The day of the Lord

Peter turns from the terrible judgment faced by the false teachers to the brethren, whom he calls “beloved.” Peter writes to open-minded brethren with the purpose of reminding them of some facts they had already learned. Their minds had been purified through obedience to the truth. Truth had been dealt with by the prophets, the Lord and his apostles. The Lord had first delivered the commandment, or whole body of truth, and had used the apostles to tell the world (2 Peter 3:1-2; John 16:13-14; Acts 1:6-8).

The apostle warns that mockers of truth are coming. The "last days" are the days of the gospel age, which is the final age of God dealing with man (Acts 2:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-2). Several passages warn about false teachers who would come during the Christian age (Acts 20:29-31; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 John 2:18). Peter indicated they would be those who would seek to fulfill their own selfish desires.

These false teachers would center their scoffing on the second coming of Christ, suggesting that since the patriarchs died, or even the beginning of creation, all things continued like normal. This fits exactly the Lord’s statements concerning his return (2 Peter 3:3-4; Matthew 24:36-44).

This simple fisherman points out that the scoffers had ignored the creation. It proved things had not always been the same. God had spoken and the waters were separated to that above and below the firmament. Then, God spoke and caused dry land to appear (2 Peter 3:5). It was by means of the water above the firmament that God brought about the flood, which was also an event that proved things had not always been the same.

Peter contrasted the heavens and earth of his day with the earth that existed before the flood. That old world was covered with a flood. The present world is reserved, or stored up, for a destruction by fire. The word "perdition" could be better understood if we used the word destruction. Much like the world was not wiped out of existence by the flood, these ungodly men will not cease to exist but will be banished from God’s presence. “Perished" in verse 6 is the same one translated "perdition" in verse 7.

The passage of time did not mean that God would fail to keep his promise. Time is insignificant to an eternal being. God allowed time to pass, not because he forgot his promise, but because he is willing to suffer long with man in the hope that all will take advantage of their opportunity and repent. God desires the salvation of all men (2 Peter 3:8-9; John 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 2:3-4).

The promise will be fulfilled on the “day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:8; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2). This clearly refers to the second coming of Christ. It will be unexpected, like the coming of a thief (Matthew 24:42-44). “Heavens,” here, refers to the place where the birds fly. They will pass away with a loud noise, the noise of destruction possibly describing the roaring of a fire (see verse 7). The very building blocks of the universe, or elements which may be atoms or even smaller, will be melted in the flame. The earth and all of man’s works in it, such as houses, monuments, etc., will also be burned up.

Christians should be moved to recognize their ultimate home, or country, and live as if they really were its citizens (Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 11:13-16; 2 Corinthians 4:18). Christ’s disciples should live a pure and reverent life in the sight of God. The Christian should look forward to the Lord’s coming, according to Peter, and be so expectant that he would speed its coming if he could (2 Peter 3:11-12).