38E.1 Will everyone take this warning of the earth's
impending doom seriously?
In 2 Peter 3:3-4, this is written:
First, I want to remind
you that in the last days there will be scoffers who will laugh at the
truth and do every evil thing they desire. This will be their argument: "Jesus promised to come back, did he?
Then where is he? Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything
has remained exactly the same since the world was first created."
(NLT)
Apostle Peter prophesied that in the last days
- Scoffers will come, who will laugh at
the truth and do every evil thing they desire.
- They will argue and scoff at the
truth about the second coming of Jesus. This will be their argument:
- So Jesus promised to come back, did he?
- Then where is he? He'll never come!
- Why, as far back as anyone can remember,
everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first
created.
38E.2
What did these scoffers deliberately
forget?
They deliberately
ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and
an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which
the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been
stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction
of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:5-7, RSV)
They will intentionally close their eyes to the truth,
an deliberately ignore these facts, that:
- by the word of
God, the heavens and the earth were created
- and by the word of God, the
ancient world was deluge with water and perish.
- It is by the same word that the
earth has been reserved for fire on Judgment Day.
Thus, if until now the world still stands
as it does, it is because God has not yet released the word which would
spell the total destruction of present world with all the works in it, and
all ungodly men will perish.
38E.3
What did Apostle Peter admonish those who
patiently wait for the Lord?
In 2 Peter 3:8, Apostle Peter said:
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
(RSV)
For those who patiently wait for the Lord, please don't forget this
fact: that with the Lord, a day is a thousand years.
The Lord isn't
really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No,
he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so
he is giving more time for everyone to repent. (2
Peter 3:8, NLT)
Apostle Peter also reminded them that the
Lord is simply giving everyone more time to repent.
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