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2 Peter 3:9 and the Other Verses of 2 Peter 3

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for June 28th is 2 Peter 3:9.  The title of that book is pronounced “Second Peter.”  The title of the book 2 Peter is also known as “The Second Epistle of Peter” and “The Second Letter of Peter.”  In addition, for the names of the books of the Bible, instead of using the Arabic numeral 2, one can use the Roman numeral for 2; that Roman numeral is II.  With the Roman numeral, the book and chapter would be written as II Peter 3.  

The book 2 Peter was a letter written by the apostle Peter to believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in some provinces of the Roman Empire.  The capital city of the Roman Empire was the city Rome.  The word Rome can be used to refer to the city Rome, to the kingdom of which that city was the capital, to the republic of which that city was the capital, or to the empire of which that city was the capital.  The settlement that became the city Rome was founded in the 700s B.C.  Rome eventually became a kingdom.  That kingdom is known as the Roman Kingdom.  Then Rome became a republic.  That republic is known as the Roman Republic.  After that, Rome became an empire.  That empire is known as the Roman Empire.  The Lord Jesus Christ was born during the time of the Roman Empire.  

For broad geographical context, below is a link to a map of the apostle Paulʼs journey to Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire.  Absent from the map is any content showing any of the apostle Peterʼs journeys.  The capital city Rome is located in grid coordinate A1.  Jerusalem is also on the map.  Jerusalem is located in grid coordinate F4.  At the time that the apostle Peter wrote 2 Peter, Jerusalem was under the control of the Roman Empire.  At that time, Jerusalem was within the Roman province of Judea [joo-DEE-uh or joo-DAY-uh].  The word Judea can also be spelled Judaea or Judæa.  The character æ is a ligature [LIG-uh-chuhr or LIG-uh-choor] of a and e.  Before the Romans conquered the region known as Judea, the name of the country of the Jewish people was Judah.  The inhabitants of Judah can be referred to as Judahites [JOO-duh-ights].  The inhabitants of Judea can be referred to as Judeans [joo-DEE-uhnz or joo-DAY-uhnz].  

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/jp4.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/jp4.jpg

Listed below are the Roman provinces where the believers to whom Peter wrote 2 Peter were located.  Regarding those Roman provinces, the Roman province Asia refers to the western end of Asia Minor rather than the continent.  

Those Roman provinces were in different areas of what is now Turkey.  Below is a link to a map showing those Roman provinces.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/constable/60Pe1-1.jpg

For reference, below is a link to a map that shows the seven churches of Revelation.  The key for that map is located in grid coordinates B3 and C3.  The seven churches of Revelation are located in grid coordinate B2.  A list of those seven churches, sorted in order of mention in Revelation 2–3, is located in grid coordinate D1.  

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/nt2.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/nt2.jpg

Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to 2 Peter 3.  

Note:  In the context of 2 Peter 3, the phrase last days refers to the end of the Church Age.  With regard to the Church Age, below is a synopsis of human history as categorized into time periods known as dispensations.  In the below synopsis, there is the term hypostatic union [high-PUH-stat-ick YOON-yuhn].  This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ being 100% Deity and 100% humanity.  The English word hypostatic is derived from the Koine [KOI-nay] Greek word ὑπόστασις [pronounced hoo-PAH-stah-sees and transliterated as hypostasis].  After the Lord Jesus Christ was judged for the sins of humanity, His body was in the grave for three days and three nights.  He was then resurrected, and He was on the earth for forty days after He was resurrected.  He then ascended to Heaven, and ten days after that, the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst] occurred.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  

Regarding the word judgment, the proper way to spell that word is without an e between the dg and the m.  In that regard, the e of the root word judge is dropped when the suffix ment is added to that root word.  The formation of the word judgment is shown below.  

judge −e +ment

= judg +ment

= judgment

Another way to categorize human history is by means of civilizations.  Civilizations begin only with believers.  Regarding the timing of civilizations and dispensations, the first civilization began with Adam and ended on the occasion of the Great Flood (also known as the Flood).  That civilization is known as the antediluvian civilization and the predulivian civilization.  In that regard, the prefixes ante and pre mean “before.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time before the Flood.  Those spellings include antediluvian, ante-diluvian, prediluvian, and pre-diluvian.  

