2 Peter 3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
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.
Now any honest Bible student would see that this fulfills Peter's prophecy that; "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:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
It also contradicts Hebrews 13:7 when "by faith, Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is accorded with faith."
Noah was one who would sigh and cry for the abominations of his people. This sounds very much like
Ezekiel nine to me, where God commissions an investigative judgment before the executive judgment-- for judgment was about to befall upon them.
Ezekiel 9.4-5
God says,
As far as human wisdom could see, the event predicted by Noah was not likely to occur. Rain had never fallen. Why would the God who had created such a beautiful earth destroy it with by a flood. I'm sure if Noah had set up a web page or started preaching today, it would be declared as the ultimate
exhibit of paranoia. How could Noah preach such a message if he was resting in the love of
God?
It wasn't sins that were drowned, it was people who hardened their hearts and would not
listen.
This is no parable-- this is history!
As it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the time of the end. (And so it is)
2 Peter 3.8-9
Before the destruction of Sodom, God sent a message to Lot,
There is to be a coming out, a decided separation from the wicked, an escape for our very lives. As it was in the days of Noah, as it was in the days of Lot; as it was in the days of Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, so it will be in the last days.
The message we hear now is ecumenicalism — let's join with all other's who profess to be Christians regardless of their beliefs and doctrines. The Bible says
There can be no compromise between God and the world!
Like the people living in Sodom, the people are dreaming of prosperity and peace and pleasure.
The majority of the people will reject God's mercy, and will be overwhelmed in swift and irretrievable ruin. But those who heed the warning shall dwell
The time has come to prepare to meet God. The call of the Spirit in our heart of hearts must be answered. Everything in the life must be squared by the Spirit with the Word of God, His law and the everlasting gospel.
As radical developments take place in the formation of the Papal New World Order, radical, deep and thorough preparation for what is ahead must be made. All other preparation is in vain if we fail in the spiritual preparation. We must learn to really communicate with our Master and Savior making Him supreme in our lives. There must be time for heart searching, and heart cleansing through the power of Christ's blood.
Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Luke 21.35-36
The Bible tells us that after Noah and his family entered the ark and the door was shut, seven days went by before anything unusual happened. The obedient ones inside the ark had to depend upon God's Word — for it seemed the predicted event would not transpire. Outside the inhabitants of the preflood world had their last parties, celebrating the stupidity of this paranoid old man and the deluded family members who locked themselves up in the ark. Silly, foolish people to limit their freedom in such a strange fashion and to think they expected other rational, people to do the same.
The flood did come! Filled with anguish the rioting crowd now began to shriek in anguish. "Oh, for a place of safety! O, had we only listened and obeyed we would now have rest from this dreadful fear."
Soon the party will end! Just like it happened to King Belshazzer, throwing a party while the enemy was at the gates, trusting that even yet all was peace and safety, so the party-pleasure- crazed world lives for self-indulgence imagining itself safe and secure while the greatest of enemies is at the gate and invading every stronghold, and God will soon step in to end it all.
Yes, there is a judgement. The investigative judgment is now in progress. The executive judgement will soon take place.
In light of the seriousness of the times what will we do. How will we choose to live?
Soon the verdict will be pronounced — will it be like Belshazzer
Painting by Robert Temple Ayres
A righteous heaven is only righteous if the inhabitants are righteous. Thus, those who would be citizens there need much more than the legal aspect of forgiving of sins. They need the blood of Christ to cleanse them and the Holy spirit lead them into harmony with God's law. For the will must be united with the Will of Christ, rebellion cannot enter heaven.
2 Peter 3.14
The Lord is longsuffering:
But now Peter gives us an interesting warning.
Peter points out that Paul has given the true light, but people would wrest it to their own destruction. People would take the precious blood of grace that was to cleanse us from sin and trample it under foot by declaring obedience to God's law is not necessary. (Hebs. 19)
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:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
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.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
The message of Noah was a judgment message.
For 120 years Noah preached the message, calling people to repentance and to come into
the ark of safety. But they would not. They hardened their hearts with the deceitfulness
of sin. They hardened their hearts in rebellion. Therefore they could not enter the provision
God made for their "comfort" -- all Noah's sighing and pitying could not ease their terrible
end.
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.
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.
God sends a message of warning before destruction comes. That is His consistent pattern throughout the Bible. Prepare thyself to meet thy God! Get ready — watch and pray, put on the whole armor, resist the devil and draw very close to THY GOD — the ONE WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH!
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.
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?
2 Peter 3.13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him has written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
It is Paul's writings today, that are being twisted to mean God no longer has a written standard, a moral code. It is Paul's writings today, that are being twisted to mean grace does away with faithful and steadfast obedience to God's moral law.
Part One --Peter's Message
Part Two -- Peter's Message
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