood the world again:

(Genesis 9:14 NKJV) "It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;

(Genesis 9:15 NKJV) "and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Tremble for Lost / Darwin Sticker / Don’t Want to Be Right / Remember – Sorrow for Them

I tremble for all that are lost, but I think about those people who take the fish symbol and put legs on it, write Darwin inside of it. What are you thinking, I wonder if they laugh and mock God when they do so. When I pass them I pray for them, if they knew what is coming. I do not want to be right, all the people who mocked me, laughed at me, I do not want to say I told you so, I want to say there you are, I am glad you are here. Christian when they mock you, attack you, remember these verses, and you heart will turn from resentment, to sorrow for them, and you will be able to love them even as they persecute you:

As Mock – Lord Waits

Verses 8-9 are beautiful verses, for as they mock, the Lord waits:

(2 Peter 3:8 NKJV) 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.

(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.

Verse 9 - memory verse.

Time isn’t Acceptance

A main point of a day and a thousand years is because people think time is God's acceptance, His winking. And they miss that.

Verse nine. It's not that I'm winking, it's that I'm gracious. I wish none should perish and I wish nobody here should perish tonight. That every one of you would come and have eternal life. But last days come with a summation, an accumulation to an end with a period or maybe better said an exclamation point. It's over.

And I pray that anyone tonight would see God's offer to come for eternal life, forgiveness of sin. But it comes through the cross. It comes through a heart of repentance. You must turn to make it to that cross.

Ezekiel – Takes No Pleasure in Death of Wicked / Gives Time to Repent

Ezekiel tells us that the Lord says, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He has no pleasure. He has no desire. His heart is to gather, not scatter, yet He gives free will that every man can choose. But He wishes none should perish and He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He's not the God of wrath and anger that everybody paints Him to be. He gives everybody free will. The word for repentance in the Greek, it literally means to change your mind. It means to change your direction. So for all clarity, it's not that you agree that you're a sinner. It's not that you agree that you need a savior. It's that you agree that what you're doing is wrong and it needs to change because he's holy and we need to change before Him, but only He has the power to change us, not we ourselves. So repentance looks like something. Repentance is not in word only. There will be a demonstration of a change because it's impossible to have God come into your life and not radically be changed.

(Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV) "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'

Lord Waits / Only been 2 Days

So while they mock, the Lord waits. Jesus said, "I come quickly". People, scoffers say that was 2,000 years ago. Hey a day is like a thousand, and a thousand like a day, it's only been 2 days. God is outside of our time domain, and He is patient, for He wishes that none should perish, but that all should seek repentance.

6 & 1

There is a six and one example given throughout the Scriptures:

· 6 days of Creation – God rested on the 7th(Genesis 2:2).

· Work 6 days - Sabbath rest on the 7th(Exodus 20:9-11)

· Work the land for 6 years - rest the land on the 7th (Leviticus 25:3-4)

· Slavery for 6 years - released on the 7th(Deuteronomy 15)

4000 + 2000 / Struggling – Working – Tilling - Slavery / Approaching 1000 Millennial Rest

Interestingly from Adam to Jesus was about 4,000 years, and from Jesus to today about 2,000 years, so 6,000 years total of man on earth. 6,000 years of struggling, working, tilling the soil, in slavery to sin; we are approaching the 1,000-year period, the millennial kingdom, our rest.

God of Grace / Glad He is Longsuffering / Didn’t Come in Jan 91 / How About You

He is such a God of grace and love. He is also a Holy God therefore His wrath must come to cleanse all unrighteousness, nothing impure can stand before His holiness without being consumed, and cleansing can only come though the washing of the blood of Jesus, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness - blessed be His name. I am so thankful He is longsuffering, that His longsuffering didn't end in January of 1991, for I got saved sometime in February 1991. How about you? Had he came before say 2020, would you be going through the tribulation period right now? I am thankful He is longsuffering; He is such a God of love.

Noah Shut In Based on Decision

Christian I also point this out concerning Noah, God shut Noah and family in based on their decision, and God shut them (the other people) out, based on their decision not to come in while the door was open. God did not put it on Noah to shut the door, and keep it shut, nor does He or will He put that on us, all He says for us is to tell them. I wonder what it must have been like for Noah to hear the pounding on the door. But in context we know they were not pounding to repent, but to escape, for God wishes that none should perish but that all should seek repentance. He says that He takes no pleasure in judgement:

(Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV) "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'

The Lord and His Day - (3:10-18)

Now we go from the Delay, to the Day.

(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.

It is All Going to Burn

Verse 10. It's all going melt. The saying is true, it's all going burn. And so we see this calling of what manner person we should be. Verse three, back in chapter one, he's given us all for life and godliness and therefore the word that's being spoken is for us. And our manner of living is not to be wrapped up in the things that will burn the were to be investing in the things that are everlasting.