After the Flood, there were only eight believers on the earth:  Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sonsʼ wives.  With the removal of the unbelievers from the earth on the occasion of the Flood, a new civilization was started.  That civilization is known as the postdiluvian civilization (also known as the postdiluvial civilization).  Regarding the terminology, the prefix post means “after,” and the adjectives diluvian and diluvial mean “having to do with a flood.”  Also, there are various spellings of the adjectives that refer to the time after the Flood.  Those spellings include postdiluvian, post-diluvian, postdiluvial, and post-diluvial.  The postdiluvian civilization will end on the occasion of the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the occasion of the Second Advent, the Lord will remove all unbelievers from the earth.  Their removal will be by means of physical death just as the removal of all unbelievers was by means of physical death on the occasion of the Flood.  This is called the Baptism of Fire, which is either a metaphorical description because fire can be used to represent judgment or a literal reference to the use of fire in the judgment of unbelievers on the occasion of the Second Advent.  The Baptism of Fire is referenced in Matthew 3:11–12; Luke 3:15–17; and 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9.  

Just as a new civilization started after the Flood, so also a new civilization will start after the Baptism of Fire.  That civilization is called the Millennium.  The Millennium is both a civilization and a dispensation.  The Eternal State is also both a civilization and a dispensation.  

Below is content related to 2 Peter 3.  

2 Peter 3:1

This is now, beloved, a second letter that I am writing to you in which I stir up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

Note:  The word beloved is used to refer to fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore, Peterʼs letter was addressed to believers rather than unbelievers.  

2 Peter 3:2

that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the order/command/commandment of your apostles of the Lord and Savior, 

Note:  Old Testament prophets are referenced by means of the phrase holy prophets in this verse.  The phrase order/command/commandment in this verse refers to commands given by the apostles rather than to the Ten Commandments.  

2 Peter 3:3

knowing this first of all, that in the last days, mockers will come with mocking, following after their own lusts

Note:  As mentioned in the notes above the content of 2 Peter 3:1, the phrase last days in the context of 2 Peter 3:3–10 refers to the end of the Church Age.  

2 Peter 3:4

and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?  Indeed, since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of Creation.”

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the content of 2 Peter 3:4 refers to the Rapture or the Second Advent.  Regardless of whether the content of this verse refers to the Rapture or the Second Advent, this verse indicates that there will be mockers who will mock what the Word of God has indicated regarding the future.  

2 Peter 3:5

Indeed, they are willfully ignorant of this:  that heavens existed long ago and earth having been formed out of water and through water by the utterance/speaking of God, 

Note:  In this verse, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun heavens, and there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun earth.  The absence of a definite article in front of a noun is known as an anarthrous construction [an-AR-thruhs kuhn-STRUHK-shuhn].  When there is an anarthrous construction, the quality of the noun is what is being emphasized in the grammar of the Koine Greek.  In that regard, the quality of the heavens and the quality of the earth are being emphasized in this verse.  

Regarding the word heaven, below is a summary of the different usages for that word.  

• The first heaven (also known as [aka] first heavens):  the atmosphere of earth

• The second heaven (aka second heavens):  outer space

• The Third Heaven (aka Third Heavens or simply as Heaven):  the location of the throne room of God the Father

In the context of the content of this verse, the word heavens refers to the atmosphere of earth and to outer space, and it might refer to the location of the throne room of God the Father.  

2 Peter 3:6

through which the world at that time, having been flooded with water, was destroyed.

Note:  This refers to the Flood in the time of Noah and the ark.  As mentioned in the notes above the content of 2 Peter 3:1, that event can also be referred to as the Great Flood.  

2 Peter 3:7

However, the present heavens and the earth, by the same / by His utterance/speaking, having been reserved / stored up for fire, are being kept for day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  

Note:  The content of 2 Peter 3:7 references the heavens and the earth being kept in existence until after the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.  Regarding the word heavens in this verse, that word might refer to the atmosphere of the earth (also known as the first heaven or first heavens) or to both the atmosphere of the earth and outer space (the latter of which is also known as the second heaven or second heavens).  In that regard, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is any reference to the Third Heaven (also known as the Third Heavens or simply as Heaven), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located.  

In this verse, there is an absence of a definite article in front of the noun day.  As mentioned in the notes for 1 Peter 3:5, the absence of a definite article in front of a noun is known as an anarthrous construction.  When there is an anarthrous construction, the quality of the noun is what is being emphasized in the grammar of the Koine Greek.  In that regard, the quality of the day of judgment and destruction is being emphasized in this verse.  

2 Peter 3:8

Nevertheless, do not be ignorant of this one thing, beloved:  that from the Lord / with the Lord / in the sight of the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.

