Precept Austin

2 Peter 3:11-13 Commentary

Updated: Sun, 08/02/2026 - 13:14 By admin
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2 Peter 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed (PPPNPG) in this way, what sort of people ought (3SPAI) you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: touton autos panton luomenon (PPPNPG) potapous dei (3SPAI) huparchein (PAN) humas en hagias anastrophais kai eusebeiais,

Amplified: Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities, (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

NET: Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, (NET Bible)

NLT: Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! (NLT - Tyndale House)

Phillips: In view of the fact that all these things are to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be? Surely men of good and holy character, (Phillips: Touchstone)

Wuest: All these things in this manner being in process of dissolution, what exotic persons is it necessary in the nature of the case for you to be in the sphere of holy behaviors and pieties

Young's Literal: All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons doth it behoove you to be in holy behaviours and pious acts?

SINCE ALL THESE THINGS ARE TO BE DESTROYED IN THIS WAY: Touton autos panton luomenon (PPPNPG):

As elsewhere in the NT, Peter reminds his readers of the strong link between Christian hope and daily conduct.

All these things - What things? "the earth and its works will be burned up" (2Pe 3:10+)

Are to be destroyed (3089) (luo) literally means to untie or loose from ropes or straps. Luo means to cause something to cease to exist or come to an end and includes the idea of setting something free.

Luo - 42x in 39v -NAS = annuls(1), break(1), breaking(1), broke down(1), broken(4), destroy(2), destroyed(3), loose(2), loosed(2), putting an end to(1), release(1), released(7), removed(1), take off(1), unbind(1), untie(8), untied(1), untying(4).

Matt 5:19+; Matt 16:19+; Matt 18:18+; Matt 21:2+; Mark 1:7+; Mark 7:35+; Mark 11:2, 4f+; Luke 3:16+; Luke 13:15f+; Luke 19:30f, 33+; John 1:27+; John 2:19+; John 5:18+; John 7:23+; John 10:35+; John 11:44+; Acts 2:24+; Acts 7:33+; Acts 13:25, 43+; Acts 22:30+; Acts 27:41+; 1 Cor 7:27+; Eph 2:14+; 2 Pet 3:10ff+; 1 John 3:8+; Rev 1:5+; Rev 5:2+; Rev 9:14f+; Rev 20:3, 7+.

In an example of the literal use of luo, after Lazarus had returned to life, Jesus instructed them

Unbind (luo - aorist imperative = do this immediately) him and let him go (Jn 11:44+)

The universe is pictured as "unraveling at the seams" so to speak. In Colossians Paul teaches that…

He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Col 1:17+)

In 1 Samuel we read…

He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them. (1Samuel 2:8+) (Comment: Although some think "pillars" refers to world leaders, others favor this as a reference to the cosmos and God's sustaining power, an interpretation I favor - see Ps 75:3 "The earth and all who dwell in it melt; It is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah." See Spurgeon's comment)

Luo is used of breaking the seal of the book in Re 5:2+, and of releasing the devil for a short time in Re 20:3+.

Three times in three verses Peter uses luo to picture the dissolution of the old heavens and earth, purging them from sin and corruption (Romans 8:20, 21+) and preparing the way for the perfect, sinless, incorruptible (1Peter 1:5+) new heavens and new earth.

WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE : potapous:

HOW SHOULD WE
THEN LIVE?

Prophecy promotes purity - The question I am frequently asked is "Why study prophecy? Prophecy is just a focus on sensationalism and just leads to strife and discord. Is it really practical? Peter would answer a resounding "Yes!" Beloved, you can mark it down, what (Who) you are looking for will strongly influence what (how) you are living for! (See 1Jn 3:2,3+) If you are a believer and are focused on this world which is passing away (and even its lusts! 1Jn 2:17+), then you are living a "dying life!" God wants you to be watchful, ever mindful that He might tell His Son today to "Go get Your Bride." Paul said that believers are the only people who really know how to live in the temporal word for "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2Cor 4:18+) This begs the question what are you living for… for time or Eternity?

What manner of persons (4217) (potapous) does not introduce a question, but an exclamation of astonishment like "how astonishingly excellent you ought to be". In light of the promised judgment, Peter challenged his readers to live in keeping with their Christian hope -- allowing their anticipation of Christ's return to impact their daily behavior."

Jamieson and Fausset phrase the exclamation

How watchful, prayerful, zealous!

The sense is of Peter's exhortation is…

“Since all these things will pass away and since you are entering the glorious eternal state, consider the type of persons you ought to be! Or this way as a more direct declaration: "How astoundingly, how astonishingly excellent you ought to be."

OUGHT YOU TO BE: dei (3SPAI) huparchein (PAN) humas:

Ought (1163) (dei) refers to obligation including the idea of owing a debt to someone.

Dei describes that behavior and lifestyle (present tense) which is necessary in view of the truth about the end of all things. Paul in a similar way when confronted with the greatness of the gospel and the lostness of mankind, felt

"under obligation (indebted = dei) both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish." and so he was "eager to preach the gospel" (see note Ro 1:14-15).

Are you like Paul? Do you sense an obligation to live with an eternal perspective? "If you don't, you should" Peter is saying.

The Living Bible conveys the idea:

"And so since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives we should be living!" “How astoundingly excellent you ought to be!”

Peter has issued us all a straightforward challenge to conform our lives to God’s holy standard in light of the certainty of coming judgment (cf. 2Co 5:9+, 2Co 5:10+).

Hiebert adds that the verb "ought"

"indicates the abiding obligation resting upon believers to manifest moral maturity as an abiding possession."

Be (5225) (huparcho) is distinct from the mere verb of existence (einai), for huparcho denotes a state or condition in which one is supposed to be.

Huparcho is in the present tense indicating that these qualities are to be constantly present. Scoffers, questioning the Lord’s coming with its ensuing judgment on them, lead ungodly lives. By contrast, Jesus’ followers are to continually be in a state or condition of holiness and godliness.

In his first epistle Peter addressed his readers as "those who reside as aliens" thus describing them as sojourners, visitors here for a short time, waiting for the culmination of our citizenship in heaven (1Peter 1:1+). Later in the letter Peter exhorts them writing…

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. (see note 1 Peter 2:11)

Heaven is our real home and we need to live accordingly.

Since heaven is our present hope and the new creation our eternal home,
these truths should motivate our present conduct. 
Let what you are looking for impact
Who you are living for. 

IN HOLY CONDUCT: en hagiais anastrophais:

Related Passages; 

1 Peter 1:15-17+  but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”  17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in (locative of sphere = indicates the realm, atmosphere, domain, or sphere within which something is true or takes place) fear (see fear of the Lord) during the time of your stay on earth;

1 Peter 2:12+ Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

SAINTS SHOULD LIVE
HOLY LIVES

In (en) - In the "sphere" of holiness (locative of sphere). The "air" you breathe is holy. The path you take is holy. The power you depend on is holy (The Holy Spirit). Walk in holy conduct!

In light of the certainty of God's judgment, two writers, Peter and Paul, admonish believers to live godly and holy lives.

Holy Conduct is God's will for His children. Like Father, like son. In 1Thessalonians 4:3 Paul writes that…

this is the will of God, your sanctification (holiness); that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality (see note 1Thessalonians 4:3)

BE HOLY:
SEPARATED NOT STRANGE!

Holy (40) (hagios) means set apart, sanctified, consecrated. Hagios is translated "saint" in many NT passages. Every saint's position in Christ is holy, but here Peter calls for the experiential holiness. He is saying let your practice match your position.

Hagios describes not just who we are now in Christ but how we should then live — set apart from sin and from evil and dedicated unto God.

If we really believe what Peter has just written, it will be reflected in the way we live, and the way we live gets down to our personal choices: What I will do with my time, my $$, etc (realizing of course that none of these things are mine but His and that we are now acting as stewards who will one day be held accountable in regard to how we handled the Master's riches!)

So Peter is trying to MOTIVATE us because he knows that this world and ALL (did you catch that? ALL.) is passing away soon to be dissolved in a roaring flame sent by God… the only fruit that saints can be assured will endure this holy fire is the fruit borne by abiding in the Holy Vine, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conduct (391) (anastrophe from verb anastrepho) refers to how we conduct ourselves with a focus on our everyday behavior.

Conduct refers to our external actions and behavior whereas the next word godliness describes an internal heart attitude of reverence.

In classical Greek, the verb (anastrepho from aná =again, back + strepho = turn) meant among other things to turn one’s self about, to turn back, round, or about, to dwell in a place. The noun anastrophe, means a turning back or about, occupation in a thing, a mode of life or behavior. Note that the ideas of “a mode of life” and “one’s behavior” are derived from the fact of one’s activity.

Thayer says that the related verb form (anastrepho) means “to conduct or behave one’s self, to walk,” the latter meaning not referring here to the physical act of walking but to the act of determining our course of conduct and the carrying out of that determined course of action. In the biblical use of the word, the moral and spiritual aspect of one’s manner of life is in view here in 2 Peter.

Saints are set apart for God's purposes and should be different but not odd. If we are (holy, wholly) different, we will attract people (1Pe 2:13+ ; 1Pe 3:15+). If we are odd, we will repel them.

After presenting the truths about future events, Peter now exhorts the saints to a quality of life that should characterize those who are " looking upward". A similar "pattern" is seen In his first epistle, where after presenting the great exposition on the truth about our salvation in 1Pe 1:1-12+, Peter exhorts his readers -

"gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1Pe 1:13+)

Now with minds firmly fixed on "future grace", he calls for them to manifest a behavior congruent with their belief -

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (1Pe 1:14+; 1Pe 1:15,16+).

Are you investing in a world that will soon be burned or in a world that will endure eternally and is totally unaffected by the vagaries of the stock market? See commentary on Mt 6:21+.

John Piper adds…

I saw that old black plaque with the silver chain and white writing almost every day while I was growing up. It hung in our stairway in Greenville. Now it hangs in our kitchen for our sons to see. It says,

Only one life, 'twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last.

That's the point of 2Pe 3:11+: everything is going to be burned up but the fruits of holiness. A life lived for the world will go naked into judgment; a life lived for Christ will be laden with eternal riches. When the main doors are opened at the Metrodome you get blown out with a tremendous gust of wind because of the air pressure inside. Picture a person at the first Metrodome tropical bird show, who spends all day collecting bird feathers in the dome. And then with the biggest and best collection of bird feathers in his arms (of which he is very proud) he comes to the door of the dome. The door opens and his feathers are blown all over 5th Street and Chicago Avenue. Ridiculous? Yes. But it is a flattering picture of the person who tries to build meaning for his life with money or professional reputation or art or hobbies. It' s all going to be blown away and he will stand before Christ utterly shamed. The lesson is this: put your life under the spotlight of eternity; assess it from God's vantage point. And devote yourself to what will last (cf. Mt 6:19, 20, 21+ 1Cor 7:31+ 1Jn 2:17+). " (Click entire sermon)

Related Resource:

AND GODLINESS: ka eusebeiais:

GODLINESS IS
GODLIKENESS

What is "Godlikeness"? In one word "Jesus" - Fix your eyes on Jesus! (Heb 12:1+, cf 1Cor 11:1+, 1Pe 2:21+, 1Jn 2:6+)

Godliness (2150) (eusebeia from eu = good + sebomai = worship) means literally "good worship". Eusebeia reflects an attitude of one's life to live with a sense of His presence and a desire motivated by love ( = obedience Jn 14:15+) to be pleasing to Him in all things we say, do and think. The godly man lives above the petty things of life, the passions and pressures that control the lives of others. The godly man seeks to do the will of God (Romans 12:2+) and, as he does, he seeks the welfare of others, making the kind of decisions that are right and noble, not taking the "easy" path simply to avoid either pain or trial, and doing what is right because it is right and because it is the will of God. That's Biblical godliness!

Godliness (eusebeia) means literally to worship well and describes a person whose life is devoted to pleasing God and is lived out as an act of worship (not just a "Sunday type experience"). (2Peter 1:4+)

Eusebeia - 15x in 15v - Acts 3:12+; 1Ti 2:2+; 1Ti 3:16+; 1Ti 4:7, 8+; 1Ti 6:3, 5, 6, 11+; 2Ti 3:5+; Titus 1:1+; 2Pet 1:3, 6, 7+; 2Pet 3:11+

Eusebeia depicts a life characterized by a personal piety which reverently seeks to do what is pleasing to God. Thus the saint's lives must present a marked contrast to that which the false teachers permitted and practiced. Everything material has the stamp of oblivion upon it. The things of which men boast, the things for which they live are passing things at best. To live for material things is to live for the temporary. Common sense tells us to turn from the tinsel and toys of this world and live in holiness and godliness.

In light of the truth of the Day of God, we must make a choice of living for eternity rather than time, of emphasizing the spiritual rather than the material, of choosing the permanent over the passing.

