2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye 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:
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 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 the creation.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.
2Pe 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.
2Pe 3:8 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.
2Pe 3:9 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.
2Pe 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.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 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?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Here we have the second epistle from the apostle peter, (1st & 2nd Peter being my very favorite books of the bible) He starts out here saying that what he is about to say is to stir up your mind by way of remembrance. somethings where spoken he says about a time that will come, remember what was said about this time. it will be a time like no other, all of man kind will go after their own lusts, saying all things continue as they where from the beginning (sound familiar?). these things are signs of this day that is coming, verse 10 - the day of the Lord. it will come all of a sudden out of nowhere, like a thief in the night even. and the earth as we know it will come to an end. the elements will melt with fervent heat, this is hard to imagine. have you ever been close to a very hot flame? even at a distance you have to turn your face away or risk damage to your eyes and face. think of that very hot flame where ever it was when you saw it, now imagine it covering the entire earth and heavens. for us who are in Christ this may not seem very scary or maybe you believe in the rapture (i do) and so we know we will not be here for it, and the lost will be off to the judgement by this time. but i think if we can imagine all the things we love, like that river you fish in and the long road you drive down to think about things, and the home you where raised in all burning with a fervent heat, now we can start to get some type of image of what the lost will be going through in hell. there must be some sobering fact here because of what Peter has to say in verse 11. seeing that we know this is coming what kind of people should we be? what kind of life should we be living? why would he use the destruction of this heaven and earth as a kind of slap in the face to say WAKE UP people. this thing is coming and so you should be living like so. i think that the coming of the Lord, the melting of the elements, and the heavens being dissolved with fire all mark the end of the spread of the gospel. and this is why he uses this day as a wake up call to live each and everyday a certain way. i used to read this passage with excitement that a new day was coming in which all things would be new. i think thats ok, but we should also remember (because he said to remember) that this day is coming and that it will mark the end for all those with out christ, or should i say it will mark the start of an eternity of hellish flames.and lets not forget verse 14 - be diligent that you may be found IN HIM, without spot, and blameless. Be diligent brothers, be found in Him! and remember!
