2 Peter 3:7

2 Peter 3:7 ‘But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.'

‘present heavens and earth' -‘Present'-In contrast to the condition of the earth prior to the flood, the present earth, the earth as we now see it. As noted above, the flood drastically changed the physical features and contour of the earth's surface. In addition, considered the long life-times prior to the flood and how such life-times quickly diminish after the flood, it seems obvious that. major change in the climate, atmosphere, etc…also took place as. result of the flood. ‘Heavens'-The coming judgment, unlike the flood, will also affect the heavens.

‘by His word' -Once again, Peter stresses the power of God's word. The same word that created the planet and brought the flood, is the same word will bring final judgment. And included in the Word of God is the message which Peter preached, the message which these false teachers denied and mocked. God has kept His promises in the past, God has judged mankind in the past, and God will do it in the future. All the evidence suggests that if God says He is going to do something, then He will do it!

‘are being reserved for fire' -‘Again it is “the same word” that Peter is defending, and this time he is saying the fact that we do not see God actively judging his world is not. sign of his weakness. He is absolutely in control, and his powerful word is being exercised in that creation is reserved and being kept for its final judgment.' (Lucas/Green p. 134)

‘reserved' -‘keep, hold, reserve, preserve for something' (Arndt p. 814). In the present tense, inferring that the only thing that keeps this universe together is the watchful care and power of God (Colossians 1:17). God is simply keeping everything in tact, the universe isn't. self-sufficient system which could exist without God.

‘fire' -Mentioned in this context (2 Peter 3:10) and found in other passages associated with the final judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:7). At this point it is unfair to charge the biblical writers from borrowing from secular ideas. The Greek Stoics believed in. fiery end of the planet, but. fiery end that simply cleansed the planet. In addition, they believed that such. cleansing had happened many times in the past and would happen many times in the future.

‘kept for the day of judgment' -Man may naively think that this universe can have an independent existence, apart from God. But this universe is not going anywhere on its own. The physical universe (like the sinning angels and wicked people in chapter 2) is reserved and is presently being kept for judgment. The whole physical creation is headed for. personal encounter with. righteous and holy God---and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop it. Sticking our heads in the sand, or pretending that world will go on as it always has-won't prevent God from intervening!

‘destruction of ungodly men' -Including the false teachers who deny that such. day is coming. Everyone who denies the existence of hell, will experience it first hand. Again, the word destruction doesn't mean annihilation, but. loss of well-being, ruin (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Peter 2:9). From His past track-record, God has already demonstrated that unrepentant sinners are always punished (2 Peter 2:4). And that He will consign the vast majority to destruction if the vast majority are ungodly (2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 2:6; Judges 1:15).

God's Patience:

‘It is hard to tackle this theme without. shudder. But Peter's response is to call us to live. godly live in the light of it. As he will show, the reason for God's patience is to lengthen the days during which. change of heart is possible. Clearly, these are terrifying ideas; but we must not find them so threatening and distasteful that we refuse to believe them, for that is the error of the false teachers. Peter is convinced that it is God's right and duty to judge…and the wonder of his love is that it offer salvation against this background of destruction…The regular ordering of the seasons….all argue for. creator God who is patient. But that does not mean that the world is closed to him. False teachers should realize that the same word that guarantees the stable world they delight in also guarantees the judgment they mock.' (Lucas/Green pp. 134-135)