John MacArthur has an excellent summary of the practical meaning of holy conduct and godliness…

Holy conduct refers to action, godliness refers to attitude. Holy conduct refers to the way I live my life, godliness refers to the spirit of reverence within me by which I live my life. Holy conduct refers to that which rules my behavior, and godliness refers to that which rules my heart. And so he is saying what kind of person ought you to be in heart and in behavior, in motive and in action, in attitude and in duty. Click below for two full messages on this vitally important topic (and other related messages)

John Walvoord: "The early church lived in constant expectation of the coming of the Lord for His church." 

Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ's first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ's second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ--an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ's first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second! - Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 27.

Beloved, what (Who) you are looking for
will (should) radically impact what (Who) you are living for!

So what Peter is describing here is what believers need to be in heart (cf Pr 4:23+), attitude, motive, behavior, action, and duty.

It is also notable that holy conduct and godliness are plural in the Greek which conveys the idea that these attributes extend to all aspects of our life.

The BOOK you are writing  (J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"You ought to live holy and godly lives." 2 Peter 3:11+

The only way to have a stainless and beautiful year at its close—is to keep the days, as they pass, all pure and sweet, with the loveliness of holy, useful living.

It is thus, in little days—that our years come to us. We have but the one small fragment to fill and beautify at a time.

The year is a book, and for each day—one fair white page is opened before us.

And we are artists, whose duty it is to put something beautiful on the page.

Or we are poets, and are to write some lovely thought, some radiant sentence, on each leaf as it lies open before us.

"That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:2+

Leaning Towers - The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Scientists travel yearly to measure the building's slow descent. They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch a year, and is now seventeen feet out of plumb. They further estimate that by the year 2007 the 810-year-old tower will have leaned too far and will collapse onto the nearby ristorante, where scientists now gather to dis­cuss their findings. Quite significantly, the word pica means "marshy land," which gives some clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed.

We know that some things, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, are destined to collapse. But what about the Golden Gate Bridge, the World Trade Center Towers, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the Rocky Mountains? Like that tower, they too are resting on "soft founda­tions." They too will fall one day—at a time already determined on God's calendar.

Maybe it doesn't seem pressing because we think we'll pass from this earthly scene long before that great judgment day comes. That's not how Peter responded. The inevitable collapse of all things made him think about the eternal society built on righteousness and truth, a society that would continue, even after Gibraltar is gone. It moti­vated him to build his life on Christ, the only foundation that will never crumble. —M. R. De Haan II (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Our main business in this world
is to secure an interest in the next

C H Spurgeon - The world on fire

‘Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.’ 2 Peter 3:11+

I saw yesterday with much solemnity of mind the spot where the Bishop of Winchester met with sudden death. A cross is cut in the turf to mark the place. The spot is in the midst of the most lovely scenery conceivable. I have often walked hard by, full of delight at the fair prospect. It is a spot too fair to be darkened by so dark a cloud; death seems hardly congruous with the beauty which everywhere charms the eye. I could only imagine, if anyone knew that he should die at that moment, what would be his conversation. What would be the conversation of a man of God riding over the downs, who expected to die in the valley below? Such ought to be our constant conversation. We should live always as if we might die in a moment. Mr Wesley once said, ‘Now, if I knew I should die tomorrow morning, I would do exactly what I have planned to do. I should take the class-meeting at such an hour, preach at such an hour and be up at such a time in the morning to pray.’ That good man’s life was spent in prospect of sudden departure, and it was therefore active and holy. Is ours the same? The motive for holiness becomes stronger still if the thought is not merely that I shall die, but that ‘all these things’ around me ‘shall be dissolved’. That breezy down, that towering hill, yonder lofty trees, this overhanging cliff, these rich meadows, the ripening harvest, all will in a moment be in a blaze. Am I ready to be caught away to be with my Lord in the air? Or shall I be left to perish amidst the conflagration? How ought I to live? How ought I to stand as it were on tip-toe, ready when he shall call me, to be away up into the glory, far off from this perishing world!

Spurgeon - 3:11 “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness.” Christ is returning. The King is on his way and almost here. He is at the door. What manner of people ought we to be? How can we sin against One who is so close at hand? The dissolving of all things around us suggests our looking away to eternal things. The motive for holiness becomes stronger if the thought is not merely that I will die but that all things around me will be dissolved. It makes us look on eternal things with a more fixed eye and have a more stern resolve to live for God.

Billy Graham - A Spiritual Virus

  What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.  2 PETER 3:11+ NIV

Do you remember the last time you had the flu?

You probably felt terrible—and with good reason. That flu virus had invaded your whole body, and it made you weak all over. That is what sin is like. Sin is like a spiritual virus that has invaded our lives, making us morally and spiritually weak, and we will never be completely free of it this side of eternity. The only sinless person who ever lived was Jesus Christ.

Why can’t we be sinless in this life? Why can’t we become perfect? One reason is because sin has weakened us so much that we don’t have the strength to overcome its power. Sin is like a deadly disease that infects every part of us: our body, our mind, our emotions, our relationships, our motives—everything.

But when we come to Christ, another spiritual power takes up residence within us: the Holy Spirit. So take sin seriously; be on guard against it, resist its tug, and fight its power. But most of all, take the Holy Spirit seriously; call on Him to help you overcome sin’s power and live a holy and godly life.

A W Tozer - THE END OF THE AGE

All these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be? 2 Peter 3:11+

Everywhere around us we are experiencing a great new wave of humanity’s interest in spiritism and devil worship. I must take this as one of the signs that God’s age of grace and mercy is approaching the end point. It tells us that the time may be near when God proclaims: “I have seen enough of mankind’s sin and rebellion. It is time for the trumpets of judgment to sound!”

If we are willing to add the appeals from the book of Revelation to the weight of the other Scriptures, we discover God saying to us that the earth on which we live is not self-explanatory and certainly not self-sufficient.

Although the earth on which we spin is largely populated by a rebel race, it had a divine origin. Now God is about to enforce His claim upon it and judge those who are usurpers. He is saying that there is another and better world, another kingdom, that is always keeping an eye on the world we inhabit!

John Butler - PURPOSE OF PROPHECY 2 Peter 3:11 - Sermon Starters

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11+).

The important subject of this text is prophecy and its affect upon our everyday life.

FIRST—THE AWARENESS OF PROPHECY

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved.”

Peter says his readers were well aware of the fact that judgment was coming and the world and the works therein were to be burned up. They had paid attention to the instructions given them by the apostles. They knew the details of prophecy. Many pastors wished their people were as well versed in the Scripture as these saints were. It is evident that many of the saints of the first century, early church, knew a lot more spiritually than folk do today. We marvel every time we read the Thessalonian epistles. Paul was only there three weeks yet the epistle writes about topics many believers today know nothing about. People in the church today know more about the major leagues than the major prophets, they known more about Hollywood stars then Bible characters, and they know more about politics than about prophecy. The spiritual knowledge of the early church saints rebukes the spiritual knowledge of the present day church. I remember in the Chicago church, I pastored, one of the ladies thought Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew each other because they prayed alike. There is the justifiable ignorance of new believers, but this lady had been in the church for years. The problem is that generally new believers are not as ignorant as some of the old believers in the church.

SECOND—THE APPLICATION OF PROPHECY

“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” The word “conversation” means our general behavior which used to be described in the old English as “conversation.” It certainly includes what we term talk today, but it includes a lot more than just talk. It speaks of our entire walk.

• A problem of application. There is an unhealthy interest in prophecy today. It is an interest that delights to know more and more about coming events predicted in Scripture but it uninterested in practical application to everyday living. Some folk will travel for miles to hear a message on prophecy, but will not show up for a revival meeting where the preacher makes applications of the Scripture to life.

• The purpose in application. “What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” Prophetic messages should purify our lives. A prophetic message is not to fill the brain with Bible facts that merely satisfy the curious, but it is to affect our conduct and improve it in holy ways. That may be a new concept for some people, but it is an old philosophy of Scripture. We need to know prophecy, but we also need more purity improvement in our conduct.

James Smith - HURRYING UP THE GLORIOUS TIME 2 PETER 3:10–14+

Introduction. Why doth He tarry, the absent Lord? Oh, why? At Burial Service we pray that “Thou mayest shortly accomplish the number of Thine elect.” Here in our lesson we have one important thought.

1. TWO DAYS (10 and 12).

a. In the verses we have two distinct days mentioned.
b. “The Day of the Lord” and “Day of God” are not the same.
c. The four days:

(i.) Man’s Day (1 Cor. 4:3+, marg.) is the Day of Salvation.
(ii.) Christ’s Day (2 Thess. 2:2+) is the Day of Glorification.
(iii.) Lord’s Day is the Day of Tribulation.
(iv.) God’s Day is the Day of Realization.

2. PETER ON DAY OF LORD.

a. He says it will come as a thief—silently, stealthily, unexpectedly, so far as the world is concerned.
b. “Heavens vanish with crackling roar” (M.).
c. “The stars will be set ablaze and melt” (M.).
d. “Works of man … shall be burned up” (W.).

3. PETER ON DAY OF GOD.

a. The terrors in heaven and earth usher in the Day of God, concluding the Day of the Lord (verse 12).
b. New heavens and new earth (13).
c. Righteousness in heaven and earth.

I. Our Expectation.

1. “Looking for.” “Unto you that look for Him” (Heb. 9:28+).
2. “Expecting” (R.)—that is what “looking for” means. We look not merely out of curiosity, but with great expectancy.
3. What expectations have you?

II. Our Preparation

1. Hurrying up the grand Day of God.
2. Accelerating it by our repentance, prayers, and effort.

3. HOW WE MAY HASTEN.

a. By Holy Living (W., verse 11). “All holy living.”
b. By Godly Conduct (W., verse 11). “And godly conduct”.
c. By Holy Conversation (R.V.). Take care of your speech.
d. By Eagerly Looking (W., verse 12). “Eagerly looking forward.”
e. By a Godly Aim (M.). “You who expect and hasten the advent of the Day of God.” Note (1) Diligence—we shall never be holy without diligence. (2) “Found of Him” (14).

III. Our Becoming Attitude (14).

1. All this is becoming of those looking for the Lord’s Coming.
2. Are you looking forward for His Coming? What effect has that hope had upon you?

There are in Rome twenty-eight marble steps, called the Holy Stairs. Brought from Jerusalem to Rome about a.d. 326, they are said to be the very stairs Jesus climbed when he went before Pontius Pilate. For many the true "holy stairs" are those described in 2 Peter 1:5-7: "Add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." There are eight stairs here, not twenty-eight, but they do lead to blessedness.
   SEE: 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2+, 1 TIMOTHY 4:8+, 1 TIMOTHY 6:11+; 2 PETER 3:11+

Our word thug comes from a secret organization in India. For centuries members committed robbery and murder in the name of their patron goddess, Kali, who required it of them. Every act of violence was preceded by worship, and a share of the goods they got in the robbery was given to the goddess in one of her temples. The organization was finally put down in the first half of the nineteenth century by the British authorities. How strikingly different is Christian faith, teaching giving, not taking; peace, not violence; and generosity, not greed.
   SEE: 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2+, 1 TIMOTHY 4:8+, 1 TIMOTHY 6:11+; 2 PETER 1:5-7+; 2 PETER 3:11+

We associate the Amish with Pennsylvania and Ohio, but surprisingly there's a restaurant in Florida advertising Amish cooking. It has an instructive sign that reads: "It's hard to please God when you're trying to please men."
   SEE: 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2+, 1 TIMOTHY 4:8+, 1 TIMOTHY 6:11+; 2 PETER 1:5-7+; 2 PETER 3:11+

Mark Twain said, "Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest."
   SEE: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1+; EPHESIANS 1:4+; COLOSSIANS 3:12+; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7+; HEBREWS 12:14+; 1 PETER 1:15-16+; 2 PETER 3:11+

A little boy had difficulty pronouncing some words. The word worship was one of them. He said, "We go to church to wash up." We certainly do!
   SEE: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1+; EPHESIANS 1:4+; COLOSSIANS 3:12+; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7+; HEBREWS 12:14+; 1 PETER 1:15-16+; 2 PETER 3:11+

"Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides and following them you reach your destiny."
—Carl Shurz
   SEE: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1+; EPHESIANS 1:4+; COLOSSIANS 3:12+; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7+; HEBREWS 12:14+; 1 PETER 1:15-16+; 2 PETER 3:11+

Holiness Takes Effort
People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated. 

