Reminder

Mockers don't believe the God intervenes in the affairs of men. They think that "all things continue as from the beginning". Nothing is changing.

What would most men today say if you asked them "are you ready for the coming of Christ"? They would probably have no idea what we're talking about!

Mockers forget these things

When men scoff at the idea that Christ is coming again, they forget a few things.

All things are upheld by the word of God

They for get that all things are currently upheld and were created by the word of God.

All things are preserved by his word

2 Peter 3#5 God created the world through his word and he preserves it to this day through his word.

God has intervened in the affairs of men before

2 Peter 3#6 God sent the flood to destroy the earth to judge the wickedness on the earth.

Peter will intervene again, just like he did at the time of the flood. 2 Peter 3#7

Revelation

The revelation of the Lord's heart is what Peter covers next.

The Lord's time table

Why has the Lord delayed sending his Son? The world is not getting more holy or righteous--only increasing in rebellion. Time is not the same with the Lord as it is with us: 2 Peter 3#8 He's not saying one day is equal to a thousand years or vice versa. He's saying the Lord is working outside the bounds of time.

Why is the Lord waiting? Why is he not judging it?

The Lord's Heart

2 Peter 3#9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise. He hasn't forgotten! The reason we waits is because he is long-suffering. The Lord is waiting that all men should be saved.

Ezekiel 33#11 We may thing that the Lord is so holy and just that he might even take pleasure in the death of the wicked. But, this is not the case. He doesn't want to see them perish.

Matthew 23#37 Jesus desired that the people of Israel be saved, to gather them to himself like a mother hen gathers her chicks.

God gave Noah many years to build the ark. Did Noah need all the time just the build it? Perhaps, but God could have enabled him to build one much quicker! Perhaps God wanted that time for Noah to preach to a wicked people time to repent.

Return

Yes, the Lord has a heart to save the lost, but the day of the Lord will come. 2 Peter 3#10.

There may be scoffers and intellectuals who mock this idea. But, the day will come.

A quick timetable:

The Day of Christ, the rapture
The Last Days (encompasses the time before and after the rapture)
The Tribulation (maximum high point when Christ returns)
The Day of the Lord, when the Lord returns personally

1 Thessalonians 5#3 the day of the Lord is not a thief in the night to the Lord's people because we know he's coming and we are prepared. To those who are not prepared, he will be like a thief coming. This will not be a day of peace and safety for the rest of the word. Christ will execute judgment. He WILL intervene in the affairs of men again! 2 Peter 3#10 and on does not paint a peaceful picture!

Peter is looking this far into the future to look beyond it to what comes after. It will lead into a glorious eternal state. All remnants of sin will be gone. Creation groans for the revealing of the sons of men, weighed down by the sin in the world.

Response

Are we walking in the spirit? Are we building up good works for him? We will stand before him and we do for him will be revealed as gold, silver and precious stones. The things we don't do for him, will be burned up.

2 Peter 3#11 how are we to respond? We are to be in holiness and acts of godliness (godliness is plural here). We are to be people ready to meet the Lord.

Two more things we must be doing: looking for and earnestly desire the coming day of God.

Examine my heart: is this my attitude?

We are surrounded by the attitude of "self": pushed by everything in this world. It's all about me. All about my happiness.

2 Peter 3#14 be a people that are found by him, spotless, blameless and at peace.

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