Looking for the Lord's Coming

Introduction

Peter admonishes us to “look for and hasten the coming of the day of God” - 2 Peter 3:12

As we studied on Sunday, the day of judgment will be a day of doom and retribution for those who have lived wickedly, but it is also a day of relief and comfort for the godly.

Peter explains why there will be a day of the Lord — a day when God will judge the world — and destroy it.

First, it will be a day of...

Judgment: Some Will Doubt the Lord’s Coming (2 Pt. 3:3-7)

Peter’s second letter is a reminder to Christians of some of the things they had been taught by the prophets and apostles - 2 Peter 3:1-2

Some mockers will seek to discredit God’s judgment upon the world - 2 Peter 3:3-4

They will deny God’s judgment because of their own sin - v. 3

They will deny God’s judgment because everything continues as it always has, so they say - v. 4

Naturalists and evolutionists end up making the same sort of mistake. They assume that the world in its present form will just evolve and never be destroyed, unless we humans destroy it.

Full preterists/AD 70 doctrine argue that the world will not end. They are making the same fundamental mistake that these mockers made.

Nevertheless, God will destroy the world, no matter what these mockers and unbelievers say - 2 Peter 3:5-6

“It escapes their notice...” - v. 5

This is either willful ignorance or blatant dishonesty.

God created the world by His word - v. 5

The creation occurred at God’s word, and so will the judgment.

The future judgment is just as certain as the creation! - v. 6; Genesis 6:5-7, 11-13

The word of God is preserving this world for a future judgment - 2 Peter 3:7

The “present heavens and earth” are being reserved for fire and kept for judgment - v. 7; cf. Genesis 1:1

Peter’s argument goes back to the creation of the world. His use of “heavens and earth” are used in the same way as Genesis uses it. The heavens and earth are speaking of the physical, material, and created world.

This world is reserved for destruction and fire - v. 7

Second, until the judgment occurs, it will be an opportunity for repentance...

Repentance: God’s Patience is a Time for Repentance (2 Pt. 3:8-9)

These people who are mocking the fact that God will judge the world in the future by appealing to “things are continuing just as they always have” are missing the whole point: God is patient!

Denying the future judgment is a denial of the patience, love, and longsuffering of God.

Denying the future judgment is a denial of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It might have “escaped their notice” that God has previously brought judgment upon the world, but Peter says “do not let this one fact escape your notice...” - 2 Peter 3:5, 8

The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promises. Any perceived slowness on God’s part is a misunderstanding of God’s character - 2 Peter 3:9

God has promised destruction of the ungodly - v. 7

But God does not want anyone to perish - v. 9

God’s patience is an opportunity for repentance and salvation - 2 Peter 3:9, 15

Third, the day of judgment will be a day of destruction...

Destruction: The Earth Will Be Destroyed (2 Pt. 3:10-12)

The day of the Lord is going to happen. It will come like a thief. It will be at a time that has been unannounced - 2 Peter 3:10

The heavens will pass away - cf. Genesis 1:1

The elements — the most basic and elementary building blocks of life — will be destroyed.

The earth will be burned up - cf. Genesis 1:1

These things will be burned up and destroyed - 2 Peter 3:10-11

The concept of these things being destroyed is not unnatural or foreign to us or to the Scriptures - Hebrews 1:10-12; Psalm 102:25-27

This world wears out and wears down. With every year and every season, there is planting, growth, harvesting, and dying (e.g., leaves on a tree — bud in the spring and die in the fall/winter).

Our bodies wear down, tear apart, and grow old.

It’s 2nd law of thermodynamics — energy winds down.

God never promised that He would allow the earth to always remain. He promised to never destroy the entire world by water - Genesis 9:13-15

At the judgment day, the world will be destroyed by fire (not water).

The judgment and coming of the Lord will usher in a new era of righteousness! This is why we should look forward to that great day!

Righteousness: The New Heavens and New Earth (2 Pt. 3:13-16)

Peter is very clear: the world will be punished because of the wickedness committed by ungodly people - 2 Peter 3:7

People are so caught up in social justice and we forget that God is going to hold every form of ungodliness and injustice accountable.

There will be justice — the best kind of justice — divine justice!

For people who deny the existence of God or the existence of hell, but clamor for the cause of social justice miss out on the God who will right all wrongs and hold the lawless under account.

Peter’s point in all of this is: Christians must be striving to live godly and righteous lives - 2 Peter 3:11, 13-14

We are called to be slaves of righteousness - Romans 6:16-18

Our conduct is to be holy and in the same character as God - 1 Peter 1:13-16

According to God’s promises and word, there will be a new heavens and a new earth for us to dwell in - 2 Peter 3:13

This is not a renewal of this present earth. The world will be burned up with every element being destroyed.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the saved will dwell on the earth in a renewed paradise of God. Many people, even in the church are teaching something very similar.

It will be “new” in a qualitatively different way (new creatures, new covenant, etc.). It will be far superior to the world old heavens and earth, where ungodliness may exist. No hint of sin or wickedness will be there.

The new heavens and new earth will be a place where we have direct access to the throne of God and the Lord Jesus Christ - Revelation 21:1, 3; 22:2-4

Righteousness is the rule of the new heavens and new earth because it is where God dwells!

Conclusion