08. Eternal Living... NOW!

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Consider the events that are still to come with me… (Slide of end time events…)

At any moment Christ will come for His Bride and we will be caught up in the air with Him (The Rapture)

The Greek word from this term “rapture” is derived appears in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, translated “caught up.” The Latin translation of this verse used the word rapturo. The Greek word it translates is harpazo, which means to snatch or take away.

Then there will be a season of God pouring out His Wrath

This will be for Seven Years

During this time Satan rules through the one called the Anti-christ

This is what Daniel referred to as the 70th week

THEN is the 2nd Coming of Christ…

He comes with a sword in His mouth (the power of His Word)

He rides a White horse victorious!!!

It is at this time Christ will sit on the throne of David and rule here on earth for 1000 years

Satan is bound and thrown into the bottomless pit

Perfect ruler, perfect governance, no satan and man will still choose to sin and disobey God

At the end of the 1000 years God deals with sin in His final Judgement!!!

Satan, death, hades are thrown into the lake of fire

The earth is judged, purified/destroyed with fire! verse 7

There will be a new heaven and earth! Revelation 21 / Matthew 24

God Is Coming!

It is like “a thief in the night”

Paul used this verbiage with these same people when he wrote 1 Thessalonians 5

Peter here in this passage states that Paul’s writings are scripture!

Some of it difficult to understand… and more dangerous, it was being twisted!

Peter understands that what he is writing to them and what Paul wrote… is scripture! Just as if Christ Himself had said it...

Jesus used it describing the next time He would come back Matthew 24

John uses this term when he writes in Revelation 3; 6

Peter states here “WILL COME” this is not a maybe… it is going to happen

False teachers state otherwise

Time no matter how long does not negate this fact

But it will be when it is least expected

God Will Judge!

Consider Peter’s description here of the judgment to come...

Pass away with a roar

destroyed with intense heat

earth and works burned up

heavens destroyed by burning

elements melt with INTENSE heat

There is a purification that will occur here...

Mark this… nothing will escape His judgment even the works of sin will be burned up!

This judgement is what the lost are facing, the mockers, the sinners around you in your neighborhood, at your workplace...

Certain days we pleasure in thinking of the judgement that will come and forget the heart of God… 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

How Should We Live NOW!?

As I initially thought about God’s patience I thought about those who were still lost in sin (which He is)… BUT notice it says “patient towards you” … He waited for you! Don’t be selfish...

Peter challenges his readers to consider what they are living for...

If this world is going to be destroyed, burned up, if it is temporary… THEN

What does this mean for you? How should you live?

Godly lives, holy in our conduct!!!

Peter is coming full circle in his argument and challenge to his readers… consider his mandate as he started 2 Peter 1:3

2 Peter 1:3 NASB95

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

God has and continues to EQUIP His people to live as they should… the TRUE KNOWLEDGE of Christ is what equips us!

This true knowledge is found in His Word

This is why Peter is challenging us to GROW!

Holy Conduct… Peter spelled it out describing this in 2 Peter 1:5-8;10

2 Peter 1:5–8 NASB95

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10 NASB95

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

Our mindset and life should reflect our desire for the Lord’s return.

Those who do not have a regard for the future things of God, will not live well in the present.

Peter states here that living a life this way hastens His coming...

How? I don’t know, sharing Christ, living Holy lives, living for eternity rather than today… Somehow this speeds the process

God still knows the exact day and moment… we don’t and somehow we can hasten it.

Possible through prayer as well, lining ourselves up with God and His will and purpose

Matthew 6:10 in the Lord’s prayer Jesus taught his followers to pray for the coming kingdom

The believers maturity and growth brings with it true hope...

In 2 Peter 3:14 Peter makes the assumption they will do as he has instructed and has seen some do...

Since you look for these things… when He comes here is how He should find you!

Peace… we have a peace knowing what is to come and knowing our standing with Him

Spotless and blameless… this is not perfection rather our standing and lifestyle, testimony.

One more time we see God’s heart for waiting, patience and salvation

Peter finishes our passage today with the stern reminder not to twist the precious Words of God, the Scriptures… the one who does could be sealing his own demise and destruction.

God has said He is coming and He will

There will be a coming judgement, where do you stand with God

Are you living this temporary life, with a maturity that points others to Christ giving true hope for things to come