2 Peter 3:1-9 Future Things, Do Not Be Deluded
Verse 1
Beloved – This is the first use of this term in the letter. Peter uses it three more times in this final chapter. It is because they are beloved by the apostle that Peter wants to warn them of the coming dangers.
Second letter – This letter followed soon after 1 Peter and suggests the urgency of Peter’s message to them.
Your sincere mind – Their minds are pure but need to be awakened to danger.
By way of reminder – He is not teaching them new doctrine but reminding them of what they
already know. It is easy for believers to get accustomed to God’s truth and become
complacent.
“The church needs to be aroused regularly lest the enemy find us asleep and take
advantage of our spiritual lethargy.”1 Warren Wiersbe
Verse 2
That you should remember – They should call to mind or remember what they already know.
The words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets – Peter spoke of the prophetic word in 1:19-21. The issue was the denial of the Lord’s second coming. The O.T. prophets had much to
say about this. Note passages like Isaiah 2:10ff, 13:6ff, Daniel 2:44-45, 7:13-14, Zechariah
14:1-11.
*The commandment of the Lord *– In context this would be Jesus’ commandment to watch for His
coming. Note Matthew 24:42, 25:13, Mark 13:33, 25, 37 and Luke 21:34, 36.
By your apostles – All of the apostles taught that Jesus would come again to set up His kingdom. Note Romans 11:25-29, 1 Thess. 4:13-17, 5:1-11, 2 Thess. 1:5-12, 2:1-9, Hebrews 9:28, 12:28 etc.
Verse 3
Know this first of all – Peter used this exact same phrase in 1:20. The emphasis is on the
importance of the subject.
In the last days – This is a fluid term. In one sense the last days have arrived (Hebrews 1:2); in another sense they become more evident as we approach the second coming of Christ
(2 Timothy 3:1, Matthew 24).
Mockers will come with their mocking – Jude makes the identical statement in Jude 18. A mocker is someone who treats lightly that which should be taken seriously. Mockers signal the presence of the last days.
Following after their own lusts – Because they have no fear of coming judgment they revile in immorality and greed.
Verse 4
Saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ - Because of time and the uniformity of the world they assume that things will continue as they have in the past.
Since the fathers fell asleep – Those people to whom the promises were made. Note Hebrews
11:10, 13, 16, 39-40.
All continues just as it was from the beginning of creation – Naturalism is their foundation.
Verse 5
For when they maintain this it escapes their notice – The text literally reads, ‘For this escapes their notice willingly’. Their actions are based on willful ignorance of revealed truth. They deliberately ignore the testimony of Scripture, especially in the areas of creation and the flood.
That by the word of God the heavens existed long ago- A direct reference to Genesis 1.
And the earth was formed out of water and by water – The earth actually existed ‘in the midst of water’. Note Genesis 1:6-7. It appears that the pre-flood world lived under a water canopy.
Verse 6
Through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. – Genesis 7:11 states that “…all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.” It appears the canopy collapsed and all the waters came plunging down to the earth. The very waters of creation became the waters of destruction and judgment.
Verse 7
But the present heavens and earth – Notice that Peter brings the past, present and future
together:
Past – The world at that time, verse 6.
Present – The present heavens, verse 7.
Future – New heavens and a new earth, verse 13.
By His word are being reserved for fire – Isaiah concludes his prophecy saying, “…the Lord will come in fire…the Lord will execute judgment by fire and by His sword on all flesh…” Isaiah 66:15-16. In the last words of the O.T. Malachi says, “…the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze…” Malachi 4:1
Kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men – It is the word of God that holds the present heavens or world together. Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power (Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:3). The word ‘kept’ means reserved or stored up. God’s wrath is being stored up and the day of judgment is coming! This present world will be made new (Revelation 21:1).
Verse 8 – Why does God delay?
But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved – Literally, “Do not let this be hidden from you.” Do not let it slip from your mind.
That with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day – God does not experience the passing of time as a short or long period. God is not bound by the
experience of time as we are. There may be a shadow here of the days of creation and the
7th day of rest being a type of the 1000 year millennium. If so this would be another
indication that we are in the last days.
Verse 9 – Why does God delay?
The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness – Another way of saying that
human reckoning of time carries no weight with God.
But is patient toward you (us), not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance - The you (us in the majority text) refers to all mankind, believers included.
But for all to come to repentance – This implies a change of mind leading to eternal salvation but in context it seems the repentance will also delay the coming of The Day of The Lord. (Jeremiah 18:7-8). God is not in a hurry to begin the process of judgment. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:13, 32, 33:11). God desires all men to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4).
The seeming delay of the Second Advent is based on two realities about God:
1 – His relation to time.
2 – His compassion toward mankind.
1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 462). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.