The"American Wisdom Series"
    presents
Pamphlet #5120 KC2Peter6

Peter tells us that the scoffers in these last days are "willingly ignorant"

The Bible declares that there are 3 World Ages.

One has already passed away, one is present now, and one is yet to come.

The understanding of these 3 World Ages is essential to a having basic understanding of the overall plan of salvation.

So let's pick up where we left off in our last study, where Peter had just told us that the scoffers in these last days are "willingly ignorant" [meaning they are unwilling to study God's Word] of the fact that the Word of God declares that the 1st heaven and earth age, which Peter calls "the world that then was", perished.

And guess what?

That means they are also "willingly ignorant" of the fact that the same Word of God declares that this present earth age in which we live, the 2nd heaven and earth age, is going to pass away, also!

Read it for yourself:

2 Peter 3:7
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
This present earth age is going to end at the Great White Throne Judgment following the Millennium and we shall have a new heaven and a new earth age (Rev. 21:1), the third and final one which will be for all eternity.

Hallelujah!

[8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
But be patient and knowledgeable about the difference in the dimensions!

Our reckoning of time is not on the same scale as our Father's is in the spiritual realm.

A thousand years to us is simply one day with Him.

[9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Yes, God will keep all of His promises just as we know He has so far!

But there is really good news in the fact that His answers and promises seem slow to come to flesh man.

And that is that He has patience with us [thank God] and through His patience all who will can come to repentance and receive salvation.

But the sand will eventually run out of the hour glass no matter what the scoffers say, for it is written that it shall.

And when it does and that final trump sounds, it shall overtake those who are "willingly ignorant" as a thief in the night and rob them of their chance for salvation in this earth age.

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The Day of the Lord doesn't come upon everyone as a thief in the night, only to the willingly ignorant who walk in the darkness of the world.
1 Thes. 5:4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
It isn't going to surprise the Children of Light, the watchmen of God!
Rev. 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
But if you do watch and take heed He will not come on thee as a thief!

Let's read 2 Pet. 3:10 again:

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
To understand the rest of this verse you must know a few things:

(1) God is a consuming fire as documented by Hebrews 12:29; "For our God is a consuming fire."It is His fire that warms the heart of His children while at the same time consuming away stubble.

(2) The word "elements" comes from the Greek word stoicheion, Strong's #4747, and means "rudiments" or "principles", which are spiritual things and not physical matter or "material elements".

(3) Fire does not burn or melt spirit. For example you can not burn an "attitude" with a blow torch. Neither can you burn either good works or bad works with a match.
 

This verse simply says that the evil rudiments shall be destroyed at His coming.

[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Well, you don't want to be among those counted as stubble, do you?

Peter spent the entirety of his first letter instructing us how to conduct ourselves.

[12] 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?
Again, we look forward to the purifying effect of God's presence, the consuming fire, which fire purifies gold and completely destroys chaff, straw and stubble.
2 Pet. 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
There is a new heaven and a new earth coming, the 3rd Heaven and Earth Age.

The Word of God declares it.

He has promised it and He will keep that promise!

And only "righteousness" will dwell there for the evil "rudiments" shall all be burned with fire and consumed away!

[14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Take heed and study His Word, thereby growing in the grace and knowledge of Him, and "grace and peace will be multiplied unto you" (2 Pet. 1:2).
[15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
And understand and consider God's longsuffering, His patience with us, as salvation; even as Paul who wrote about longsuffering in Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and the Books of Timothy.
[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Notice that Peter gives credentials to Paul and calls his epistles "scriptures".

And yes, some of Paul's writings would be, and are for the unlearned, hard to understand if one doesn't know about the 3 Earth Ages. Eph. 1:4 where Paul talks about God's elect being chosen before the foundation/destruction of this earth age is really hard for some to explain.

But those who have eyes to see and ears to hear and "take heed" by growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord, find it quite simple and no mystery at all, for they can be "reminded" of the other scriptures and stirred up again, for they have studied them in earnest.

[17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Beware, take heed, and be stedfast.

Luke 21:8 "And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."

Instead, draw near to Him and to His Word.

[18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

To Him be glory both now and for ever.

And thank you Father for giving us your instructions through Peter, a fisher of men indeed!

Amen.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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