See: 2 Timothy 2:15+; Hebrews 12:14+; 2 Peter 3:11+

Christlikeness
In his powerful book The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul observed that unbelievers often feel uneasy in the presence of an obedient Christian. The holiness of God reflected in a believer's life makes the non-Christian uncomfortable. Sproul then told the following true incident to illustrate his point.
A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, "Hey, what was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?" The pro said with disgust, "I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!" With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, "Was Billy a little rough on you out there?" The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, "No, he didn't even mention religion."
Sproul commented, "Astonishingly, Billy Graham had said nothing about God, Jesus, or religion, yet the pro stomped away after the game accusing Billy of trying to ram religion down his throat." What had happened? Simply this: The evangelist had so reflected Christlikeness that his presence made the pro feel uncomfortable.
I wonder, do unbelievers sense our godly influence? If we are identified with Christ and walk in holiness, they will—before we even mention religion.

See: Hebrews 12:14+; 2 Peter 3:11+

Deficient Vocabulary
The words holiness and sanctification are not prominent in much of Protestant theology. We have tended to speak of justification without a commensurate emphasis on sanctification... Holiness means that one belongs wholly to God. This is also the meaning of sanctification, being set apart as God's own possession. When this begins internally, with the heart, the transformation becomes something that affects the total person. —Myron S. Augsburger in The Christ-Shaped Conscience. Christianity Today, Vol. 37, no. 3.
   See: Leviticus 11:45+; 2 Corinthians 7:1+; Hebrews 12:14+; 2 Peter 3:11+.

James Smith - A SOLEMN QUESTION. "What will ye do in the solemn day?" (Hosea 9:5).

I. The Time. "The solemn day."
1. In the solemn day of affliction.
2. In the solemn day of death.
3. In the solemn day of judgment.
II. The Question. "What will ye do?"
1. Will you deny?
2. Will you flee?
3. Will you resist?

"SEEING THAT ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE DISSOLVED, WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO BE IN ALL HOLY CONVERSATION AND GODLINESS?" (2 Peter 3:11+)

Holiness Is Health
God is holy and holiness (is) the moral condition necessary to the health of his universe... Whatever is holy is healthy,... the holiness of God, the wrath of God, and the health of creation are inseparably united. God's wrath is his utter intolerance of whatever degrades and destroys. He hates iniquity as a mother hated the polio that would take the life of the child. —A. W. Tozer, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 3.
   See: Luke 1:74+; 2 Peter 3:11+; Hebrews 12:14+

Trying Too Hard
Often we fall short of holiness because we strive so diligently for holiness. —Mark Galli, Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 1.
   See: 1 Corinthians 3:15+; 2 Corinthians 7:1+; 2 Peter 3:11+.

In the little Syrian village of Maaloula, the people still speak Aramaic, the language that Jesus spoke. Once they had a good library of Christian books in Aramaic but they were destroyed in a fire a hundred years ago. Now no one there knows how to read Aramaic or how to write it, but they still speak it. We are pleased to know that there are a few people who speak the language Jesus spoke. May there be millions who live the life Jesus lived! That is far, far more important.
   SEE: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1+; EPHESIANS 1:4+; COLOSSIANS 3:12+; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:3-7+; HEBREWS 12:14+; 1 PETER 1:15-16+; 2 PETER 3:11+

These are garments which we should wear in prospect of eternity; these are things which no fire can touch, for holiness and godliness will outlive oven the flames of the last great day.

When a Moslem makes a religious pilgrimage to Mecca, he kisses the Black Stone (the stone that came down from heaven), drinks from the well of Hagar, and throws stones at the three pillars that represent Satan. No doubt Satan is more amused than offended. Certainly he is not wounded. If we want to do battle with evil, we will have to do more than throw stones at pillars. We will have to live holier lives and help others to do the same.
   SEE: EPHESIANS 6:11+; JAMES 4:7+; 1 PETER 5:8-9+; 2 PETER 3:11+

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21+).
 
Junior wanted a dump truck, and he let everyone in the store know it. When his mother said no, the little boy threw a temper tantrum. He howled louder and louder until the embarrassed mother bought the toy. As I watched, I thought of what my mother told me when I was young. "Don't hang your heart on things!" she said. At times I rebelled against that idea, but today I'm deeply grateful for her advice. And I think it should be displayed as a motto in every home.
The apostle Paul warned that the earth and all "the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10+). With this truth in mind, he went on to say, "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? (2 Peter 3:11+). Because material things are transient, we ought to set our affection on "things above" (Col. 3:2+).
 
In a day when we're bombarded as never before by appeals to buy and have, it's difficult, even for believers, to stand firm against an excessive desire for things. Beautiful full-color spreads in magazines, scintillating radio commercials, and persuasive television ads combine to make us feel that we can't get along without certain products.
 
We need to guard ourselves against the tendency to want more and more material possessions. They can become heart hang-ups that draw us away from the Lord. Material values pass away; spiritual values last forever. —R.W.D.
 
Hold lightly to the things of earth but tightly to the things of heaven.

Robert J Morgan - My All in All 

       Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be
       in holy conduct and godliness.       2 Peter 3:11+

I love planet Earth. My favorite spot is atop Roan Mountain in eastern Tennessee, with its far-famed rhododendron gardens, grassy balds, and windswept crags. The Lord created Earth as a dazzling and perfectly designed "MySpace" for humanity. Placing Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He told them to "dress and keep it"—to cultivate and care for it. He wants His natural creation to reflect His glory. Of all people on Earth, then, Christians should appreciate the beauty of this planet, marvel at God's creative genius, and care for what He has entrusted to our keeping.

All Christians are, therefore, ecologists.

But another point must be made. There's an inevitable day of ultimate global warming that cannot be avoided. "The present heavens and earth are held in store for fire.... The Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed" (2 Pet. 3:7, 10+).

Spiritual health depends on knowing what's temporary and what's eternal. God is preparing a new universe, a new earth, and a New Jerusalem (Rev. 21+-22). Our passion should be cast in that direction. And Peter asks a most practical question: Since all these things must be dissolved in this way, what sort of people should we be?

The answer: We should be people of holy conduct and godliness.
 

2 Peter 3:11+ Leaning Towers
Since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be? (2 Peter 3:11+). 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Scientists travel yearly to measure the building's slow descent. They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch a year, and is now seventeen feet out of plumb. They further estimate that by the year 2007 the 810-year-old tower will have leaned too far and will collapse onto the nearby ristorante, where scientists now gather to dis¬cuss their findings. Quite significantly, the word pica means "marshy land," which gives some clue as to why the tower began to lean even before it was completed.

We know that some things, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, are destined to collapse. But what about the Golden Gate Bridge, the World Trade Center Towers, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the Rocky Mountains? Like that tower, they too are resting on "soft founda¬tions." They too will fall one day—at a time already determined on God's calendar.

Maybe it doesn't seem pressing because we think we'll pass from this earthly scene long before that great judgment day comes. That's not how Peter responded. The inevitable collapse of all things made him think about the eternal society built on righteousness and truth, a society that would continue, even after Gibraltar is gone. It moti¬vated him to build his life on Christ, the only foundation that will never crumble. —M. R. De Haan II 

Our main business in this world is to secure an interest in the next 

2 Peter 3:11+ Prediction of the Future 
I am fond of a line from Niels Bohr, the physicist, and have quoted it before. 

"Prediction is a very difficult art," he says, "especially when it involves the future."

Scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center report that one of the largest stars in our galaxy is about to self-destruct. Eta Carinae, which has a mass 100 times greater than that of our sun, is giving signs that its life is about over. Researchers say that it could become a supernova -- a blazing, exploding star -- within the next 10,000 years. What was especially interesting about the Science 81 report was the statement that since light from the star takes 9,000 years to reach the earth, the actual explosion could have already taken place. 

This striking fact reminds me of the nature of biblical prophecy. For example, the predictions found in Revelation 8+ are often written in the past tense. This is done because even though the prophet is writing of a future event, he has already "seen" it. Also, in the mind of God it's as if the events have already happened. Even though Christians differ on the interpretation of today's Scripture, we can definitely say that God's judgment against sin is certain. The outpouring of His anger against those who continually resist Him is so sure that it has been written about in the past tense. This should cause us to reflect with the apostle Peter, who wrote so appropriately, "Seeing, then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness?" (2 Peter 3:11+). As Christians, we know what's ahead for this world, and that knowledge should keep us living close to God. 

David Roper - Back To The Future

Warm-up: 2 Peter 3:1–15+

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? 2 Peter 3:11+

There’s an apocalyptic mood in the air these days. A lot of folks are preoccupied with the future.

Some of it is simple curiosity. They just want to know what’s in the offing. Since, as Charles Kettering said, we expect to spend the rest of our lives in the future, we want to be reasonably sure of what it’s going to be.

Some of it is dread. Wars and rumors of war persist. More and more madmen are poised to blow up our earth. Some wonder if they’re going to get out of the future alive. Even Christians are caught in the tide—judging from the recent spate of books and sermons on the subject.

It concerns me, though, that much of our current preoccupation with future things tends toward end-time scenarios and time tables that go beyond what we know. This is not the emphasis of Scripture.

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy theologizing as much as the next person, but we ought to distinguish between what we know for certain and what we don’t. As an inspired apostle warns us, we must avoid going “beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6+).

Going beyond can get us into trouble. In the extreme there are those dear folks who announce the date of the Day of the Lord, only to see the day come and go. I feel for them. It would be hard to live down a gaff like that.

But even we who are more cautious and less certain can sometimes go too far. We should always remember Jesus’ words: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7+).

It concerns me that some make these small differences the tests for inclusion in the church, or at least in one’s local church. It occurred to me once, as I was reading a certain group’s doctrinal statement on last things, that neither Martin Luther nor John Calvin, if they were alive today, would be welcome in that body. In fact, I couldn’t think of a single pre-twentieth-century Christian who would.

It would be so much better if we would love one another more, as Jesus said, and “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27+), instead of quarreling among ourselves. We enervate ourselves by fighting each other instead of the enemy.

And then, I wonder what effect we’re having on those outside the fold. Christian works on end-time themes are appearing now in secular book stores shelved, not with religious books, but with material on metaphysics, augury, divination, New Age, and fortune telling. It doesn’t take long to figure out that others view them as just another form of the current craze to divine the future. I’m not sure they’re getting the right message.

Actually we don’t know much about the future, and, what’s more, God doesn’t seem to want us to know. He has deliberately left much unsaid and unexplained, and for a good reason: It might actually diminish our faith if we knew too much. We’d spend our time kibitzing—looking over God’s shoulder to see how He’s getting along—instead of getting on with our job. He wants us to trust Him and His faithfulness (not our fold-outs) from beginning to end.

According to Peter, there are only two things to remember about the future (2 Peter 3:10–12+).

First of all, Peter insists,“the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10+).

Our story is not an idiot’s tale. Though man is now having his day, all history is tending toward the Day of the Lord. His Day will come! One of these days He will appear, the heavens will disappear, the earth and everything in it will be burned up, and God will set about making a new heaven and new earth from the debris.

The world, like a time bomb, is ticking its way toward oblivion. God is delaying, not because He is indifferent or impotent, but because He does not want anyone to perish, “but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9+). His time table is determined by His love for the world, not by its rotation nor by the number of times it circles the sun. That’s why He’s waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

But someday, suddenly, the future will become the present, and then everything in this earth that men and women have put their minds and their money on will immediately vanish into thin air.

That certainty may not be obvious on the face of it. It appears that our world, though it’s getting very old, is rolling relentlessly on, an illusion that has led some to believe in the immutability of matter—that this universe of ours, as Carl Sagan insists, “is all that is, all that has ever been and all that will ever be” (cf. 2 Peter 3:3–4+).

I think of non-Christian scientists, cynical unbelievers, and others who believe that matter is all that there is. Yes, but also of those of us who believe in Christ, but who also believe in our hearts that matter is all that matters—that our earthly concerns, our vacation condos, and our capital assets are the things that will endure. If so, we, like the rest of the world, will certainly suffer loss. It’s all going to burn up some day.

Given the certainty of that destruction, Peter makes his second emphasis in the form of a question, “What kind of people ought you to be?” (2 Peter 3:11+). That, and that alone, is the apocalyptic question.

Peter answers, “You ought to live holy and godly [worshipful] lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11–12+). And he says again, “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this [the new heaven and new earth], make every effort to be found, spotless [unspoiled by the world], blameless and at peace [untroubled] with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation . . .” (2 Peter 3:14+).

Simply put, real devotion to the future is a matter of holy living today. Peter spells it out in terms of two characteristics—holiness and tranquility.
God has called us to holiness, a word that suggests that one acts differently than others act under the same circumstances. It suggests serious thought and presence of mind in response to adversity and opposition. It means humility, durability, magnanimity, justice, and a love for others that is as rich and inclusive as God’s (cf. 2 Peter 1:1–11+).

Tranquility comes from being informed—from the revelation that Someone up there is minding the store. Those who know that God holds the last moment are not uptight about the next.

Godliness and tranquility, therefore, are the marks of those whose passions are restrained by the future and who thus live differently from those who are unaware.

