2 Peter 3:1-9 (NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
V1 “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder)…” Peter writes, “Beloved,” because Christians are a family. Peter’s motive in writing this letter is for Christians of later generations to have Peter’s encouragements and warnings.
V2 “…that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior…” Peter reminds us of the holy prophets (not the false prophets) received a message from God and spoke and wrote the words for us to read. Peter knew the prophets because he had read and studied them. Peter states that the Apostles gave and give the same message. We are to believe those messages. The Greek word for mindful is (G3415) μνάομαι mnaomai, which means to remind (Jude 1:17) and to remember (Matthew 26:75) so as to be useful.
V3 “…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts…” First, scoffers will come in the last days, meaning that the closer we get to the fulfillment, the greater the scoffing. The last days for the church are those just before the Rapture. The last days for Israel refers to the Tribulation 7 years. These scoffers feel good enough in their scoffing to not fear God and to sin without guilt or worry of any punishment from God. BTW, the scoffers are wrong.
V4 “…and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” They question if there is a second coming. He has not returned for so long, so they make a wrong conclusion. If all of prophesy in the past came true, then the prophecies about the future will also come true.
V5 “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water…” This is not by ignorance, for they willfully forget. They shove out any possibility of a literal fulfillment. Humans have the capacity to be creative in our excuses to not believe. The Greek word for “word” is (G3056) λόγος logos, which means here God’s command, order. God commanded and creation appeared. The heavens would be the atmosphere and the universe. The sphere called “earth” was a ball of muddy water that God then separated the solids from the liquids.
V6 “…by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.” Noah preached for 120 years, and his prophecy of all air breathing creatures would die, did happen. That old world perished, so there went the perfect weather, etc. to begin with the seasons (Genesis 8:22).
V7 “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” The same word refers to God’s authority and power. He has commanded, and they are preserved and reserved for God’s judgment. The Day of Judgment is the end of present time where there is the final judgment of all those who refused to believe the Gospel and shortly thereafter to have the New Heavens and earth created (Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:15, and 2 Peter 3:13). It is guaranteed. The first world (the world people and culture of Noah’s day) was destroyed by water, the next world judgment will be by fire. What is God’s reason for such destruction? Sin! Breaking God’s laws has immediate, short-term and long-term consequences. The fire is literal–see 2 Peter 3:10.
V8 “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” This is not a rule for Bible interpretation of years or time. It does mean that God is timeless; He is the eternal now.
V9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God is not lazy or procrastinating, for He truly wants all people to believe and not go to hell. Longsuffering is not bringing immediate judgment but offering an opportunity to believe the Gospel. A comment found on Precept Austin on this verse: “Chrysostom an early church father said makrothumeo “is a word which is used of the man who is wronged and who has it easily in his power to avenge himself but will never do it.” (cf. Nu 14:18)”
We learn:
- God’s promises will come true
- God does punish sin
- God does not immediately but waits for people to repent