Who is Waiting for Whom?
Dennis Strellman 11/28/2010
My wife Luiza had requested a message on the return of Christ. In her early experience as a believer in Romania this was a frequent sermon topic. She misses the topic. I miss it too. So when I had the opportunity to preach on this 1st Sunday of advent she even offered to write the message for me. "Other people write the president's speeches."
Out of the 27 books in the NT, only 4 do not explicitly speak of Jesus’ return and 3 of those are only one chapter long. There are 260 chapters in the NT and there are 300 references to the 2nd coming. The 2nd advent of Christ is an important topic.
We have been looking at how God used Peter in the book of Acts, in 2 Peter we find his farewell at the end of his ministry. In 1:13-15 he writes “I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
I like how he talks about death, “my departure”, “this earthly dwelling”. Concluding in chapter 3, “This is now…
[2 Peter 3]
My passion for presenting scripture from memory began at BIOLA university. []
I saw a sign, “Bible Recital on Romans, Friday 7pm”. A student had memorized the book of Romans and presented it dramatically that night to about 30 of us. It was awesome!
Another student got me involved in Spanish churches. So I memorized 2 Peter in both English and Spanish. Then in 1990 I went budget traveling to South America.
[]Chile is the longest country in the world from North to South. I began in Arica in the North, the driest inhabited place on Earth with average rainfall of less than 1mm. []
[]There I met a Catholic priest, who asked me to recite 2 Peter from memory for his Bible study group. He also allowed me to recite 2 Peter again after mass in this church, full of people. []I continued to recite 2 Peter in 20 other churches as I worked my way down to Tierra del Fuego in the South. It is beautiful, but ask me sometime about the ride on this ferry.[]
That was November 28, 1990. So it is appropriate, 20 years later to look at 2 Peter
We will look at several questions about the return of Christ like, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
Along with the where, let’s examine the what, why and who. We would really like to know when, but Jesus told us that not even the angels of heaven know that.
1This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
OK, so this is his second letter to the same group.
Who are they? Where are they?
Peter calls them beloved, so they are believers
1 Peter 1:1 Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens
They reside as aliens (like many of us expats, foreigners to Hungary)
1 Peter 2:9-11 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers…
Do you think of yourself as an alien? You don’t belong here. Sure you may have residency, you may have a passport, you may own a home, but this is not your home.
The people of God is a new identity. “You were not a people”.
There is even a reason given, “That you may proclaim the excellencies of Him”
What is Peter's purpose in writing? This letter is specifically addressed to problems with false teachers and chapter 2 describes these people in detail. The climax of this warning deals with their denial of the return of Christ.
There is something in man to want what is new. Peter says this is a reminder. Unlike their claim to secret, hidden or new information, this is not new information. In 2:1 he writes, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you.” This implies that new revelation is no longer common or needed, so the enemy has switched tactics to distorting and discounting the clear teaching of scripture.
2that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
This is not my doctrine (Peter says) it is God's, and you have the witness of both OT prophets and the commandment of the Lord, or NT, spoken by your very own apostles.
Remember the Great Commission to the apostles? They were told to teach “all that I have commanded you”, which includes that command. These are not suggestions but authoritative, true, commands that require obedience.
3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
Now a mocker is more than a skeptic. They love to ridicule and have a joke at the expense of others. This is an emotional attack on our faith. Peter is writing to people who are suffering. He knows he will soon pay for his faith with his life.
Notice where these mockers look for direction... “their own lusts”.
As it says in 1 John 2:16
16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
These false teachers, these mockers operate from a world based power and authority source.
The focus of their attack is on the return of Christ. Why? Because this is our source of hope and holiness, of joy in suffering, and their source of terror. They don't want to face judgment. They are not interested in being accountable to God. They want an eschatology that fits their immorality.
Their argument is based on uniformity, “all continues just at is was”. They say, “there will be no judgment because this is a closed system governed by fixed principles. There are no divine invasions or interventions.”
5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
They shut their eyes, they ignore. They don't even remember the flood. Talk about a big cover up! We don't need to find an ark on Mt Ararat, you can find seashells in many parts of the world at high elevations. That is a little difficult to explain. Well you see there are tectonic plates and upthrusts and earthquakes. Right. But those places were underwater. Have you seen Grand Canyon national park? It took a lot of water to make that place.
Notice the agent of creation, “the word of God”.
In Genesis 1 every step of creation begins with His word.
Then God said, “Let their be light”.
Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”
7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The return of Christ is a package, it includes fire, it includes destruction.
Notice how it describes these men, "ungodly". That is their main problem.
Compare this with Jude 14-15
14It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,
15to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
Jude says “ungodly” 4x in one verse! What does it mean to be ungodly?
All the good things about God… they ain't. Merciful, kind, gracious, loving, holy.
Peter begins this letter:
3seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust”
This is not our merit, this divine nature, this godliness, it is a gift.
But it is also a requirement. You have to be family to live with God.
8But 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.
KJV says “be not ignorant”. The mockers choose to be ignorant, not you.
The thousand years may refer to Psalm 90:4; "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night."
This phrase about a thousand years is common in rabbinic writings. Check the sermon notes on our danubechurch.org website of you want to read the link about this. http://gill.biblecommenter.com/2_peter/3.htm
Some people think God's plan involves seven periods of about one thousand human years, but this could also just mean that God's timing is not ours.