I like the way Evelyn Underhill puts it:

[Those who understand what God is doing] have three distinguishing characteristics—Tranquility, Gentleness and Strength, which suggests an immense depth and a steadiness that comes from the fact that our small action is part of the total action of God, whose Spirit, as another saint has said, ‘works always in tranquility.’ Fuss and feverishness, anxiety, intensity, intolerance, instability, pessimism, and wobble, and every kind of hurry and worry—these, even on the highest levels, are signs of the self-made and self-acting soul; the spiritual parvenu [upstart]. The saints are never like that. They share the quiet and noble qualities of the One to whom they belong.

What can I say then about some of our other efforts to win those around us who are running scared and trying to find safety in commodities that will someday self-destruct. “Turn or burn” T-shirts? Bumper stickers warning that the driver of the car on which they appear may suddenly disappear? End-of-the-world comic books designed to scare the living daylights out of small children deemed not ready for the Rapture? Can anyone be blamed for laughing?

No, if our friends are to be won at all it is not our end-time scheming but our genial, Christlike bearing that will bring about their salvation (2 Peter 3:9, 15+). That, and that alone, is the way to speed His appearing (2 Peter 3:12+).

A holy life is a most influential sermon!

"You ought to live holy and godly lives!" 2 Peter 3:11+

Adrian Rogers - from sermon There is a New World Coming 

Now, go up into the middle there. He says, “What manner of persons ought ye to be[?]” (2 Peter 3:11+) You see that in verse 11? You know what the word manner means? The word manner means “exotic” or “out of this world.” What he’s saying is, “We’ve got to be different. We don’t belong to this world.” The word literally means “from out of this world.” “What otherworldly kind of person ought we to be?” See, we’re different from everybody else. A citizen is at home. A stranger is away from home. A pilgrim is headed home. We’re pilgrims. This world is not our home—this present world. We’re only passing through. We are not citizens of earth trying to get to heaven, friend. We are citizens of heaven just dwelling here. This world is not your home. Don’t settle down. One man said, “Lord, if I’m building a nest, put a thorn in it.” We’re not of this world.

See, listen, what I’ve preached today is not a matter, primarily, of speculation or information, but motivation. Notice what Peter’s saying: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be[?]” (2 Peter 3:11+) “What otherworldly person ought you to be?” What, if you can use the word, exotic person ought you to be? You ought to be different. The truth as to whether or not you really believe what I preached today is will it change your life? “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be[?]” (2 Peter 3:11+)

May I suggest three things will be true, very quickly?

    A.      We Ought to Live for His Coming: Be Holy

Number one: You’re going to live for His coming. In verse 11, He says, “In all holy conversation …” (2 Peter 3:11+) The word conversation there means “manner of life.” We sang about holiness today. We sang, “Holy, holy, holy.” Baptists love to sing about it, but if you talk about it, they get nervous. Now, Baptists want to be healthy. They want to be happy. They want to be wise. But, you know, people, about holiness? Sometimes they get nervous. But, Peter says, “If you believe there’s a new world coming, you’re gonna want to be holy.”
Very few people want to be holy. Why? I mean, we think of holiness as weird. If you want to make fun of somebody, what do you call him? “Holy Joe.” Want to put somebody down? “Holier than thou.” If you want to ridicule somebody exuberant, “holy roller.” Isn’t that right? The Bible says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16+) That’s what God says. I mean, if you believe that there’s a new world coming, this old world is destined for fire, “what manner of persons ought ye to be[?]” (2 Peter 3:11+) He says, “You ought to live for His coming. You ought to be holy.”

    B.      We Ought to Look for His Coming: Be Anticipating

Number two: You should look for His coming. Look in verse 12. He says here, “Looking for and [hastening] unto the coming of the day of God.” (2 Peter 3:12+) Are you looking for Jesus to come? You ought to. You ought to be living for His coming, and you ought to be looking for His coming.

By the way, there are some theologians who believe we’re going through the Great Tribulation before we’re caught up to meet the Lord. I don’t believe that. We’re looking for His coming. We’re looking for Jesus; we’re not looking around. And, we’re looking up. If the Bible teaches anything, it teaches that Jesus Christ may come at any moment and you ought to be holy, living for His coming; you ought to be anticipating, looking for His coming.

    C.      We Ought to Long for His Coming: Be Praying

And friend, you ought to be longing for His coming. I can honestly say this, God being my witness: I long for Jesus to come. I want Him to come. My prayer’s the closing prayer of the Bible: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20+) Look, if you will, in verse 15: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” (2 Peter 3:15+) What does that mean? It literally means deliverance. One of these days—soon; perhaps this afternoon; at 3:29, maybe—Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming, and His coming is gonna be like a thief in the night. No thief ever says, “Dear friend, I’m coming Tuesday night at 1:30 a.m.” He doesn’t say that. Are you ready? You know the problem with us? Folks, we’re so much in love with this present world. Isn’t that true? You know, I think sometimes God allows us to have heartaches, and sorrows, and pain, and difficulty because we just love this old world so much.

There’s a motivational speaker whose name is Charles “Tremendous” Jones. Some of you heard “Tremendous” Jones speak. He’s good. Charlie Jones said, “I had in the basement of my house my study, and,” he said, “I had all of the plaques, and all of the letters of congratulations, and all of the awards that I had won.” He said, “I had the walls covered with them—all my treasured letters, all my memorabilia. You know how people just love to look at these things and think they’re really important?” He said, “I had all that stuff all over the walls of my study. And,” he said, “we had a flood, and the water and the mud ran down and filled up my basement and ruined it all—all of my pretty things. And, I began to cry to Jesus about it and tell Him all the terrible things that had happened to my precious things.” And, he said, “Jesus said to me, ‘Oh, Charlie, don’t worry about that stuff. I was gonna burn it up anyway.’ ”

Isn’t that true? I mean, all these things—friend, it is destined for fire. Jesus is coming. What manner of persons ought we to be if we really believe it? We’ll live for His coming. We’ll look for it, and we’ll long for it. Amen?

Let’s bow our heads in prayer. Heads are bowed, and eyes are closed. And, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ and know that you know Him, would you begin to pray for those round about you who may not yet know Him? And, if you are not certain if you are ready for Jesus to come, you can be certain today because He loves you. And, verse 9 says that He’s “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9+) He wants you to be saved. And, I believe that’s part of the providential plan of God—that you’re here today, that you might receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Would you like to be saved? I’m not just talking about being a Baptist, or Methodist, or Presbyterian, or even being a nicer person. I’m talking about being saved. Would you really like to know that your destiny is secure, that you’re gonna dwell in the new heavens and the new earth because you’ve been saved? Would you pray a prayer like this and pray it silently but fervently? “O God, I am a sinner, and my sin deserves judgment. And, I know it, but I need and I want mercy. Thank you, Lord, that you’re not willing that I should perish. Thank you that you sent Jesus to pay for my sin on the cross. Thank you for such love and mercy. I repent of my sin. I’m sorry for my sin. I turn by faith, dear God, to you. I open my heart. I invite you into my life. I put you on the throne of my life. Take control of my life. Begin now to make me the person you want me to be. Save me, Jesus. I receive it as a free gift, right now. I’m weak; you’ll have to work with me, but begin now to make me the person you want me to be. Save me, Jesus. And, Lord Jesus, help me to love you enough that I’ll not be ashamed of you. Give me the courage to make it public, Lord Jesus, not to be ashamed of you. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Vance Havner - SOMETHING NEW TOMORROW!

    Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13+.

The year ends with a world in turmoil, sudden destruction possible. Peter tells us of a coming catastrophe that sounds like an atomic holocaust. How up-to-date, “… the elements shall melt with fervent heat …” (3:10)! But the Christian is looking tonight not just for a new year but a new age—new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be.… diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (3:11, 14). While the world drinks and dances into the New Year to spend tomorrow with a hangover, let the Christian meet it on his knees and meet tomorrow with a hallelujah!

Henry Blackaby - What Manner of Person Ought You to Be? - Experiencing God Day by Day

Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, [it is clear] what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness—2 Peter 3:11+

When God told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham's life was immediately and radically affected. Noah could not carry on business as usual once he knew what God was planning for his generation. Knowing that God is preparing judgment brings a sobering reality to Christians, helping us recognize what is eternally significant and what is not.
Peter cautions us that a catastrophic time of judgment is coming. On the day of the Lord there will be a great noise, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat. On that day, he warns, the earth will be consumed. Peter assures us that this is not mere speculation; it is certain and imminent. He then asks the crucial question that applies to each generation: “What kind of persons ought you to be?” With judgment pending for us and countless millions of people facing destruction, how should we live our lives?
Many Christians attach great value to temporal things. Hobbies and possessions consume us, leaving little time or energy to invest in what is eternal. More than anyone else, Christians should be sensitive to the times in which we live. We should walk so closely with God that if He were preparing to bring judgment upon people, we could warn those in imminent peril. Since Christ has been long-suffering in His return so that no one might perish (2 Pet. 3:9+), should we not invest our effort in building God's eternal kingdom? Should there not be an urgency about us to complete the tasks that God gives us?
 

Vance Havner - Prophetic truth calls us not only to preparation and expectation but also to purification: "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (I John 3:3+). And along with that comes the call to separation: "What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" (II Peter 3:11).
In I Corinthians 7:29-31, there is a combination of prophetic doctrine and practical duty. I have never heard a sermon from that text, but somebody ought to be preaching about it:

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."

If this means anything at all, it certainly means that in these last days, in the Saturday evening of the age, in these perilous times, in this night of apostasy, with the mystery of lawlessness nearing its climax:, with the flames of judgment already reddening the horizon, we Bible Christians are called upon to practise what we preach and conduct ourselves with a special soberness and seriousness in keeping with the urgency and emergency of the times.

I remember hearing a young missionary relate how that in her last year of nurse's training, a young doctor asked her: "Do you really believe that all men who never have heard of CHRIST are lost?" She answered, "Yes, doctor, I do." Again he asked, "And do you believe that those who have heard of Him and have not accepted Him are lost?" and she answered, "Yes, I do."

Then with a look of utmost seriousness, he said, "Well, all I have to say is that if you believe that, you cannot live like the rest of us do."

If we believe these terrific prophetic truths, then we cannot live like other men. They that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night but we who are of the day must be sober (I Thessalonians 5:7, 8). It is against a prophetic background in Romans that we are exhorted to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, to walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying (notice that strife and envying, our respectable sins, are in the same company with lowdown immorality!), but, and here is the climax in that verse that changed Augustine from a slave of lust to a slave of CHRIST? "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
 

2 Peter 3:12 looking for (PAPMPA) 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 ! (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: prosdokontas (PAPMPA) kai speudontas (PAPMPA) ten parousian tes tou theou hemeras, di' en ouranoi puroumenoi (PPPMPN) luthesontai (3PFPI) kai stoicheia kausoumena (PPPNPN) teketai. (3SPPI)

Amplified: While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

NET: while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God. Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the heavenly bodies will melt away in a blaze! (NET Bible)

NLT: You should look forward to that day and hurry it along--the day when God will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames. (NLT - Tyndale House)

Phillips: who live expecting and earnestly longing for the coming of the day of God. True, this day will mean that the heavens will disappear in fire and the elements disintegrate in fearful heat, (Phillips: Touchstone)

Wuest: looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which [day] heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and elements burning up are being melted. 

Young's Literal: waiting for and hasting to the presence of the day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements with burning heat shall melt;

LOOKING FOR: Prodokontas (PAP):

Related resources:

WHAT (WHO) ARE YOU
LOOKING FOR?

Here Peter presents the concept of expectation.

Since I am headed for eternal glory, since I am going to be a citizen of God's eternal Kingdom, since I am going to be delivered from the day of the Lord to enter into the eternal day of God, I should be living in expectation of that.

this is the third time Peter uses prosdokao
 in this chapter!

Looking (4328) (prosdokao from prós = towards - adds the idea of “mental direction” to the already existing meaning of the verb + dokáo = look for denoting direction of one's mind toward something) means literally to look forward toward, to wait for, to look for, to anticipate. It means to give thought to something that is in the future and the context indicates whether one does this looking/waiting in a hopeful sense, with a longing, with fear (wait with anxiety, live in suspense), or in a neutral state of mind. It describes the attitude saints should have as anticipating, waiting with watchfulness, being in expectation. Prosdokao is variously translated "expecting", "look eagerly for", "waiting for", "live expecting". It is notable that this is the third time Peter uses prosdokao in this chapter! Peter continually links waiting with watching.

Prosdokao is in the present tense indicating that this is one's habit or lifestyle. Are you continually looking for the return of your Lord? It will radically impact what you are living for!

Thayer writes that prosdokao…denotes mental direction; from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; to expect (whether in thought, in hope, or in fear); to look for, wait for: when the preceding context shows who or what is expected

There are several words with meaning closely related to prosdokao and they are worth studying so they can be lived out...