Note:  Regarding the usage of quantities involving the word thousand, large quantities are referenced in the Bible by means of thousands.  In that regard, the only two instances of quantities involving the word million in the Bible are expressed by means of the use of the word thousand.  One of those instances is in the Old Testament, and the other instance is in the New Testament.  The reference in the Old Testament involves expressing one million as a thousand thousands.  In that regard, the content of 2 Chronicles 14:9 references three hundred thousand members of the Israelite tribe of Judah and two hundred and eighty thousand members of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin—a total of five hundred and eighty thousand—defeating one million Cushites.  The Cushites were descended from a grandson of Noah.  That grandson was named Cush.  The father of Cush was Ham.  Where the land Cush was located is uncertain.  The reference in the New Testament involves expressing two hundred million as twenty thousand of ten thousands.  In that regard, the content of Revelation 9:16 references two hundred million fallen angels being released from a place of imprisonment at the Euphrates River during the Tribulation.  Those angels will kill people during the Tribulation.  Also, absent from the Bible is any reference to a quantity of a billion or more.  

The Millennium—the time that the Lord Jesus Christ will rule on the earth—will be one thousand years long.  In that regard, the content of Hebrews 4:8–9 covers the topic of Joshuaʼs leading of Israelites into the Promised Land not resulting in a complete rest for the Israelites in the Promised Land.  The Promised Land is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites.  The complete rest for Israelites in the Promised Land will start on the occasion of the Second Advent.  Below is content related to Hebrews 4:8–9.  

Hebrews 4:8

Indeed, if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

Note:  The complete rest that Israelites will experience in the Promised Land will occur during the Millennium, the 1,000-year reign of the Lord on the earth.  

Hebrews 4:9

Therefore, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Note:  Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, every seventh day was a Sabbath day, and every seventh year was a Sabbath year.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The topic of the Sabbath year is referenced in Exodus 23:10–11 and Leviticus 25:1–7.  The topic of the Sabbath day is referenced in Exodus 23:12.  Also, every fiftieth year was a Sabbath year.  That year is known as the Year of Jubilee.  In that regard, every forty-ninth year was also a Sabbath year; therefore, there would be two Sabbath years in a row during the time spanning every forty-ninth and fiftieth year.  The topic of the Year of Jubilee is referenced in Leviticus 25:8–17.  In addition, there were Sabbath days on certain days of the year each year.  Those Sabbath days occurred during the times of celebrations of feasts that were part of the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, there were seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year.  

Regarding the word Sabbath in Hebrews 4:9, the content of Hebrews 4:8 provides context for Hebrews 4:9.  Because the context provided by the content of verse 8 involves the 1,000-year-long Millennium, the content of verse 9 indicates that the Millennium will be a Sabbath Millennium.  That means that there are six other millennia that precede the Sabbath Millennium, which means that human history will be 7,000 years long.  

As of the time of the last editing of this message on June 28th, 2026, it is possible that human history is close to being 6,000 years long.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from thinking that the world is now in the midst of the Tribulation because the Rapture has not occurred yet.  Also, a believer should apply the content of Acts 17:10–12 whenever a believer becomes aware of anyone claiming that the world is in the midst of the Tribulation.  Below is content related to Acts 17:10–12.  

Acts 17:10–12

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Regarding applying the content of Acts 17:10–12 with regard to whether the world is in the midst of the Tribulation, the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation.  Also, the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 indicates that before the Rapture, people will declare “Peace and safety!”  With regard to that declaring of peace and safety, it is possible that the declaring of “Peace and safety!” before the Rapture will occur will be at the end of warfare that can be referred to as birth pangs before the Tribulation.  Also, because it is possible that the declaring of “Peace and safety!” before the Rapture will occur will be related to peace involving Israel, it is possible that that declaring of “Peace and safety!” will be in relation to warfare that involves anti-Semitism directed toward Jewish people.  

Also, the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 indicates that believers are supposed to be alert with regard to the timing of the Rapture.  In that regard, while the exact date of the Rapture might be unknown to a believer, a believer can be aware of current events that could lead to the events of the Tribulation.  Regarding being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors.  The mindset color code describes states of awareness.  Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.  

With regard to being alert for the Rapture, a believer who is oblivious is in Condition White.  In contrast, a believer who is alert is in Condition Yellow.  When a believer notices current events that could fit the pattern of circumstances that could lead to what will occur during the Tribulation, and if that believer then gets mentally prepared to share the gospel, that believer is in Condition Orange.  Regarding Condition Red, that condition is inapplicable to a believer experiencing the Rapture because the Rapture is a delivery from danger and because when believers will be experiencing the Rapture, believers will be unable to share the gospel with unbelievers.  

