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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