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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? - 2 Peter 3:10-12

     It is quite common these days to hear various politicians and self proclaimed environmentalist “experts” warning us of the dire consequences of “global warming”. Generally speaking, their main concern seems to be rooted in the notion that this world as we now see it has the potential to continue on for infinite generations to come. They think the only thing that could possibly put an end to it will be the destructive nature of men and their unwise use of the natural resources which just happen to exist now in great abundance by some stroke of cosmic luck. Most of them think this earth upon which we live and move just appeared out of some big bang or other cataclysmic force of nature and is already billions of years old. They see no reason it shall not continue on the same course for another billion or two years as man in all of his wisdom gets more and more control over the “forces” that shape his world.

     I have no idea in what day or age this world shall be “dissolved”, whether it will be ten thousand years from now or tomorrow. However, I am certain that those things which we see with these eyes and now possess shall surely pass away in a fervent heat, the likes of which the earth has never experienced. That which is carnal or earthly cannot mix with that which is eternal and incorruptible. Since the scripture indicates that the place which the LORD went to prepare for HIS elect, is an incorruptible place, we can be certain that these things must pass away. (see I Pet 1:4; Rev 21:27) So we conclude that the apostle Peter taught us about “global warming” long before modern scientists and “has been” politicians ever thought of it.

     The destruction of this earth in a “fervent heat” is something that the men of this world do not want to be informed of. They prefer to ignore the warnings of scripture rather than contemplate an end to that for which they live and breathe. Peter said that there would be many in the latter days who would scoff at the promise of the LORD’s coming, preferring to walk in their own lusts and relegating the truth of the scripture to the same status as a fairytale. (see II Pet. 3:3) Even though most all religions speak of an “afterlife”, in most cases their concept of “heaven” is really just like earth in order to appeal to the flesh. For the carnal man, the things that really make him happy are the pleasures of this flesh and blood, whether it is some base desire as the fulfilling of his sexual urges or something as benign as playing golf. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:14) To such a man “heaven” would not be enjoyable unless he could continue to indulge his fleshly desires. He envisions heaven as a place where he can sit on the front porch in a rocking chair with grandma and grandpa and talk over old times or visit his favorite fishing hole. I am not sure exactly what the activity of the sons of GOD will be throughout the ages to come but I am certain that CHRIST will be at the center of it and that the chief desire of all those who are gathered there will be to worship HIM in spirit and truth.

     While we may not have a perfect understanding of the order and nature of all the events that will take place in the end of the age we can be aware that this world in which we now live is not eternal. It was created by GOD for an exact purpose and when that purpose has been fulfilled it shall be discarded. This event will take place :

     To the surprise of the vast majority of earth’s inhabitants. Peter compares the coming of the day of LORD to a thief in the night. (see Luke 12:40, I Thess 5:2; Rev 16:15) Of course the LORD taught him this very concept when HE walked with HIS disciples. (see Mat 24:42-44) While the scripture plainly says that the world (in general) shall be surprised and astonished at HIS coming yet the sons of GOD are not in the same darkness that they should be either astounded or shocked. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thess 5:4-5) In fact the scripture indicates that they shall be looking for HIM. “ For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:” (Phi 3:20) (see also I Thess 1:10; II Tim 4:8; Tit 2:13)

     Only when the elect have been brought to repentance. Peter said, “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.” (2 Pet 3:9) Some have assumed this verse to mean that the LORD keeps putting off this inevitable destruction because HE hopes that all men will repent and must in the end be disappointed when some perish in spite of HIS best efforts. However, the “all” here is modified and explained by the use of the word “usward” and the fact that Peter addressed this epistle to the beloved which is a reference to believers. Clearly what he is saying is that the day of the LORD shall come when HE has brought the last of those for whom HE shed HIS precious blood to a place of repentance by HIS SPIRIT, for HE is not willing that any one of them should ever perish. (see John 3:16; John 6:39; John 10:28)

     And the contemplation of it is for the purpose of stirring up the pure minds of GODs children. (see II Pet 3:1) “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness:” (II Pet 3:11) That man who is unconcerned with his conformity (or lack thereof) to the way of CHRIST is a stranger to grace and has no reason to think that he has been born again. We are hardly what we should be but by the grace of GOD, HE has brought us out of the darkness and into the light. HE has placed within the minds and hearts of those whom HE has made new creatures a longing to be made in HIS image and to be obedient to HIS commands. (see John 14:15-24; John 15:10; Phi 1:20-21)

     “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Cor 5:1-9)

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