Prosdokao: 16x in 15v - NAS = expect, 2; expecting, 2; look, 4; looking, 2; state of expectation, 1; waited, 1; waiting, 2; watching, 1. Mt 11:3+; Mt 24:50+; Lk 1:21+; Lk 3:15+; Lk 7:19, 20+; Lk 8:40+; Lk 12:46+; Acts 3:5+; Acts 10:24+; Acts 27:33+; Acts 28:6+; 2Pe 3:12, 13,1+ 4:

Prosdokao occurs 5 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Deut 32:2+; Ps 69:20; Ps 104:27; Ps 119:166+; Lam 2:16) and the focus is on God and His acts. For example the psalmist writes…

I hope (LXX = prosdokao = wait for expectantly) for Thy salvation, O LORD, and do Thy commandments. (Psalm 119:166+)

John the Baptist's disciples came to Jesus…

and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for (prosdokao) someone else?" (Mt 11:3+)

Luke uses prosdokao to describe the attitude of the people while Zacharias was in the Temple…

And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. (Luke 1:21+) (Comment: Here the waiting is coupled somewhat with fear and anticipation).

Luke records that…

Now while the people were in a state of expectation (prosdokao) and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he might be the Christ, (Luke 3:15+) (Comment: How wonderful if Christ's church in America were in such a state! How much saltier salt and brighter light the church might be in a land growing spiritually darker each day!)

In Acts 3+ Luke uses prosdokao again recording the attitude of the lame man (who had been lame from his mother's womb) toward Peter…

And he began to give them his attention, expecting (prosdokao) to receive something from them. (Acts 3:5+)

Prosdokao describes the attitude of those on the isle of Malta when Paul was smitten by the viper and they waited and watched expecting him to swell up. (Acts 28:6+)

But they were expecting (prosdokao) that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

In this context the waiting is with apprehension concerning impending danger or trouble. The point is that they watched expectantly because they knew it was a certainty (that Paul would fall over dead) and that it could happen any time! That's the idea inherent in the verb "looking." It's an attitude of expectancy and pictures one whose mind is continually turning to the future while enduring the present evil age around them. A characteristic mark of the genuine believer is that of habitual expectation of the "parousia" (of Christ & of the Day of God) and which produces a powerful motive to holiness and godliness.

Fanny Crosby (who ironically was physically blind!) caught the "vision" of expectant living in this stanza from Blessed Assurance --

"Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with his goodness, lost in his love."
(Play hymn)

Read that third line again and ponder how the various actions and attitudes are interrelated. If a blind saint can have this Godward "eyesight", how much more should those of us who can see the majestic mountains, the glorious sunsets, the countless stars, etc?

Study and be motivated by the following "real life" examples of Godward, godly "looking" --

  • Jacob as he prepares to die (Ge 49:18+)
  • Job - blameless, upright, fearing the LORD, turning away from evil (Job14:14)
  • Isaiah, the prophet (Isa 8:17+)
  • Micah, the prophet (Mic 7:7+)
  • Simeon, righteous and devout (Lk 2:25+)
  • Anna the prophetess (Lk 2:38+)
  • Joseph of Arimathea (Mk 15:43+)

The present tense of prosdokao calls for this to be a continual expectant looking -- the habit of our lives should be to keep "looking up for our redemption draweth night". Are you eagerly awaiting the day of the Lord, but even more importantly are you living like it could be today?

Godward looking…
motivates godly living

Instead of living in fear of the future and fear of judgment and fear of the day of the Lord, you live in holy eagerness, you live with that 1Cor 16:22+ word Maranatha on your lips, come, Lord, living constantly in desirous expectation.

J. Vernon McGee adds "Today we see a lot of careless, slipshod living, but also a great emphasis on prophecy. (Ed note: consider the "Left Behind" Series popularized in 2000-2003) I hear people say, “Oh, I’m waiting for the Lord to come!” Brother, my question is not whether you are looking for the Lord to come, but how are you living down here? How you live down here determines whether or not you are really looking for the Lord to come. (See Thru the Bible Vol. 56: The Epistles 1 John)

The purpose of prophetic truth is
not speculation but motivation!
-- Warren Wiersbe

The purpose of prophetic truth is not speculation but motivation! It is unfortunate when people run from one prophetic conference to another, filling their notebooks, marking their Bibles, drawing their charts, and yet not living their lives to the glory of God. In fact, some of the saints battle each other more over prophetic interpretation than perhaps any other subject. Beloved, things ought not to be this way.

The purpose of prophecy is not speculation but sanctification.

Prophecy is given to change our lives, not merely fill our minds.

God gave prophecy to produce holy living, not heated debates.

Biblical prophecy is intended to motivate purity, not satisfy curiosity.

The goal of prophecy is transformation, not information.

Prophecy is meant to inspire obedience, not speculation.

God reveals the future to shape how we live in the present.

The study of prophecy should produce holiness more than headlines.

The best response to prophecy is not prediction but preparation.

Prophecy calls us to faithful living, not date setting.

The proper response to future truth is present holiness.

Knowing Christ is coming should change how we live today.

Future certainty should produce present purity.

Prophetic truth is designed to encourage perseverance, purity, and hope.

The doctrine of Christ's return is a call to holy living, not idle speculation.

Prophecy was given to prepare us, not merely to intrigue us.

The study of prophecy should change our walk more than expand our charts.

God reveals tomorrow so we will live wisely today.

Prophecy is not an invitation to speculate but a summons to sanctify.

The certainty of Christ's return demands the purity of Christ's followers.

The more we anticipate Christ's return, the more we should resemble Christ.

A right view of the future produces a right way of living today.

The hope of heaven should produce holiness on earth.

Prophecy is not for idle curiosity but active purity.

God's revelation of the future is intended to reform our present.

Prophecy is meant to encourage steadfastness, not sensationalism.

Knowing what God will do tomorrow should affect what we do today.

The end times are given to shape our character, not just our chronology.

The promise of Christ's coming should purify Christ's people.

Looking for Christ should result in living like Christ.

The Christian who lives for eternity will not be consumed by the temporary.

The future belongs to God; the present belongs to our obedience.

The best preparation for Christ's return is faithful obedience today.

The nearness of eternity should influence every earthly decision.

Future glory should produce present godliness.

Heavenly hope fuels holy living.

The doctrine of the Second Coming is a call to faithfulness, not fascination.

The believer who longs for Christ's appearing will pursue Christ's likeness.

We study prophecy best when it leads us to purity.

God tells us how history ends so we will know how to live in the meantime.

They all beg questions -

Why do you want to study prophecy?
What effect has study of prophecy had on your daily life? 

The certainty of the coming Day of God is intended to motivate believers
to pursue holiness, godliness, and diligent living
rather than mere fascination with end-times details.

AND HASTENING: ka speudontas (PAP):

Hastening (4692) (speudo) can have two meanings, both possible within the context. One meaning conveys the idea of doing something hurriedly and of causing something to happen or come into being by exercising special effort (i.e., hastening).

The other meaning is that of earnestly desiring which would make good sense in the context and which is certainly easier to explain then the first meaning. If Peter intends the former meaning, then it appears he is urging his readers to be God's instruments in furthering the divine purpose. What this specifically means is the subject of considerable speculation, but suffice it to say that it seem reasonable to say that it calls for holy lives that open the door for holy lips in evangelism and intercession.

Hastening can mean eagerly desiring that something will happen.

  • looking for and earnestly desiring (ASV)
  • expecting and earnestly longing for the coming of the day of God (Phillips)
  • wait and earnestly long for (Amplified)
  • looking for and truly desiring (BBE)
  • look forward to the day of God and eagerly wait for it to come (GWT 0
  • wait for the day of God and look forward to its coming (Int'l Children's Bible)

Christians are not to fear the future day of God, but eagerly hope for it.

One of the greatest motives for holy conduct and godliness is
EXPECTATION

John Piper adds this thought:

We don't hasten the Day in an absolute sense because Acts 1:7+ teaches that the Father has fixed the times and seasons by his own authority and Jesus said in Mk 13:22+ that the Father knows the hour of the Son's return. But from our vantage point we can hasten the Day by fulfilling the pre-conditions of Christ's return, namely the preaching of the gospel to all the nations (Mk. 13:10+) and the repentance of the full number of the Gentiles who must come in before the end (Ro 11:25+). Evidently Peter believes that lives of holiness and godliness will indeed fulfill these conditions and hasten the Day of God.

Lenski offers a word about trying to understand 'hastening:

We need not labor the sense by taking speudo in the sense of "hasten", speed up the coming of the day of the Lord so that it will come sooner than it would otherwise come… This verb is widely used in the sense of "to be eager", which fits perfectly here as the intensifying synonym of "expecting".

Walter Kaiser - Speeding Up Its Coming?  - Hard Sayings

It is surprising to read in 2 Peter 3:12+ that the coming of the day of judgment can be speeded up. Can it be true that the behavior of Christians can speed up (or delay) the day of God? In what way can they do this? And what does this mean for the idea of the sovereignty of God? Does he not decide about the “times and seasons” without any input from us and our behavior?

The whole of 2 Peter 3 concerns the return of Christ. Two terms are used: “coming” (sometimes left untranslated as “parousia,” 2 Pet 3:4+) and “day” (2 Pet 3:10+). The “day” here is the “day of God” rather than the usual “day of the Lord.” “Day of God” also appears in Revelation 16:14+. It probably appears here because “the day of the Lord” occurs three times in the previous verses and so a change in terminology is demanded by good style.4

This “day of God” will be marked by the destruction of “the heavens” by fire, including the melting of the “elements.” We are not told exactly what will be the mechanism of this process, but it is clear that it is caused by the “day of God” and therefore not a natural catastrophe or something touched off by human carelessness. God will remove the old heaven and earth, says Revelation 21:1+, preparing the way for a new heaven and new earth (which 2 Pet 3:13+ mentions). Peter refers to this event not to scare Christians, but to remind them that everything done or built on this earth is temporal. Therefore living in radical obedience to God pays the only lasting dividends, and this “day” is the time when they will receive those rewards.

Christians are to “look forward to” or “watch expectantly for” this day. This means keeping it in their awareness, and living in the light of it. For the New Testament writers eschatology determined ethics. That is, what one believed about the return of Christ would determine how one lived. If people have the lively expectation that Peter wants them to have, then they would live a holy life, whatever the immediate consequences, for they would be so expectant of ultimate reward that temporal losses would make no difference.

Yet Christians are also to “speed” the coming of that day. Jesus himself told his followers to pray for that day, for the Lord’s Prayer contains the line “Your kingdom come.” Furthermore, the church prayed “Marana tha” (1 Cor 16:22+), translated in Revelation 22:20+ as “Come, Lord Jesus.” But Peter probably is referring to something more than prayer. There was a strong Jewish tradition based on Isaiah 60:22 (which in the Septuagint uses the same word for “speed” used here) that the coming of Messiah was held back by the sins of the people and that repentance would hasten this day. Peter appears to agree with this. He has talked throughout the letter about holiness. In the verse immediately before this one he has exhorted the people to “holy and godly lives” (2 Pet 3:11+), and two verses later he summarizes with “Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (2 Pet 3:14+). Therefore what is said here is that the holiness of Christians both expresses their expectation of that day and hastens its coming.

If Christians have this much influence over the timing of the coming of Christ, what does that mean for God’s sovereignty? Peter has already explained that. In 2 Peter 3:8–9+ he stated that God is patient; time in our terms is not an issue to him. What is his issue is that he does not want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The special focus of this concern in 2 Peter is the Christian community, which is being polluted by sin. God is sovereign, and in his sovereignty he has determined to bring as many people to repentance and obedience as possible. (Peter does not explain what factors will make God call a final end to his efforts.) He has chosen to take human choices into account in setting the time of the return of Christ. What this means for Christians is that if they really desire the coming of the kingdom they had best get on with repentance and holy living so that they cooperate with God in preparing for the end.

Peter has taken our breath away. On the one hand, the vision of the earth that we know dissolving into a fireball along with all of the accomplishments and monuments of human culture shakes our security to the extent to which we are invested in this age. On the other hand, the idea that our lives, to the degree they are holy, may speed the coming of Christ and thus the whole timetable of the universe produces a sense of awesome humbling privilege. Peter hopes that together these images will prod Christians to that expectancy of Christ’s return and the holy living that will in fact speed it along, for this is God’s holy sovereign will.

QUESTION- Should Christians try to delay or hasten the arrival of the end times? GOTQUESTIONS.ORG

ANSWER - The day of Jesus’ return and reign on earth has been a topic of great interest to His followers since before He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:6+). Christians want Jesus to come, but we have differing ideas about our roles in His coming. Postmillennialists believe Jesus won’t return until His followers make Christianity the dominant religion in a peaceful world. Some premillennial dispensationalists are afraid to utilize any new technology that might lead to the Antichrist, as if doing so would be colluding with the enemy.

