As noted earlier, history and the meaning of words from the Old Testament to the New must be regarded to find the correct message for any given subject. That is especially true of the series of verses to be studied in Peter’s second letter. Peter undeniably is writing about the impending destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and not some future time many years away. Is his message that of a literal reign of Jesus on the earth and a new material heaven and earth? The answer is no to both parts of the question.

Verse 7 says, 7 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. The first task is to determine the meaning of heaven and earth. Unfortunately, the commentaries aren’t reliable sources for the meaning of the words in the verses of II Peter. The commentary writers hold the view that heaven and earth are real and that the events in II Peter are yet to occur. That view isn’t in harmony with other scriptures and does not recognize the historical setting for Peter’s letter.

What did Peter mean when he wrote heavens and earth? He meant the same as Jesus in Matthew 24:35 since Jesus applied the Old Testament meaning in that verse (Refer to Part XVI where it was explained that the context determines literal or figurative meaning.) Several verses in the Old Testament reveal what both Jesus and Peter meant.

 First is Isaiah 1:2-3 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Heavens and earth are identified as children and Israel.

Second is Isaiah 13:9, 10 and 13 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. Verse 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. Compare those verses with Matthew 24:29, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Third is Isaiah 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. God was speaking not of heaven and earth, but the Mosaic system since God had already created the material heavens and earth.

Fifth is Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  

Fourth is the word shake in Isaiah 2:19-21 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. The first word earth refers to judgment and the second the political system of the Jews coming to an end. (See Revelation 6:12-17)  

 Fifth is Haggai 2:6-7 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. Nations refer to both Jews and Gentiles who desired salvation and God will bring judgment upon the unbelieving Jews and the Gentiles who do not obey the gospel.

A companion verse to Isaiah 65:17 quoted above is Hebrews 12:25-29 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

  Peter’s use of the words heavens and earth conform to the Old Testament and in his letter they refer to the Mosaic system that would soon disappear. The examination of verses will resume in the Part XXIII with verse 8.

© 09-18-2012 DEC