2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Colossians 1 / Atomic Glue – Is Jesus

(Colossians 1:17 NIV) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Colossians says Jesus holds it all together, but here we see one day He will just let it go. God is just going to let it go, and the world will dissolve. Scientist do not know what holds atomic matter together, but they agree if it is released the world will dissolve. They call thing that holds matter together, atomic glue, we call Him - Jesus.

Here is Big Bang

Verse 10 is the Big Bang, so yes the evolutionist have that part right, they just have it backwards, it didn't come at the beginning, it will come at the end.

4 Days / Know them to Understand Context

Bible students, there 4 "Days" that are important to understanding so we can be better students of the Bible, and be able to understand the context when we see them throughout the Scriptures. This is a very high level look, each of these days in themselves is a whole semester class in any Bible College;

1.) Day of Man– (Genesis 2:15 & 3:1-24) the day that God turned the world over to man, Adam in the garden. Adam in turn turned it over to Satan when he fell. That is why this world is in such a mess, this is the answer to why people suffer, because this world is not under a theocracy, where God is ruling and reigning. In order for that to happen, God has to cleanse the world, and that means the end of His longsuffering:

(Genesis 2:15 NKJV) Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

(Genesis 3:5 NKJV) "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

(Matthew 13:44 NKJV) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

(Matthew 4:8 NKJV) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

(Matthew 4:9 NKJV) And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

2.) Day of Christ- (Phil 1:6 / 1 Cor 1:7-9 / 2 Thess 2:1-3) when you see this in the Scripture it is not Jesus bringing Judgment, but looking forward to receiving His church. This is looking forward to the rapture (1 Thess 4) the harpzo/rapture. We are snatched away for a 7-year Marriage feast in heaven with Him. The Day of Christ is not His Second Coming, for He will meet us in the air. The Second Coming is when He sets His feet upon the Mount of Olivet's. The moment the Rapture happens, the period of Grace is over:

(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

(1 Corinthians 1:7 NKJV) so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

(1 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV) who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1 NKJV) Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,

(2 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

(2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

(1 Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

3.) Day of the Lord - (Joel 1-3) (Revelation 6-19) (Revelation 6:12-17). This is the period when God pours out His wrath on a Christ rejecting world. It begins sometime after the rapture, It starts with the 7 year Tribulation Period (Revelation 6-19). It will be a horrible time on the earth with plagues, famines, pestilence, just terrible. The Day of the Lord, goes through the tribulation period, sees the 2nd Coming of Christ at the Battle of Armageddon, then into the Millennial Kingdom, and then the dissolving of the heaven and earth:

(Joel 1:15 NKJV) Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.

(Malachi 4:5 NKJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

(Acts 2:20 NKJV) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

(1 Thessalonians 5:2 NKJV) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

(2 Peter 3:10 NKJV) But the day of the Lordwill 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.

(Revelation 6:17 NKJV) "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Question – How Make Decision Then / Friends – How Can He – Career – Finances – Lose it All

The question has to be asked, if it is so hard to make a decision for Christ now, when people worry what their friends will think, or question how can a God of Love allow this, what about my career, my family, my finances; if a person struggles with those things now, how will they have the courage to stand up for them then, especially when you go bankrupt if you don't get the "mark", even beheaded if you do, or imprisoned. How will a person have the courage then? Today is the day;

(2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV) For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Unbeliever Caught off Guard

The Unbeliever will be caught off guard:

(1 Thessalonians 5:1 NKJV) But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:2 NKJV) For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

(1 Thessalonians 5:3 NKJV) 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.

(1 Thessalonians 5:4 NKJV) But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

4.) The Day of God- (2 Peter 3:12). The period of the eternal Kingdom of God, when the New heaven and the New Earth are created (Revelation 21). It is back to the Garden, it is back to a world that is as God intended, no more pain, no more sorrow:

(2 Peter 3:12 NKJV) 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?

(Revelation 21:4 NKJV) "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."

(Revelation 21:5 NKJV) 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."

There is an Overlap

There is an overlap in each of these, meaning the Day of Christ may happen at a specific moment, but it doesn't necessarily mean the Day of the Lord immediately begins. The debate goes on as to when the earth is dissolved (Day of the Lord or Day of God, but it is really a mute point, the earth and heavens are dissolved, and a new earth and heaven are created and into the perfect state man goes forever, and ever.

Thief in Night

The Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, so then does the rapture for it precedes this terrible time upon the earth. The day of the Rapture, nobody knows:

(2 Peter 3:11 NKJV) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

We are in the Middle of the Story – Thus Peace Knowing the End

verse 11. The Lord gives us a place of peace by telling us our place that we're in the middle of the story. And we know that we are because he's telling us where the end of the story is. And knowing the end of the story brings us into the great peace. Cause I don't have to wonder, I don't have to worry. I know how it ends and therefore I can live in my peace and my place in this story and total power and peace because I know I won't be surprised in the end how it all plays out. And especially that I'm going see him face to face. That's the ultimate end peace of all of this.