The truth is, we are not that powerful. We cannot make the world a godly place; humans are too wicked. Our acceptance of new technology is not going to make God reveal the Antichrist sooner. God the Father has already set the schedule of the end times; we can’t change it. We need to concentrate on the tasks Jesus gave us in the meantime: love God, love others, and spread the gospel.

Hastening the Day

At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” John responds, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” It is good and right to look forward to Jesus’ coming and the new earth when everything will be peaceful, holy, and whole. One particular view of the end times—postmillennialism—teaches that we can do more than hope, that it is our responsibility to bring Jesus back by preparing the world for His reign. Postmillennialism teaches that Jesus will return after the “millennium,” which is an unspecified amount of time, not literally 1,000 years. The plan is to spread the gospel around the world, making a peaceful and just world that is good enough for Jesus to rule.

Postmillennialism was a popular belief during the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. Philosophical and scientific advances combined to make people think they had reached a level of sophistication and morality that would inevitably continue to grow until humanity reached utopia. Evolution “proved” that the society would continue to improve.

That overly optimistic view didn’t survive the first half of the twentieth century. The horrors of World War I caused belief in human nobility to flounder. World War II all but destroyed it.

In recent years, however, postmillennialism and its cohorts theonomy, Dominionism, and Christian Reconstructionism have made a comeback. Some believe that Christians need to be the dominant force in politics, education, and culture. Others believe we need to quietly evangelize, creating new Christians, then Christian families, schools, communities, cities, and states, and then we’ll be the Christian nation Jesus needs us to be.

Of course, Christians should be involved in their communities and nations. But nowhere does the Bible hint that we need to fix up the world before Jesus arrives. In fact, it says that He will arrive at the end of seven years of oppression, violence, natural catastrophes, and spiritual attack. It is His arrival that will stop the horrors of the world and initiate 1,000 years of His reign (Revelation 19:11—20:6).

Humans, even good-intentioned Christians, cannot make the world good enough for Jesus.

Delaying the End

On the other side are those who know Jesus won’t appear until the world is at its worst and think it is their job to delay that state. Throughout history, Christians have looked on their political and social landscapes and thought, Surely this is proof that the end is near. In the previous hundred years, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the USSR, Y2K, and COVID-19 have all been cited as proof that the end was upon us. And the list of candidates for the Antichrist grows by the year. For two thousand years, Christians have predicted Jesus’ immediate return; so far, the date-setters have all been proven wrong.

The current wave of interest in end-times prophecy among dispensationalists began in the 1970s with Hal Lindsey and Carole C. Carlson’s book The Late Great Planet Earth. That book introduced many to a literal interpretation of the tribulation account of Revelation 6+—16 in the context of then-current events. Shortly after, the movie A Thief in the Night and its sequels dramatized the lives—and deaths—of several people during the tribulation. More recently, the Left Behind series has continued the tradition.

Placing future biblical events in the context of modern events has led many people to consider how technological advances and socio/political events fit into the preparations for the coming Antichrist. Questions arise about RFID chips, cryptocurrency, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union. Are these things setting the stage for the Antichrist, the mark of the beast, the one-world government, and a one-world currency?

Our careful answer is: maybe.

The next question often asked is “Should Christians refrain from using such technology or interacting with such organizations in order to delay the coming of the Antichrist?” Our confident answer is no. Nowhere does the Bible tell Christians to do anything that would delay end-times events. The timing of the rapture is set by God alone (Matthew 24:36–44+). The Bible mentions a “restrainer” who is holding back Satan’s work, in effect delaying the Antichrist’s arrival, but this restrainer is not fighting against technological or political novelties; he is most likely the Holy Spirit working through the church to spread the gospel. Evangelizing the lost, not condemning RFID chips, is how we protect people from the end times!

Of course, that does not mean that Christians should unthinkingly invest in cryptocurrency or support the World Bank. We are called to use discernment in all things and to refrain from being directly involved in what is foolish, unjust, and unbiblical. But just because something seems like it is a step toward the fulfillment of end-times prophecy doesn’t mean Christians need to fight against it. We have enough to do without worrying about what only God can control.

Be Watchful

Two of Jesus’ parables that speak about His return are the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Ten Minas. In both, a master leaves three servants with specific resources while he goes on a long journey. He expects the servants to invest those resources wisely and earn a good profit. When he returns, he rewards those who were faithful stewards.

At no point in the stories are the servants instructed to either hasten or delay the master’s return—they couldn’t do so if they tried. Their job is to use their resources wisely so the master’s wealth increases. In the same way, God has given us the responsibility to share the gospel and make disciples. Never does Jesus suggest we can have any effect on when He will return. It is good to be wise in our use of technology and the human systems we support. It is good to influence our culture. That influence, however, is in the service of the gospel, not to hasten or delay Jesus’ return.

Related Resources from Gotquestions.org

THE COMING OF THE DAY OF GOD: ten parousia tes tou theou hemeras:

Coming (3952) (parousia) (Click study of parousia) means not just the coming but conveys more of a sense of the presence of this glorious day.

In 2 Peter 1:16+ parousia refers to the "power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Here the definite article in the Greek which defines this coming… day as a very specific day for which the saints have been longing for now over 4000 years and we enter in to the eternal bliss of Christ's Millennium kingdom followed by the new heavens and new earth and the presence of God.

In your study of parousia note that this term refers to more than a single day because the NT uses also emphasize a personal bodily presence of Jesus Christ. Parousia then is not the presence of an event or of a place but the presence of a Person.

Day of God - As discussed in the notes on the preceding page (click for summary chart "Three Divine Days in the End Times") the “Day of the Lord” is not the same as the “day of God”, which refers to the eternal state, immediately preceded in God's timetable by the purging of the old heavens and earth and the appearance of new heavens and earth. Paul taught that after Christ had defeated the last enemy death, He would deliver up the kingdom to God the Father (1Co 15:24, 25, 26, 27, 28+) which would be the eternal kingdom described (Revelation 21-22).

When the day of God comes, man’s “day” will be over. The corrupting of the universe by man and Satan will have been terminated and judged, finally and forever. To reiterate the day of God refers to the eternal state which follows the final phase of the Day of the Lord when the heavens and earth will be destroyed. The day of God is the Day of God's complete and final triumph and for this reason it is a day we should wait for and earnestly desire.

Will you meet me in the Homeland,
Shall we both reach Heav’n at last,
When the training days are ended,
And life’s journeys all are past?

He has promised soon to take me
Where the King shall fill my gaze,
Will your voice with mine be blended
In that perfect hymn of praise?
Play

ON ACCOUNT OF WHICH THE HEAVENS WILL BE DESTROYED BY BURNING: di en ourano puroumenoi (PPPMPN) luthesontai (3PFPI):

FIERY DISSOLUTION OF
THE PRESENT HEAVENS

On account of which the heavens (ouranos) will be destroyed (luo) by burning (puroo) - This refers to the coming Day of God, when the present heavens and earth will undergo God's final judgment by fire. The phrase emphasizes that this present creation, marred by sin and the curse, will be dissolved, purified, and transformed in preparation for the new heavens and new earth (2Pe 3:13+; Rev 21:1+). The fire does not signify that God has abandoned His creation but that He will remove everything corrupted by sin and create a dwelling place where righteousness reigns. O glorious day!

🙏 THOUGHT - Peter's purpose is practical -- because this present world is temporary and destined for divine renewal, believers should live lives of holiness and godliness, investing in what is eternal rather than in what will soon pass away (2 Pet. 3:11-14+). What are you investing in beloved, this world which is passing away (1Jn 2:17+) or the next world which lasts forever? Ponder the wise advice of Jesus in Mt 6:19-21+. 

The heavens (3772) (ouranos) means sky and by extension heaven, the over-arching, all-embracing heaven beneath which is the earth and all that is therein.

Will be destroyed (3089) (luo) and means to loose that which is bound and so to set free and is the present context to be dissolved.

Burning (4448) (puroo from púr = fire) means to be ignited or set on fire, to be kindled, to burn, flame set on fire.

MacArthur comments on the nature of the destruction - Please note this, the day of the Lord is not the result of any natural process. It is not the result of any natural calamity. It is not the result of some nations using nuclear weapons. It is not the result of any man or any natural event or natural cataclysm. It is a divine judgment by Almighty God through the power of Christ to whom He has committed the judgment. It is the work of God… When God's day arrives the final destruction has taken place. Man's day is over. That's why it's the day of God. It's not man's day anymore. His corruption of the universe and that of fallen angels is finally judged.

AND THE ELEMENTS WILL MELT WITH INTENSE HEAT: ka stoicheia kausoumena (PPPNPN) teketai (3SPPI):

Elements (4747) (stoicheion from stoicheo = march in rank from stoíchos = row) describes something orderly in arrangement as for example one of a row and hence a component or element. In most of its uses, it denotes an elementary or fundamental principle in a subject or discipline. It refers to the first principles of something.

Stoicheion (“elements”) refers to the basic building blocks of matter, such as atomic and subatomic particles.

A stoicheion was originally a line of things as for example a line of soldiers, but came to refer to the ABC's, and then to any elementary knowledge. Stoicheion also refers to any first thing from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise. It originally denoted the line (rank) of elements and hence, the basic order of a structure.  Stoicheia (plural, "elements") therefore can refer to the basic constituents (make up) of the cosmic and human order.

In other words, stoicheion refers to the basic components of something, the basic unit of which a series is composed. It can refer to the things that constitute the foundation of learning, i.e., the fundamental principles. For example, in grammar, stoicheion would be the ABCs. In speech, stoicheion would be the basic sounds. In geometry stoicheion would be the axioms. In mathematics it would be a basic unit such as a point or a line. In language theory stoicheion would be the individual constituent parts of a syllable or word, its “smallest constituent parts,” while in music it would be the individual tone. In the NT, stoicheion is used as a religious technical term describing the elementary doctrines, the fundamental teachings or the basic principles of the religion, whether it be Judaism, asceticism, paganism, etc (see below).

In some instances stoicheion represents the supernatural powers or forces regarded as having control over the events of this world. Some commentators apply this meaning to the interpretation of the passages in Colossians 2 and Galatians 4+ (see below).

Thayer writes that stoicheion is derived "from stoichos = a row, rank, series; hence, properly, that which belongs to any stoichos, that of which a stoichos is composed; hence "any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise; an element, first principle"… the elements, rudiments, primary and fundamental principles of any art, science, or discipline; e. g. of mathematics"

Vincent writes that "stoicheion is derived from stoichos, 'a row,' this term means 'one of a row or series;' hence, a component or element. The name for the letters of the alphabet, as being set in rows.  Applied to the four elements – fire, air, earth, water; and in later times to the planets and signs of the zodiac.  It is used in an ethical sense in other passages; as in Gal 4:3+, 'elements or rudiments of the world.'  Also of elementary teaching, such as the law, which was fitted for an earlier stage in the world's history; and of the first principles of religious knowledge among men.  In Col 2:8+, of formal ordinances.  Compare Heb 5:12+.  The kindred verb stoichéō 'to walk,' carries the idea of 'keeping in line'."

Abbot-Smith, "stoicheion) properly means, one of a row (stoichos) or series" referring to "the elements or rudiments of knowledge (so Aristotle, etc.) or the material elements of the universe (so Plato; LXX) and finally the demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test. Sol., al.)."

The kindred verb stoicheo, to walk, carries the idea of keeping in line, to keep in step, to walk orderly and then to conform to virtue and piety. (cf "keep in step [stoicheo] with the Spirit" Gal 5:25+).

Stoicheion is always plural and means the basic parts, the rudiments, or the components of something.

Among the ancient Greek philosophers, stoicheion designated the basic and essential elements of the universe, including the four elements of the world -- earth, water, air, and fire. In other words, stoicheion refers to basic elements from which everything in the world is made and of which it is composed. Peter's use in 2Pe 3:10, 12+ conveys this specific meaning. Later stoicheion was also used to refer to the planets (heavenly bodies) and the signs of the zodiac ("the 12 stoicheia of the heavens ").

Stoicheion - 7 times in 7 verses in the NAS (Gal 4:3, 9+; Col 2:8, 20+; Heb 5:12+; 2 Pet 3:10, 12+) and is translated: elemental things, 2; elementary, 1; elementary principles, 2; elements, 2; principles, 1.