Let’s not get stuck on the timing of this. More important than “when” is the question of who and what. Who are we dealing with? God. What are we discussing, a theory? No, a promise.
9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
This is a promise, not a theory. It is going to happen. God is the one who promised and He can be trusted. Another thing about God, He is not slow. God is right on time. We may think He seems slow, but that is because we lack His patience.
We live in an instant society. Travel is fast. Communications are instant. I could not function without a microwave oven. You can buy a home and pay later. “Why wait?” we want teenagers to ask. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...”
Waiting is worth it. Waiting is His strength.
God's promises are never late. When Jeremiah prophesied that Judah would be expelled from the land and held captive in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12. Knowing this, Daniel prayed accordingly (Daniel 9:1-3ff.). Likewise, the birth of the Lord Jesus came about exactly on schedule (see Daniel 9:24-27; Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4-5; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Patient about what? You. You! You and I are the problem!
Jesus has not come back yet because God is waiting for us.
Peter is writing to believers, so I don't think we are talking about your repentance, but your witness. You are the salt and light for this world that is destined for destruction. Look at what we see of the heart of God! "not wishing for any to perish".
It is delayed, not cancelled, the day will come.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
How does a thief come? You wake up and your car is missing. Your house is broken into. You might think Sneaky. Silent. But this is not silent, only sudden and unexpected. This says "roar...intense heat", it won’t be unnoticed.
Jesus says in Matthew 24:36-39, 42-44
36"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
37"For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah.
38"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.---
42"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43"But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44"For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
This surprise element is an important part of God’s plan.
What does it mean to be ready?
11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
Here is the logical action. Because all these things are to be destroyed, Don't fill your basement with money.
But where should we be investing? godliness, holy conduct
Remember the main problem with the mockers? Ungodly.
12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
Now that is an active word "hastening". God is waiting for us.
"Looking for" is pretty active too, but hastening tells us that the timing depends on us. We are looking for the Day of God, which is a package that includes destruction: heavens burn, elements melt, intense heat
Peter describes a fire so intense that seemingly indestructible matter is completely destroyed.
That sounds pretty bad. But here is the positive side.
13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
New heavens, new earth (this one has a lot of problems), righteousness dwells (it becomes permanent) It ain't going nowhere.
Until now we have had righteousness visit in the person of Jesus, and we have seen hints of it in others who are created in His image, but this will be permanent and pervasive. Wow!
The final words of the great Apostle Paul seem to be found in 2 Timothy. In chapter 4:7 and 8 he identified Christians as those who love His appearing. True believers love the appearing of Jesus Christ. That is our hope, that is our desire, that is our ultimate goal and glory.
14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
More great application of these truths. Our expectation is to drive our life in an active way. Here we see that it is possible, even expected that we can be diligent about peace and holiness. Did you know you have to work hard at peace?
15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;
Here it is a 3rd time. The connection between the delay and salvation.
God is waiting for us.
In chapter 2 verse 5 Peter describes Noah as “a preacher of righteousness”.
And in 1 Peter 3:20 “Who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through [the] water (1 Peter 3:20).
How long did Noah build the ark? 120 years That is a lot of preaching.
Who do you know that hasn’t yet entered the door?
just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
This is a great connection to have, an anchor for the inspiration of scripture. Peter refers to Paul’s writings as scripture. This shows he was familiar with the writings, that he endorses them, that he endorses them not just as good advice, but as the New Testament.
Here are a couple of verses from Paul to the Romans about God's patience connected with salvation and judgment. (Peter was probably writing from Rome.)
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4).
22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? (Romans 9:22).
17You 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,
18but 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.
Being on your guard has both a negative and a positive element: don’t fall, grow.
The Greek word for error here could also be translated delusion or deceit. They are ready to deceive you, but they themselves are deceived.
How do you grow in grace? The word “charis” here can be gratitude, graciousness, or gratifying. So think of someone who lives out of thankfulness, who extends grace to others, who gratifies or brings delight to Jesus. We can and must grow in all this to be on guard.
Then we are to grow in the knowledge or science of Him as well. That is not just knowing about Jesus, but walking in His character and will.
This will bring Jesus glory starting now and continuing forever.
Scoffers ask, “Where is the promise of His coming?” The godly ask, “How long, Lord, how long?” A world of difference exists between these two questions. One is a question rooted in sin and unbelief. The other is founded on faith and hope.
It may be at morn, when the day is awaking
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory
To receive from the world "His own."
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song
Christ returneth! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Amen. Hallelujah! Amen
It may be at midday, it may be at twilight
It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight
Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory
When Jesus receives "His own."
While its hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending
With glorified saints and the angels attending
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory
Will Jesus receive "His own."
Oh, joy! oh, delight! should we go without dying
No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying
Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory
When Jesus receives "His own."
– Christ Returneth (It May Be at Morn)
Written by HL Turner (1878) and composed by Jams McGranahan (1906)
http://bible.org/seriespage/scoffers-second-coming-and-scripture-2-peter...
http://www.biblebb.com/files/mac/61-24.htm
http://bible.cc/2_peter/3-8.htm