2 Peter 3:10-18

10: 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.
11: Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people 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 destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
13: But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14: Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
15: 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,
16: 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.
17: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
18: but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

*** 

Peter concluded his letter, and discussion of the Lord’s return, by saying that the day of the Lord will come suddenly—like a thief in the night. Jesus spoke of this also (Matthew 24:42-44). Peter described the event saying the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

He asked the question—since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people should you be? How should we conduct ourselves? The knowledge of what is to come and how it will end should cause all of us to have a healthy fear of the Lord. Peter said we would be, "Looking for and hastening the coming," of the day. We look forward to—not the destruction—but the promise of new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells. 

Peter's wording, "Hastening the coming," tells us that we have an influence on the timing of the day. We have a part to play, especially in preparation for it and doing the work of His kingdom as we are each called to do. Revelation 22:20 gives a proper response to the words, “Yes, I am coming quickly,” which is, “Amen. Come Lord Jesus.”

Peter urged his readers to be diligent while we wait for the Lord's coming, so when He comes, we may be found to be in peace, spotless, and blameless. His patience, which may seem like delay, is to bring salvation to more people. (2 Peter 3:9). Peter spoke kindly of Paul, saying he wrote to them according to the wisdom given to him. Some things he wrote were hard to understand and the untaught and unstable distorted them like they did the rest of the Scripture. In this, Peter acknowledged Paul’s writings to be “Scripture,” while warning them to be aware of those who distort these teachings--to be on guard, so they would not be not carried off into error. Instead, he encouraged them to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.


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