Stoicheion is used as a reference to the basic elements or rituals of human religion in Galatians 4:3, 9+, Paul writing…

Gal 4:3+: So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. (Comment: Here stoicheion refers to the elemental practices of Judaism)

Gal 4:9+: But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? (Comment: Among the weak and worthless elemental things to which some of the Galatians were returning was the ritualistic observance of days and months and seasons and years)

In Colossians Paul uses stoicheion in his warning to the saints to

Colossians 2:8 See to it (present imperative) that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles (stoicheion) of the world, rather than according to Christ. (see note Colossians 2:8) (Comment: In this context the "elementary principles" probably refers to various Jewish rituals, ceremonies, and ordinances by which men hoped to obtain God’s favor)

Colossians 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (see note Colossians 2:20-23) (Comment: Paul is saying that if the Colossian saints adopt the practices of asceticism [practice of strict self-denial as a spiritual discipline] they are practicing a worldly system of religion, based on elementary principles)

The writer of Hebrews chides his readers declaring that…

by this time you ought (a strong word which conveys the sense that this is your duty or obligation) to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles (stoicheion) of the oracles of God (a striking synonym for the Scriptures), and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (see note Hebrews 5:12) (Comment: In this context stoicheion refers to the first or basic principles of Christian doctrine, the "ABC's" so to speak. It denotes what an initiate or observer encounters first.)

Here is Vine's summary of stoicheion…

a, the substance of the material world, 2Peter 3:10, 12+

b, the elementary principles of religion, whether Jewish, here, or Gentile, Colossians 2:8, 20+, or both, Gal 4:3, 9+

c, the elementary principles (the “ABC”) of the Old Testament as a revelation from God, Hebrews 5:12+ (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

Will melt (5080) (teko) means literally that the elements are continually (present tense) being (passive voice) liquefied, and in context the present tense is used with a view to future tense fulfillment. The present tense depicts the coming event as a vivid reality (cf Isa 34:4+ where the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew uses teko). Teko does not imply the annihilation of matter but rather suggests an alteration of its form. This is the only use in Scripture. 

Intense heat (2741) (kausoo) means literally being (passive voice) continually (present tense) set on fire with fervent heat. It was a medical term describing a patient burning with fever. Only in 2Pe 3:10,12+ with no uses in the Septuagint. 

Walter Kaiser - The Earth Renewed or Destroyed? - Hard Sayings

What does it mean to have a new heaven and earth? Why not simply renew or restore the present one? Why would there not be any sea in a new earth? What is the purpose of this change?

In this text we are in the period beyond the final rebellion and the final judgment. Satan is gone forever. Salvation history has totally run its course, for the King of kings has reigned over the world for one thousand years and each person has finally received his or her just reward. Now we are entering the eternal state beyond the struggles of human history.

Within this context there must be a renewal, a new setting for the now purified human race, an earth free from the scars of the rebellion that Satan inspired. This is a need sensed throughout the New Testament. Paul says that there is a new creation in human beings who are in Christ (2 Cor 5:17+), which is in tension with the oldness of their own bodies and the rest of creation (Rom 8:19–22+). Because of this he can say, “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor 4:18+). Peter expresses this as “looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Pet 3:13+). Now in Revelation we get a picture of that happening. As God says, “I am making everything new!” (Rev 21:5+).

There are two opinions about the newness that is being described. Some scholars believe that John is only talking about a renewed heaven and earth. The old will be purified, but not destroyed. In fact, the real issue for John, they argue, is moral purification, not physical renewal, although physical restoration must also be included. This passage, then, describes a return to the goals left unrealized when humanity was driven out of Eden. To document their position, these scholars cite intertestamental literature such as 1 Enoch 45:4–5 and 2 Esdras 7:75 (compare 2 Baruch 32:6; 1Enoch 72:1; 91:16), all of which speak of a renewal of creation as the expectation of the Jewish groups that the respective writers represented.

While all scholars must agree that the central issue for John is moral purification, the removal of all of the taint of sin and rebellion, some scholars look at such terms as “the first heaven and first earth had passed away” and argue that what we are talking about in this passage is a totally new creation. This appears to fit the language of Peter, who writes, “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. … That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Pet 3:10, 12+). In other words, according to this view, the heavens and earth are so polluted that what is needed is something like the Genesis flood, a destruction and re-creation, but this time the destruction is done by fire, not water. This second position appears to fit the language of Revelation best. Thus while the goal is the moral purification of the world, the moral and the physical are so intertwined (which we are perhaps beginning to understand in our ecological consciousness) that this requires a major physical overhaul, one so extreme that it is called a new creation.

The heavens that are destroyed are not the abode of God (sometimes referred to as the third or seventh heaven) but the observable heavens. Genesis 1:1+ describes the creation as “the heavens and the earth.” Not just the planet, but all of creation has been polluted by sin. The whole will be remade. In this new creation there will be no sea. Having lived in Vancouver, Canada, I have a love for the sea, the scene of many happy holiday hours, a place of rest, but I must put aside such romantic feelings when I come to read Scripture, for that was not the Jewish view of the sea. In Scripture the sea is normally a negative image. For example, Isaiah 57:20 says, “The wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.” The sea is also the chaos of water out of which the heaven and earth were originally separated in Genesis 1:2, 6–10+. While it is a creation of God (Ps 104:26), the sea is also the home of the sea monster Leviathan, whom God conquers and casts on dry land (Ps 74:13–14). It is no wonder that the pseudepigraphal Jewish work The Testament of Moses 10:6 states that when God comes at the end of the age the sea will retire into the Abyss. In Revelation the sea is the source of the beast and the throne of the great prostitute (Rev 13:1+; Rev 17:1+). Such a symbol of chaos and the powers of evil could not exist in a new heaven and earth.

The new heavens and new earth likewise have a new city, the new Jerusalem. While this is not the place for detailed comment, it is true that here also there is something new. In Scripture the first cities are built by evil people (Gen 4:17+; Gen 10:10+; Gen 11:1–9+). The old Jerusalem was the place in which God chose to put his name, but it was also an unfaithful city, which John could call “Sodom and Egypt” (Rev 11:8+). Therefore there is now a need for a fulfillment of what sinful human beings could not produce, the true city with a God-centered community in which peace and justice are actually present.

This whole passage, then, speaks of the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of humanity in the new creation. Human beings were created to live on earth, so a new earth will be their home. Human beings were created for fellowship with God, so he will dwell in their midst. Human beings were created for community, so a true city will be established. There is certainly a lot of symbolism in what is going on in this passage, yet the symbolism is symbolism of a new reality that straight prosaic description could not capture.

Whether or not the new heaven and earth are a renewal or a new creation, Revelation witnesses to the fact that the universe as we know it is temporal and “will all wear out like a garment” (Heb 1:11–12+). Even should we interpret John as saying that the basic structure of the earth remains, he witnesses to a renewal so complete that human culture and creations have been wiped away. History as we know it has come to an end. God is beginning a new chapter in a new history, his eternal history. Yet at the same time human beings are not spirit. They are creatures with bodies, now resurrected and glorified. They do not live on clouds, but in a world and in a city. God provides for them what he designed them for in creation, a home on earth. It is not Eden, but a step beyond Eden, a more perfect development of what might have been, a new earth with a city with God in the midst. It answers an inner longing of the human heart, so it is fitting that John brings the narrative of his book to a close with this description of hope.

Jon Courson - Jon Courson's Application Commentary

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:12

Are you tired of death, disease, and depression? Have you had your fill of sadness and sickness and sin? If so, there are two ways you can hurry the day when righteousness will rule the earth.

First, the day of God is hastened by our prayer. In teaching us to pray, Jesus taught us to ask that His Kingdom come (Matthew 6:10+). This is precisely what one who heard Him teach that prayer did. At the end of the Book of Revelation, Jesus said, ‘Behold, I come quickly’—to which John responded in prayer, ‘Even so, Lord, come quickly.’ The same is still true. Prayer influences the timing of God—including the coming of the Kingdom.

Secondly, the day of God is hastened as we share. According to Acts 2:47+, the Lord adds daily to the Church such as should be saved. Thus, there is someone who is the last one to be added to the Church to complete the Bride of Christ. And when that last one gets saved, the Body of Christ will be complete, and we’ll go up. 

Consequently, as we witness, share, and invite people to be a part of the family and make a decision for Jesus Christ—we actually bring closer the day of His return.

But the benefits of hastening the day are not limited to future times. Rather, this kind of living and thinking has benefits now, as it produces within us three important qualities...

Purity. I John 3:3+ tells us that he who looks for Jesus’ coming purifies himself. It’s amazing how careful a person drives when he looks in his wallet and realizes his license has expired. So too, it’s amazing how purity will characterize the life of one who believes this could be the day, this could be the hour of Christ’s return.

Peace. The one who looks for the Lord’s coming takes a whole lot more things a whole lot less seriously. In other words, the one who looks for the Lord’s coming is not uptight about the scratch in his car, the bruise to his ego, or the slight at the office because he sees the bigger picture of eternity. 

Purpose. The life of the one who looks for the Lord’s coming, who is involved in the work of the Kingdom, is neither boring, predictable, nor routine. If you feel that your life is simply going in circles, it could be because you’ve lost sight of your purpose. 

Hasten the day, gang, by your prayer and as you share. Live for eternity, and you’ll find unparalleled purity, purpose, and peace.

A MIDNIGHT CRY - REGINALD WALLIS

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.2 PETER 3:12+

AT MIDNIGHT THERE WAS A cry made. "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!" This phrase is the startling climax in one of the prophecies that the Lord Jesus Himself made concerning His Second Coming. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ is certainly coming again. His second advent will be just as actual, literal, personal, staggering and unexpected as His first coming. All those Old Testament prophecies which marvelously foretold the details of His birth, life, death and resurrection were precisely fulfilled. The Word of God is still more abundantly emphatic upon this other great basic truth of the gospel that He will again appear the second time. Yet there are scoffers who disclaim and ridicule this blessed truth. That only affords greater evidence however, that His return is really drawing nigh.
The prominence given to this subject in the Word of God is both striking and convincing in itself. Here is a final negative to the suggestion that advent truth is merely a "side-line" or a pet theme for prophetic fanatics and whimsical scaremongers. Over 1,500 times in the Old Testament, and more than 300 times in the New Testament, this tremendous truth is affirmed and reaffirmed with no uncertain sound. Indeed, it is essentially fundamental. Eliminate this truth and the whole structure of faith collapses. It is imperative to the realization of God's eternal purpose. In the very nature of the case He must come, or the divine program for the age cannot be consummated. He alone can solve the world problems of today. "Vain is the help of man." Christ Himself is the only solution. His Gospel is the sole panacea for the ills of a devil-usurped universe. Centuries of human government have sadly demonstrated this fact. History declares the utter impotence of man and the tragedy of rejecting the God-Man.

 Lo, He comes! with clouds descending,
 Once for favored sinners slain;
 Thousand thousand saints attending
 Swell the triumph of His train;
 Hallelujah!
 Jesus comes and comes to reign!

2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for (1PPAI) new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (3SFPI) (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: kainous de ouranous kai gen kainen kata to epaggelma autou prosdokomen, (1PPAI) en ois dikaiosune katoikei. (3SFPI)

Amplified: But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

NET: But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. (NET Bible)

NLT: But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God. (NLT - Tyndale House)

Phillips: but our hopes are set not on these but on the new Heaven and the new earth which he has promised us, and in which nothing but good shall live. (Phillips: Touchstone)

Wuest: But heavens new in quality and an earth new in quality according to His promise we are looking for, in which righteousness is permanently at home. 

Young's Literal: and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;

BUT ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE WE ARE LOOKING FOR: kata to epaggelma autou prosdokomen (1PPAI):

Note the literal rendering emphasizes the New Heavens and New Earth…

and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell

Promise (1862) (epaggelma from epaggello = to announce that one is about to do or furnish something from epi = upon, intensifies meaning + aggelos = messenger or aggello = to tell or declare) is a declaration of intention, an announcement, or a promise to do something with implication of obligation to carry out what is stated and here represents God's Word that He will bring into being a new heavens and a new earth.

The English word promise conveys the idea of assurance such as the assurance that one will do something or that something will happen. It may be a declaration of what one will do or refrain from doing. It can also refer to a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act

The only other NT use of epaggelma (no uses in LXX) is also in Second Peter…

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (see note 2Peter 1:4) (Comment: Here epaggelma refers to the content of that which God promises)

What promise? In the Old Testament the psalmist records a prophetic promise:

Of old Thou didst found the earth and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure and all of them will wear out like a garment, like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed. (Ps 102:25, 26) (Comment: The change of course speaks of the new heavens and new earth.)

Through the prophet Isaiah God promised Israel…

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, And her people for gladness. (Isaiah 65:17-18)

Did you notice what Isaiah said? One of the great realities of eternity is you will have no memory of time. You will be consumed in the new heaven and the new earth and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.

Through Isaiah God also promised Israel

For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure. (Isaiah 66:22)

Paul elaborates on God's promise of renovation of this present creation writing that…

the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope (not "hope so" but an absolute assurance of future good) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (see notes Romans 8:20; 8:21)

John writes that…

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. (see note Revelation 21:1)

We are looking for - In contrast to the preceding verse, here Peter says we and so unites himself with other believers who are looking the fulfillment of our Christian hope.

