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. 9 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. 10 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. (II Peter 3:8-10)

 Many church members in the time of Peter thought that Jesus had returned. Paul had written the second letter to the Thessalonians because they thought Jesus had already returned and Paul said he had not and not to believe false doctrine 2:2-3. Peter echoed Paul’s words in his letter. Verse 8 is often isolated from the context to prove manmade doctrine for the return of Christ many years in the future to the work of Peter, but verse 8 simply says that time is not important to God as Psalms 90:4 says For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. God works in his own time, not man’s time.

Then in verse 9 Peter says God’s promise is sure but he is longsuffering makrothumeo--pronounced: mak-roth-oo-meh'-o (G3114)-God exhibiting patience waiting on the people to obey the gospel before his vengeance is taken on Jerusalem. Perish in the verse is apollumi--pronounced: ap-ol'-loo-mee (G0622) to destroy fully, die. The verse is in harmony and teaching with John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. God used patience and waited to give the disobedient one more opportunity to be saved. But his patience finally came to an end.

Verse 10 is one of those verses that look to a new material earth and into the future when Christ will reign on the earth. Most commentaries and Bible teachers take that view. However, that doctrine is an invention of men since it is not in harmony with the message of Christ. It generally revolves around Matthew 24:36 and its projection into the far future.

 At the time Peter wrote his letter, there were three doctrines being promoted in the church. The true message was Christ and the other two were Mosaic Ordinances and pagan practices. All three were addressed by Peter, Paul and Titus. Peter used a word that is used by Paul in his letters to the Galatians and the Colossians. Paul also touched on the false doctrine theme in his letters to Timothy.  Titus also addressed the same problems that Paul addressed to Timothy. By examining Paul’s and Titus’s letters, II Peter 3:10 becomes clear.

The examination of verse 10 begins with the word elements stoicheion-- pronounced: stoy-khi'-on (G4747). The word is used in Galatians 4:3 as elements and Colossians 2:8 and 20-rudiments. The word has nothing to do with the material or physical world as is taught. It means the principles, orderly arrangement and fundamental and initial teachings. In the contexts of Galatians, it refers to the Jewish and pagan practices.

Due to the millennial doctrines, the rapture doctrine and the belief that Jesus is going to return to a renovated earth based on II Peter 3:10, such beliefs cannot be supported by the scriptures because of the conflicts and contradictions those doctrines present.

Part XXIV will begin with an in-depth exposition of the word element and the verse in which it appears. The next part will start with Galatians 4:3.

 © 09-18-2012 DEC