2 Peter 3:10-13

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Again, it’s important to remember that Peter had two audiences in mind — first-century Jews of the Dispersion, and Tribulation Jews for whom these events will be imminent.

Peter states in no uncertain terms that the “day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” Immediately after the Rapture, the next major event on God’s calendar is the Lord’s Day, as the foregoing phrase implies. It will be a day of wrath — a day of trouble, a day of vengeance, a day of darkness, thick darkness (Isaiah 63:2-6 cf. Zephaniah 1:14-18). Although the day of the Lord is usually closely associated with the Second Coming of Christ to the earth, it is actually an extended period which covers the following events:

1. The first three and one-half years of Jacob’s Trouble, known as the Tribulation (Isaiah 13:6-9; Matthew 24:3-14; Revelation 5:1-17).

2. The latter three and one-half years is called the Great Tribulation, which concludes with the battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ (Isaiah 13:10-11; Matthew 24:15-44; Revelation 16:13-16; 19:11-20).

3. The judgments of Israel and the nations, and the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Matthew 25:14-46; Revelation 20:4).

4. The battle of Gog and Magog, at which time God puts down the final rebellion against His righteousness (Revelation 20:7-9).

5. Then comes the end of time as we know it, when the kingdom is delivered into the hands of the Father and all the unsaved dead are resurrected and made to stand at the Great White Throne Judgment (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 20:11-15).

6. Simultaneously God will purge the present heavens and earth with fire (Revelation 20:11 cf. 2 Peter 3:10-12).

It is difficult to ascertain the exact extent of this period, but we do know that it covers at least one thousand seven years (Daniel 9:27 cf. Revelation 20:4).

With these things in mind, Peter transports his hearers to the last event of the day of the Lord when he states: “the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.“

The present heavens and earth, as we know them, are being preserved for a future judgment by fire. Like the days of Noah, this judgment will also be universal, but far more reaching. The combination of a “great noise” and the elements melting “with fervent heat” seem to indicate some type of a nuclear holocaust. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians we learn, “by Him all things consist,” that is, they are literally held together by His almighty power. …

Warnings of judgment are often followed by an admonition to live a godly life. Thus the apostle adds, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” — Sadler, pages 231-233.

__________

Hasting unto (v.12) = eagerly looking for and desiring. That “day” is fixed and cannot be hastened. It is in the eternal state that all the promises of God will be finally accomplished. It is at the close of the millennium that the present universe is to be dissolved. — Williams, page 1009.

__________

Out of the ashes [the fire during the Day of the Lord, v.10] comes a new day, the day of God, which introduces us to the eternal state. We believe this phrase is synonymous with the dispensation of the fullness of times spoken of by the Apostle Paul. “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” (Ephesians 1:10).

The gathering “together in one all things in Christ” here has to do with God’s eternal purpose for the heavens and the earth. Peter and Paul are in full agreement that the distinction between these two realms will remain throughout eternity. “Looking for” is an indication that Peter’s hearers were anticipating the day when they will reside on a new earth, with the Lord who bought them. It is not God’s purpose to create a new heavens and a new earth after the destruction of the former things of old. … The term “new” in 2 Peter 3:13 is the Greek word kainos, which denotes “not new in time, recent, but new as to form or quality, of a different nature from what is contrasted as old.” In other words, the heavens and earth are going to pass from one state of existence to another. God is going to simply renovate what we presently see around us, as the Scripture confirms (Psalm 104:5; Ecclesiastes 1:4).

As the heavens and earth are restored to a state of perfection, it will mark the completion of God’s plan of redemption, which included the creation (Romans 8:18-23). … Our inheritance as members of the Body of Christ will encompass the heavenlies where we will be seated with Christ. This, however, doesn’t mean we won’t have access to the earth. …

The new earth will be inhabited by the nation Israel and the other prophetic saints, according to the promise of God. During the prophetic program Israel held a preeminent position over the nations that will continue throughout the eternal state. She will have the honor of having the names of the twelve tribes inscribed upon the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem. Furthermore, the wall that surrounds this fifteen-hundred mile enclosure is said to have twelve foundations wherein are emblazoned the names of the twelve apostles of the kingdom. Interestingly, Paul’s name will not be among them. Why? He is the apostle of grace, the one apostle, ordained of God to make known the heavenly ministry of Christ (Galatians 1:1, 11-12 cf. Revelation 21:1-2, 12, 14). — Sadler, pages 233-235.