What does the second epistle of peter 3-8 mean?

Answer 1

II Peter 3:8 says this "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day."

This is basically saying that time doesn't matter much to God. He doesn't see time like we do. I think it is referring to the seven days God warned Noah to get into the ark. If you use this math and go forward 7000 years from the date of the flood of may 21 4990 bc. It comes to may 21 2011. And that's just around the corner.

Answer:

The scripture doesn't stand alone, but must be taken in context. Peter is speaking of the "last days" [verse 3] of man's rule on earth, and the advent of God's Kingdom taking over the rulership thereof. It's called the "Day of the Lord"... or Jesus Christ's "hostile takeover" of the earth... [His return in wrath] to establish the Kingdom of God on a dying earth amid the protests of man's governments and the best efforts of man's technology and military capabilities to stop Him.

"And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come..." (Rev.11:18).

People "scoff" at talk of such "nonsense." Where is He? Why doesn't he come? The world goes on... and talk of Christ's return is the epitome of foolishness. Unfaithful, unbelieving people are "rewriting history," in these last days: the flood never occurred... Adam. Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jesus; never existed... and the World War II 'holocaust' never happened.

Peter tells us that in the last days, people "won't believe the biblical account" of "Noah's flood." Of how the people of those days who, for 120 years, witnessed the building of the ark and heard the preaching of God's Commandments by Noah [Noah 'preached righteousness' to his generation -- II Peter 2:5, which The Bible tells us is 'all of God's Commandments' - Ps.119:172]

They were surprised when the flood came and "took them all away" and only Noah and his family were "left behind" and saved.

Peter heard this analogy from the lips of Jesus, first - [Matt.24:37-42]

Peter compares the gross unbelief of men in Noah's day with the conditions that will be extant in the "last days" at the time of Jesus' actual return [the Day of the Lord -- the Day in which he and the apostles thought they were living].

Then Peter mentions one day equalling a thousand years, and a thousand years equalllng one day... which he explains in his next sentence:

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering [patient] to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (verse 9)

A thousand years is a "long day" for men, but the same as "24 hours" to our Eternal and patient Creator.

Peter uses it in his mention of the Day of the Lord, which is described in other scriptures as Jesus' "thousand year [or, one-day] rule over the nations on earth."

Which lends itself to the biblical evidence of God's plan being a 6000 year "six-day work week" of man's time of "free will choices" and errant rulership on earth under the "god of this world" whom he chose to worship and obey, beginning in the Garden of Eden -- followed by the "thousand year Sabbath [rest] day of the Lord" [the millennial rule of Christ]. The "seventh day of the 7000 year week" in which man will not be allowed to "work his evil works on the Lord's Sabbath day."

Peter tells us that the second "flood" that's coming won't be "water"... but "FIRE!"

His name is Jesus Christ. "For our God is A CONSUMING FIRE." (Heb.12:29)

The whole thing is an "object lesson" for those to whom Peter is writing... to those who aren't scoffing... who believe, know and understand the Truth of what he is saying.

As "patient" as the Lord is... and as long as the days may be; a thousand years or 24-hours -- the last days are running out and the flood is coming on the whole world, whether anyone believes it or not.

And amid the dread, scoffing, and faithless unbelief of men in the last days... God's Children need to be taking stock of themselves and their lives - their conduct and their spiritual attitudes. And take HOPE in the future - the Eternity that is theirs through Jesus Christ, the coming "latter day flood."

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [conduct] and Godliness..." (verse 11).

"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord [the patience; the blessing of the gracious thousand year days] IS SALVATION..." (verses 13-15).