3:1-7 What do we learn from what Peter says here?
3:1-7 What do we learn from what Peter says here?
We learn from this that those who scoff at the promise of Christ's second coming, erroneously believe that God will not intervene in human history to punish the ungodly and bring down judgement upon the earth, even though it is taught throughout scripture (CP Psa 102:25-26; Isa 2:10-21; 13:6-16; 24:17-23; 34:1-8; 51:6; Jer 46:10; Eze 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:30-31; 3:9-16; Amos 5:18-20; Obad 15:16; Mic 1:2-4; Hab 2:3; Zeph 1:7-8, 18; 2:2-3; Zech 14:1-7; Mal 4:5-6; Mt 24:45-51; Lu 17:24-36; 21:25-28; 1 Th 5:2-3; He 1:10-12; 10:37; Rev 6:12-17; Rev 19:11-21).
The scoffers think that because everything has continued without God's intervention for so long that it will just go on forever.
They have deliberately closed their minds to the flood judgement in Noah's day, when God destroyed the earth and all its inhabitants because of their wickedness. Only Noah, his wife and three sons and their wives, were saved (CP Gen 6:1-14, 17-18, 22 with Mt 24:37-39; 1Pe 3:18-20).
Just as surely as God destroyed the earth and all its ungodly inhabitants by water in Noah's day, so too will He destroy the heavens and the earth and all its ungodly inhabitants in the age to come. This time however, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed by fire (CP 2Pe 3:7, 10-12).
The word reserved in 2Pe 3:7 (KJV), means "to lay up in store".
This underlines the absolute certainty of a future judgement.
This judgement will take place at the time of the great white throne judgement at the end of Christ's one thousand years reign on earth, when all the ungodly who ever lived will be cast down to hell "... the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men" (CP Rev 20:4-15).
After destroying the heavens and the earth by fire, God will then renew them (CP Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2Pe 3:13; Rev 21:1). See also comments on Rev 20:11.