Key to Life – Live Backwards

The key to life, live life backwards. Live life with eternity in mind, where will I be spending the next million of million years.

If Believe – Determine Way we Live

If we truly believe these verses, then it should determine the way we live. It will not be just an intellectual concept, but a life mission:

(1 John 3:2 NKJV) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

(1 John 3:3 NKJV) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Be Blunt / Not Just Profession – it is Life

Let me be blunt, if you are living in fornication today, drunkardness, sodomy, stealing money, beating you wife, living contrary to the Word of God, then you don't believe this. Back to 1 John 3. And, if you can live it with no remorse or conviction of sin, I would be very concerned if I was you. Salvation is not just a profession, it is a life.

(2 Peter 3:12 NKJV) 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?

(2 Peter 3:13 NKJV) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Watching – Waiting - Working

We are to be watching, waiting and working while we are here.

Righteousness will be at Home

Don't you look forward to that day when righteousness is at home here on earth? When righteousness, integrity, purity are no longer viewed as strange, but it is normal. Where people love one another, care about each other, where love reigns supremely.

New Heaven – New Earth / We will be There – Let There be Light

I like this, a new heaven, and a new earth. Christian check this out, we will be there this time when He says, "Let there be Light", it will be Genesis 1 all over again, but this time we will be there.

(2 Peter 3:14 NKJV) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

Only through Jesus can we be found without spot and blameless.

(2 Peter 3:15 NKJV) 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,

Nero Persecution / Remember these Words

V15 – longsuffering - The people that this epistle was written to were suffering, under persecution form Nero, being lit on fire, feed to the lions, and Peter says hang in there, He has His eye on you.

Beloved Brother Paul

Peter calls Paul the beloved brother. And let's not forget what Paul wrote in Galatians, that he rebuked Peter publicly for hypocrisy and Peter was fully in the wrong. And yet what we read here is that Peter's holding no root of bitterness. He is showing no resentfulness towards Paul, if anything, as he calls him the beloved brother. We're seeing that Peter was willing to be corrected even as great as he was as an apostle, yet he was willing to be corrected so that he might become more like Christ.

Galatians 2:11–13 (NKJV) 11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

What Peter did was wrong. And we see another great lesson there in that we're all in this place of air and wrong and guilt, and yet it'll just be humble and lowly the Lord will use it to take us into even more greatness. Because here's Peter, however many years this is 15, 20 years later since that time that we read in Galatians here he is fulfilling his call teaching the word of God as Jesus would say, do you love me? Feed my sheep. And it's a shame because so many people don't finish their calling because of root of bitterness. Someone has offended them and they'd rather just go and become nothing. They'd rather just go and sulk or they'd rather nullify their ministry rather than doing what Peter does and just repent and go on to great things that the Lord has called.

(2 Peter 3:16 NKJV) 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.

Paul’s Writing

If you’ve ever read Romans 9-11, or 2 Thessalonians 2, or 1 Corinthians 11 you too may’ve concluded Paul was difficult to understand. Don’t worry, you’re in good company, Peter

thought so too. Paul got complicated.But notice Peter equates Paul’s writings to the rest of the Bible. He believed Paul’s writings were inspired. He says, “as they do also (in) the rest of the Scriptures.” This is important. Peter had no doubt Paul’s letters should be included in the

sacred canon of God’s Word.

(2 Peter 3:17 NKJV) 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;

False Teachers – Chapter 2

Peter referring back to the false teachers:

· They covet you for personal gain.

· They do it to justify their personal life of sin.

· They lay the same doctrine besides yours, but twist it from there

Verse 17, one of two exhortations that Peter says, the end of his life, knowing he will soon see the Lord face to face and die, the martyr's death. And he says to the people, remain steadfast. Don't let the pressures of the persecution, don't let the false teachers keep you from remaining steadfast.

Watch Out for Them / Wont Lose Salvation – But Will Lose

Watch out for them, they are heading for destruction, you stick to the Word. Verse 17, you won't lose your salvation, but you will lose.

(2 Peter 3:18 NKJV) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

2nd Exhortation – Keep Growing

Verse 18, the second exhortation, keep growing in your walk, in your knowledge of the Lord. Don't let circumstances, don't let hard times, don't let pressures from the outside make you stop. You keep pushing. As our brother Paul would say, reaching for the high calling of Christ Jesus, regardless of what this world throws, may we be found faithful. May we be found, bringing Him glory. May we be found bringing Him honor. May we be found a people who are not like anything else or anyone else in this world. We are not like anyone. We are his chosen, redeemed, and purchased for his own special people

Ends with Theme

Peter ends with the theme of this book, Peter closes by repeating his theme. Here’s how we can mature in Christ: Let’s guard against error and grow in grace and knowledge.

(2 Peter 1:2 NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

(2 Peter 1:3 NKJV) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need