Looking for (4328) (prosdokao) is used in 2Pe 3:12,13, 14+. One clue to "key words" is repetition so clearly prosdokao is a key word in this section. What message do you think Peter is attempting to get indelibly into our minds? With an attitude of excitement and expectation we should wait for the Lord’s return.

Our "head knowledge" should translate to heart transformation and an ever increasing desire to conduct lives in holiness and discipline ourselves for godliness. The certainty and imminency of the Parousia of the King and of the Day of God should not be cause for spiritual elitism but for heartfelt humility for God "has told you O man what is good & what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness & to walk humbly with your God?" By the power of His Spirit motivated by these precious and magnificent promises may we all conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of our Father in heaven.

Piper notes that Peter is not saying

think what you might lose in the age to come," but, "Look what you gain

In 1899, evangelist D. L. Moody grew ill in Kansas City, canceled his engagements, and returned home to Northfield, Massachusetts. He lugged himself up to his bedroom to dress for dinner, but felt so exhausted that he took to bed. On December 22, he suddenly opened his eyes and spoke clearly: “Earth recedes! Heaven opens before me.” His son, sitting near him, suggested he was dreaming. “This is no dream, Will,” Moody replied. “It is beautiful! It is like a trance! If this is death, it is sweet! God is calling me, and I must go!” The family gathered around. “This is my triumph!” said Moody. “This is my coronation day! I have been looking forward to it for years.” His face suddenly lit up. “Dwight! Irene! I see the children’s faces!” His funeral was conducted at 10 a.m. on December 26, 1899, by C. I. Scofield, and he was laid to rest atop Northfield’s Mount Hermon.

NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH IN WHICH RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS: kainous de ouranous kai gen kainen en ois dikaiosune katoikei (3SFPI):

A NEW HEAVENS AND
A NEW EARTH

New (2537) (kainos) in both uses in this verse does not refer to new in terms of time but new in the sense that it brings into the world a new quality of thing which did not exist before. The heavens and earth will be of a new kind and heretofore unprecedented, and as Trench says will be "fresh" as contrasted to the old heavens and earth which were "outworn, the effete or marred through age."

The old universe has been corrupted by sin which permeates it with its destructive effects, this effect extending to all of nature, animate and inanimate and even to the heavens and the heavenly bodies therein. All shall become new for on that day fire shall make them new. The new shall be fresh and glorious, with no trace of the stigmata wrought by the ravages of sin upon the old. Hallelujah! Since every trace of unrighteousness is forever purged by fire, Peter notes that a new moral order will reign, for then "Righteousness" will dwell in the land.

Righteousness (1343) (dikaiosune) is all that God is, all that He commands, all that He demands, all that He approves, all that He provides through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It means the new world order will have a rightness about it and will be be as it should be, holy and upright, in accordance with God’s standard.

Righteousness conforms to a standard or norm which is itself in keeping with what God is in His holy character. Jeremiah prophesies of the Messiah, the Righteous One, saying that Jehovah

shall raise up for David a Righteous Branch and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely and this is His name by which He will be called, 'The LORD our Righteousness." (Jeremiah 23:5+, Jeremiah 23:6+)

and

with righteousness He will judge the poor & decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth (Isaiah 11:4+)

The present heavens and earth, as beautiful as they are, are under the divine curse placed upon them because of Adam’s sin, the one to whom God declared "Cursed is the ground because of you. In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life." (Ge 3:17+) The new heavens and earth, new in quality, free from any curse, will surely be beautiful beyond the wildest expectation of man.

Dwells (present tense = continually! Hallelujah!)(2730) (katoikeo from kata which intensifies the meaning of the verb oikeo = dwell, reside in, inhabit as one's abode from oikos = a house) means literally to settle down (be at home, dwell) in a place so to take up permanent abode or residence.

Barth writes that katoikeo denotes permanent habitation as opposed to sojourning or an occasional visit. And thus katoikeo means to dwell in a more permanent sense than paroikeo which means to dwell in a temporary sense (synonymous with sojourn = to stay as a temporary resident - used of strangers who have no rights of citizenship and no settled home - e.g., Abraham by faith "lived {paroikeo} as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling {katoikeo} in tents" see note Hebrews 11:9+).

Katoikeo is also used figuratively in the NT to describe Paul's prayer for God's Spirit to give inner strengthening to believers…

so that Christ may dwell (katoikeo) in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love… (see note Ephesians 3:17)

Here in 2Peter katoikeo is used in the figurative sense (see more discussion below) of righteousness taking up residence on the new heavens and new earth!

In Acts we read that…

the Most High does not dwell (katoikeo) in houses made by human hands; as the prophet (see Isa 66:1) says (Acts 7:48+)

In Colossians Paul emphasizes the unquestioned deity of Christ as the God-Man writing that…

it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell (katoikeo - permanent abode) in Him (see note Colossians 1:19)

For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells (katoikeo) in bodily form (see note Colossians 2:9)

Katoikeo is used 44 times in 40 NT verses

Matt. 2:23+; Matt 4:13+; Matt 12:45+; Matt 23:21+; Lk. 11:26+; Lk 13:4+; Acts 1:19-20+; Acts 2:5, 9, 14+; Acts 4:16+; Acts 7:2, 4+ (2x), Acts 7:48+; Acts 9:22, 32, 35+; Acts 11:29+; Acts 13:27+; Acts 17:24, 26+; Acts 19:10, 17+; Acts 22:12+; Eph. 3:17+; Col. 1:19+; Col 2:9+; Heb. 11:9+; 2 Pet. 3:13+; Rev. 2:13+ (2x); Rev 3:10+; Rev 6:10+; Rev 8:13+; Rev 11:10+ (2x); Rev 13:8, 12, 14+ (2x); 17:2, 8

There are over 485 uses of katoikeo in the Septuagint (LXX) which will not be listed here to preserve space. It is however interesting to note that the second use in the OT is somewhat similar to the last uses in Revelation (see "earth dwellers" below)…

And it came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled (Lxx = katoikeo) there. (Genesis 11:2+) (Comment: It was here at Babel that men rebelled against God's will, which is the same place they will rebel in the Revelation! Some things really don't change much!)

Katoikeo is translated as follows in the NAS: dwell(17), dwelling(1), dwells(3), dwells within(1), live(7), lived(7), living(4),resided(1), residents(1), settled(2).

Note that there are 13 uses of katoikeo in Revelation, most describing unbelievers who are "earth dwellers" (this is as good as it will ever get for them!) which are warned in Revelation 8+…

And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who dwell (present tense) on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" (see note Revelation 8:13)

John sums up the belief and fate of these earth dwellers writing…

The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell (present tense) on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. (See note Revelation 17:8) (Comment: Clearly these are those who refuse the Gospel and whose names are not written in the book of life.)

Understanding the meaning of katoikeo helps us envision the glorious picture Peter is painting of a righteousness that is no longer a "sojourner, wanderer or guest", but is a "permanent, safe and secure resident" in our new eternal home. In that glorious new day there will no longer be those among us who wantonly violate or rebelliously oppose God's standards of what is right. All entering this "brave new world" (in marked contrast to the counterfeit "Brave New World" of Aldous Huxley) will be in perfect agreement with God's sovereign will and rule. Prophetic revelation assures every believer that God's program for mankind will not only lead to a cataclysmic judgment and radical extirpation of evil but will just as surely culminate in His eternal reign in righteousness. And all God's people cry "Thanks be to God for His glorious redemption!"

In the final analysis, Righteousness is a Person, our Lord Jesus Christ (1Co 1:30), Who will take up His rightful position of permanent residence and rule over and among His "special, peculiar people", those redeemed from every lawless deed and every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

John elaborates on this promised divine utopia explaining that

the tabernacle of God is among men and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them… and He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said "Write, for these words are faithful and true. (see notes Revelation 21:1; 21:2; 21:3;21:4;21:5)

Let's summarize the end time sequence of events, recognizing that not everyone will agree because they don't accept a literal interpretation of Scripture as the most normal, natural and accurate and the big point of disagreement is the 1000 year reign which spiritualized or interpreted figuratively by many.

So to recap the events:

  1. First, the Lord Jesus comes to Rapture His church out,
  2. Then comes phase one so to speak of this extended time period called the day of the Lord, which is initiated by the Great Tribulation.
  3. In the last three and one-half years of the 7 year period described by Daniel.
  4. Then saints come back to earth at the end of the Great Tribulation and reign with Christ for one thousand years in glorified bodies.
  5. At the end of that time Satan is unleashed and leads one final rebellion which is in a sense the second phase of the Day of the Lord, separated from the first phase by 1000 years. (See Millennium 2 - events leading up to the Millennium)
  6. At this time Satan is defeated and God destroys the universe and usher the redeemed of the Lord into the day of God and the new heavens and earth.

That's what we have been redeemed for and that great event is what we should be eagerly anticipating so that we live with expectation. Remember that "the best is yet to come"!

Seeing that saints have such a glorious future, is it any wonder Peter exhorts us to expectant living. O, weary pilgrim, have the embers of your first love grown cold? Drink deeply of Peter's exhortations and the Spirit will renew your mind and restore your passion for His kingdom and His glory.

Vance Havner - SOMETHING NEW TOMORROW!
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13+.
The year ends with a world in turmoil, sudden destruction possible. Peter tells us of a coming catastrophe that sounds like an atomic holocaust. How up-to-date, "... the elements shall melt with fervent heat..." (3.10)! But the Christian is looking tonight not just for a new year but a new age—new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be.... diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (3:11, 14). While the world drinks and dances into the New Year to spend tomorrow with a hangover, let the Christian meet it on his knees and meet tomorrow with a hallelujah!

James Smith - WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?

The Thessalonian Church had turned to God from idols to serve the living God, and to "wait for His Son for Heaven" (1 Thess. 1:10+). On the Great Day of Atonement the High Priest went within the veil—not without blood, and the congregation waited without looking for his reappearing. Now Christ, our Great High Priest, has gone within the veil by His own blood, and the Church without is waiting and looking for His appearing according to His promise (John 14:3+).

I. For His Son from Heaven. "Our citizenship is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20+). We are not waiting for death, nor for the Holy Spirit, who has already been given; nor for the conversion of the world, before He comes, for "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days when the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:30+). Certainly the world was not converted before the flood came.

II. For the Completion of Our Salvation. "He shall appear the second time to make their salvation complete" (Heb. 9:28+). Our salvation now, great as it is, is but the foretaste of what is yet to come. We have been saved from the penalty and power of sin, but not from its presence. Suffering and sorrow are still associated with our present condition. He who hath begun this good work will perfect it in His day.
III. For the Redemption of the Body. "We look for the Saviour, who shall change our mortal body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" (Phil. 3:20, 21+). This will indeed be "a new fashion" for the redeemed. The transfigured soul, with a transfigured body. It has been good to hear His Word; it will be better to see Himself, but best of all to be made like Him. This is the eternal life.

IV. For the Bridegroom of the Church. It was at midnight when the cry was raised: "Behold the Bridegroom cometh" (Matt. 25:6+). He is coming to receive His Bride unto Himself (John 14:3+). She is a cold-hearted bride who is not lovingly longing for the coming of her betrothed. If He tarry, wait for Him. He is faithful that hath promised. "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh" (Matt. 24:44+).

V. For the Consolation of Israel. "Simon waited for this, and the Holy Ghost was upon him" (Luke 2:25+). But Israel was not consoled by the coming Jesus. They hated Him, saying, "We will not have this man to reign over us," and clamoured for His crucifixion. So Israel is still unconsoled. But there shall come out of Zion their Deliverer, and so all Israel shall be saved (Rom. 11:26+). A saved nation will mean world-wide testimony and blessing.

VI. For the Reward that is to be Ours at His Coming. "Be like unto men that wait for their lord" (Luke 12:36+). Not in idleness, but with girded loins and burning lights, looking for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13+). "Lo, I come, and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according to his works." "Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:6+). "Watch, therefore, for ye know not when the Master of the House cometh" (Mark 13:34+).

VII. For the New Heavens and the New Earth. "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13+). Or, as this same apostle declared in his great speech: "Even Jesus, whom the Heaven must receive until the times of the reconstitution of all things" (Acts 3:21+). These new conditions in the elements of the heavens and in the principles prevailing on the earth, will be perfectly congenial to righteousness. God's testing fire will only purify (2 Peter 3:10+). The new heavens and the new earth will be made meet for His new creatures in Christ Jesus. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be.. life and godliness? (2 Peter 3:11+). See that ye don't fall behind in this gift of waiting for the Coming (1 Cor. 1:7+).

A little girl was taking an evening walk with her father. Wonderingly, she looked up at the stars and exclaimed: "Oh, Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what must the right side be!"

 —Charles L. Allen in Home Fires. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 6.
   See: Revelation 21:1+; 2 Peter 3:13+; 2 Corinthians 5:1+
 

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