November 4
“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. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons 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 dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 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,” 2 Peter 3:10-15.
The apostle Peter continues to write about what will happen when Jesus returns to this earth, as the angels said He would when He ascended into heaven. The angels said to the disciples, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven,” Acts 1:11. The certainty of Christ coming again on Judgment Day is clearly established in Holy Scripture. We should be prepared for His coming. When will that day come?
Peter wrote, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” The Lord Jesus said, “As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be,” Matthew 24:27. On another occasion, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son (in the state of humiliation), but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is,” Mark 13:31-33. The evangelist John wrote, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him,” Revelation 1:7. Speaking to the people in Athens, the apostle Paul said, “(God) has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained,” Acts 17:31.
The world will be destroyed by fire. “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 . . . The heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.” Literally, we are living on a powder-keg, and God will light the fuse! Peter was moved to ask, “What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?” We should be standing firm in our faith, trusting and believing that Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior, who fulfilled the Commandments in our place, took upon Himself the sins of all people, and paid the price for our salvation with the shedding of His holy, precious blood on Calvary’s cross. We have God’s invitation and promise, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31.
Peter adds, “We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” There are three places in the Bible where this promise is given, to which Peter refers: Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22, and Revelation 21:1. The new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells is the place to which Jesus ascended to prepare a place for all believers in Him as God’s Son and the only Savior from sin, death, and the devil – the place where, “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 21:4.
Peter says that God, in His patience, is waiting for the last of the elect to be brought by the Holy Spirit to a knowledge of salvation.
Dear God, in Your love, mercy, and patience, keep us in the faith in Jesus as Your Son and our only Savior. Amen.