Because believers are unable to be in Condition Red with regard to the timing of the Rapture, believers need to be prepared for two things at once:  the Rapture occurring soon and the Rapture not occurring soon.  In that regard, a believer needs to keep living his or her life day by day, learning and obeying the Word of God.  Also, regardless of on what date the Rapture will occur, the time during which each Church Age believer has opportunities to be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of the Holy Spirit is rapidly running out.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The content of 2 Peter 3:8 is repeated below for reference.  

2 Peter 3:8

Nevertheless, do not be ignorant of this one thing, beloved:  that from the Lord / with the Lord / in the sight of the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance / change of mind.

Note:  God the Father wants everyone to have eternal life.  Because God the Father is just, He permits each person to use his or her volition (free will).  

2 Peter 3:10

However, the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and elements will be destroyed/dissolved, being burned up, and the earth and the production / acts / deeds / doings / labors / works / whatever with which a person is occupied / whatever a person undertakes to do / things done on it will be found/discovered/detected.  

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, the Second Advent, and the Millennium.  It will come like a thief because the Rapture will start that time period and because when the Rapture will occur, many people will be refraining from being prepared for the occurrence of the Rapture.  In this verse, the word heavens might refer to the atmosphere of the earth (also known as the first heaven or first heavens) or to both the atmosphere of the earth and outer space (the latter of which is also known as the second heaven or second heavens).  In that regard, absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is any reference to the Third Heaven (also known as the Third Heavens or simply as Heaven), which is where the throne room of God the Father is located.  As mentioned in the notes for 2 Peter 3:7, the event described in 2 Peter 3:10 will occur after the Great White Throne Judgment of unbelievers.  

In 2 Peter 3:10, the Koine Greek word that is translated as “production / acts / deeds / doings / labors / works / whatever with which a person is occupied / whatever a person undertakes to do / things done” is ἔργα [pronounced EHR-gah and transliterated as erga].  That word is an inflected form of the root word ἔργον [pronounced EHR-gahn and transliterated as ergon].  In the context of 2 Peter 3:10, ergon refers to whatever a person does.  

Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what is meant by the reference to the earth and whatever is done on it being found or discovered or detected.  Also unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is by whom the earth and whatever is done on it will be found/discovered/detected.  In that regard, the Members of the Trinity are omniscient [ahm-NISH-uhnt] [all-knowing]; therefore, they have always known and will always know everything that has been done, everything that is being done, and everything that will be done.  The same verb is used in 2 Peter 3:14 in the context of God the Father finding/discovering/detecting; therefore, Peter might be using finding/discovering/detecting in both verses to refer to God the Father revealing to some or all created beings what God the Father has already always known.  Regardless of what is meant by the reference to the earth and whatever is done on it being found or discovered or detected, this verse indicates that current heavens and current elements will be destroyed.  

2 Peter 3:11

Since all these things are to be destroyed/dissolved in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

Note:  The phrase all these things in 2 Peter 3:11 indicates that the earth and whatever is done on it will also be destroyed.  

2 Peter 3:12

waiting for / expecting / anticipating and desiring earnestly / awaiting eagerly / hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be destroyed/dissolved, and the elements, being burned up, are liquefied/melted?

Note:  There is a question mark at the end of 2 Peter 3:12 because that verse is a continuation of the question that started in 2 Peter 3:11.  Also, in 2 Peter 3:12, the phrase the day of God refers to the Eternal State.  In addition, in 2 Peter 3:12, the Koine Greek word that is translated as “desiring earnestly,” “awaiting eagerly,” or “hastening” is σπεύδοντας [pronounced SPYOO-dahn-tahs and transliterated as speudontas].  That word is an inflected form of the root word σπεύδω [pronounced SPYOO-doh and transliterated as speudō].  

If in 2 Peter 3:12, the Koine Greek verb that is transliterated as speudō is used with a meaning of “desiring earnestly” or “awaiting eagerly,” then this verse indicates that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should eagerly look forward to the Eternal State.  If in 2 Peter 3:12, the Koine Greek verb that is transliterated as speudō is used with the meaning of “hastening,” unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is how believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can hasten the arrival time of the Eternal State.  Some possibilities in that regard might involve the end of the Church Age occurring once a certain number of people become believers during the Church Age or once a certain number of instances of testing are successfully passed by believers during the Church Age.  Regardless of whether the use of speudō in 2 Peter 3:12 refers to eagerly looking forward to the Eternal State or to hastening the arrival time of the Eternal State, each believer should eagerly look forward to the Eternal State.  In addition, each believer should share the gospel—the good news about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior as the means of receiving eternal life—with people.  Furthermore, each believer should try to remain in fellowship with the Trinity when that believer experiences instances of testing, including instances of testing that involve adversity and instances of testing that involve prosperity.  Regarding being in fellowship with the Trinity, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

2 Peter 3:13

However, according to His promise, we wait for / expect / anticipate new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:14

Therefore, beloved, waiting for / expecting / anticipating these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

Note:  Absent from this verse and the surrounding verses is anything related to a believer being perfect.  Instead, this verse calls attention to the fact that each believer should refrain from sinning.  Of course, once a believer sins, that believer needs to confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins in accordance with 1 John 1:9, as mentioned in the notes for 2 Peter 3:12.  

2 Peter 3:15

and regard the patience of our Lord as deliverance, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,

Note:  The context of the verses surrounding 2 Peter 3:15 involves subject matter other than that of eternal life.  Therefore, it is logical to conclude that the deliverance referenced in this verse is deliverance from something or some things other than eternal judgment.  In that regard, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is from what the deliverance involves.  Also, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is how the patience of the Lord is involved with the deliverance referenced in this verse.  Regardless of what the word deliverance references in this verse, and regardless of how the patience of the Lord is involved with the deliverance referenced in this verse, this verse calls attention to the fact that the Lord is patient.  

2 Peter 3:16

as also in all epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Note:  The content of this verse indicates that some people distort both hard-to-understand content of the Scriptures and the rest of the content of the Scriptures.  Also, the people who distort the content of the Scriptures cause their own destruction.  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is the form or forms of destruction that the distorters of the content of the Scriptures experience.  Regarding the destruction mentioned in 2 Peter 3:16 and believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, a believer who refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is a believer who remains out of fellowship with the Trinity.  Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.  The sin unto death involves an early physical death.  For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  The topic of the sin unto death is covered in 1 John 5:16.  Rather than the content of 1 John 5:16 referring to some particular sin that is categorized as the sin unto death, the content of 1 John 5:16 refers to sinning in general that results in a believerʼs physical death occurring earlier than it would have had that believer regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  Regarding the destruction mentioned in 2 Peter 3:16 and unbelievers, an unbeliever who continues to distort the content of the Scriptures will continue to remain an unbeliever.  If that unbeliever continues to distort the content of the Scriptures until the unbeliever experiences physical death, then that unbeliever will experience eternal judgment instead of eternal life.  

2 Peter 3:17

You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

Note:  Being on guard requires alertness.  With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of the mindset color code that is referenced in the notes for verse 8.  As mentioned in those notes, the mindset color code involves four colors, and the mindset color code describes states of awareness.  Also, the mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin.  Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN).  The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature.  It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16.  The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies.  Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned.  All other human beings have been conceived.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature.  All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures.  Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.  

The content of 2 Peter 3:17 is repeated below for reference.  

2 Peter 3:17

You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

2 Peter 3:18

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen.

Note:  Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are supposed to increase their knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ.  The way that a believer increases that believerʼs knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ is by learning the Word of God.  Also, a believer must obey what that believer has learned of the Word of God.  The more that a believer obeys the Word of God, the more often that that believer is gracious.  

The Lord Jesus Christ deserves to be glorified.  In that regard, rather than a believer being focused on himself or herself, a believer should be focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ can be referred to as occupation with Christ.  Being focused on the Lord Jesus Christ contrasts with being focused on oneself.  A selfish person is focused on himself or herself.  Such a person is preoccupied with himself or herself instead of being occupied with Christ.  The means by which a believer can focus on the Lord Jesus Christ is by means of Bible doctrine—in other words, by means of the Word of God.  

Peter finishes the epistle with a focus on grace.  Also, it is worth noting that rather than Peter wishing that the recipients of the epistle have good luck, Peter focuses on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Absent from the Bible is any reference to luck.  Luck is a false notion.  In that regard, Peter finished this epistle by focusing on what is real:  grace.  

The Koine Greek particle that is translated as “Amen” in this verse is Ἀμήν [pronounced ah-MAYN and transliterated as Amēn].  At the beginning of a sentence or quotation, ἀμήν can be translated as “Truly,” “Verily,” “Most assuredly,” or “Point of doctrine.”  Also, sometimes ἀμήν is doubled at the beginning of a sentence or quotation.  When ἀμήν is at then end of a sentence or quotation, or if ἀμήν stands alone in its own sentence, ἀμήν can be translated as “I believe it,” “so it is,” “so be it,” or “may it be fulfilled.”  

Sincerely,

John