The Day of the Lord
2 Peter 3:10-13
Introduction
I love to sing the hymn “This is the day that the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it”. For me it’s very meaningful. In my personal experience some days are really “good days” and it’s just right to rejoice because of God’s grace, blessings, faithfulness, mercy, guidance, love, deliverance, etc., are all there. However, there are days which we call a “bad day”. Why? Because everything that is happening is not according to what you expect and what you want to happen. You have a flat tire, or dead battery and you are late to work. You forget your wallet, or you made a mistake while working. Worst, is when you have no money and you have to pay your bills. The possibilities are endless. I never believe that there is a bad day for the Word of God say that “that all things work together for good to them that love God…” God has a purpose for everything and He is control for all the things that are happening in our lives. One thing is, there is a special day, a remarkable day which would be a blessed day for Christians but a dreadful day for unbelievers. It is called in the Bible, the Day of the Lord.
I. Definition of terms:
A. “The Day of the Lord”. The period of time in which God will judge the world and establish His kingdom on earth. In this day God will be exalted and rebellious men humbled. “The day of the Lord” sometimes refers to one aspect of this final work, such as the Great Tribulation preceding Christ’s return (Isa. 2:10-21). In other places it refers to the entire period, including the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the Millennial Reign, and the Eternal state following the Great White Throne judgment (Zech. 14). (WOLE)
B. “The Day of God” (2 Peter 3:12) is the period when God’s people enjoy the new heavens and the new earth, when all evil has been judged (1 Cor. 15:28).
C. “The Day of Christ” relates to the coming of Christ for His church (1 Cor. 1:7-9; Phil. 1:10; 2:16). (The Bible Exposition Commentary)
II. It will come as a thief in the night (2 Pet. 3:10a)
A. It will come suddenly, unexpected, no warning.
B. As written by Paul in 1 Thess. 5:2.
C. Christ told that life will be going on as usual with men going about their normal routines (Mat. 24:37-39).
D. It would be disastrous to the unprepared.
E. When the world is feeling secure, then God’s judgment will fall. (1 Thess. 5:3).
III. It would be cataclysmic, or devastating, an earth shattering event.
A. The heavens will pass away with great noise. (2 Pet. 3:10b)
a. It will destroy the earth and the atmospheric heavens around it, the universe as we know it; this will make room for the new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1 ).
b. This great explosion and conflagration will not touch the “heaven of heavens” where God dwells.
c. It would be a destruction by fire involving great heat so intense it literally melts the earth and the elements (verse 11). The passing away of the heavens is accompanied by a noise, a roar.
d. The “Day of the Lord” is a day of destruction which has never been seen before.
B. The elements shall melt with fervent heat (2 Pet. 3:10c)
a. The elements here for me is the component material of this world.
b. The heavens will be destroyed by burning and so will the elements of the earth.
Peter describes a fire so intense that seemingly indestructible matter is completely destroyed.
c. The word “melt” here means to “loosen” (literally or figuratively):—break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-)loose, melt, put off.
d. In verse 11 and 12, Peter tell us that all these things will be dissolved, including the heavens (this may include the sun, moon, and the stars).
C. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.(2 Pet. 3:10d)
a. The word “burned up” here means to burn down (to the ground), i.e. consume wholly:—burn (up, utterly).
b. The elements on earth could no longer be found.
c. The works on earth, like the pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, Taj Majal, Petra, etc., and all great works of man will no longer be found.
d. Civilization will totally be ended.
Illustration: Is This a Cause for Fear?
How are you planning your eternity with God? What are priorities in your life? What are the “treasures” that you are investing for the future?
Read this. . .On March 5, 1979, nine U. S. satellites simultaneously radioed back to earth that a gamma radiation explosion occurred in a nearby galaxy known as N-49. This explosion lasted for only
one-tenth of a second, but released more radiation than our sun does in 3,000 years. Doyle Evans, an astrophysicist at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories in New Mexico, noted that had this
explosion of energy occurred in our galaxy, it would have instantly vaporized the earth!
Now hear this. . . “The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat (II Peter 3:10).
Is this cause for fear? Not if we know this: “All things were created by Him and for Him and in Him all things consist.” This verse from Colossians Chapter One is the key to why planet earth and our solar
system in its galaxy continues. Science has no convincing explanation as to why our planet stays together and why our whole solar system continues intact. The apostle Paul, writing in Col. 1:17,
tells us that our magnificent Creator and Sustainer keeps it so. The song writer captured this fact simply:
“He’s got the whole world in His hand.”(Western Communicator, Western Convention Baptist Seminary, Vol. 54 #1, p. 2, Earl Radmacher)
IV. Readiness for the great day (2 Pet. 3:11)
A. We should live our lives in “holy conduct”, or in simple term, live a holy life.
a. The terms “holy,” “sanctify,” “consecrate,” “dedicate,” and “saint” are translated from the same Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible. The basic meaning of
these is to be set apart for God’s purposes.
b. Holiness is Christian separation and sanctification – apart from the world, apart toward God.
c. Christians should present their bodies to God in holiness. (Rom. 12:1).
d. We must be holy for He is holy. (Lev. 11:44-45)
e. None shall see God without holiness (Eph. 5:5; Heb. 12:14)
B. We should live our lives in Godliness.
a. Godliness – a religious life; a careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and commands; Christian obedience (Webster)
b. Godliness is devotion towards God.
C. Looking for the day of God (2 Pet. 3:12).
a. The day of the Lord is future. We expect it to happen.
b. We wait for the events that was written in the Word of God. We look for the coming of the Christ and all its associated events.
c. We are not to fear the coming of that day but eagerly hope and wait for it.
Illustration: Colonel Davenport
During his 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy often closed his speeches with the story of Colonel Davenport, the Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. One day in 1789, the sky of Hartford darkened ominously, and some of the representatives, glancing out the windows, feared the end was at hand. Quelling a clamor for immediate adjournment, Davenport rose and said,
“The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for adjournment.
If it is, I choose to be found doing my duty.
Therefore, I wish that candles be brought.” Rather than fearing what is to come, we are to be faithful till Christ returns. Instead of fearing the dark, we’re to be lights as we watch and wait. (Harry Heintz).
D. Hasting unto the coming of the Day of God
a. Hasting implies that we can bring the “Day of God” more quickly if we live godly lives.
b. How do believers hasten it? The godly lives of the Lord’s people, their praying, and their witnessing help bring others to repentance.
V. Believers Outlook (2 Pet. 3:13)
A. The promise of a new heaven and new earth is rooted in the Old Testament (Ps. 102:25, Isa. 65:17, Isa. 66:22).
B. The Greek word for “new” here means fresh. Not yet used. Brand new.
C. The destruction of this present creation is a required step in preparation for the “new heavens and a new earth” which are to come.
D. We look forward for the promised kingdom in which righteousness dwells.
VI. Conclusion:
The day of the Lord will be a dreadful day for unbelievers but a blessed day for real Christians who eagerly wait for His return. Do you look forward for that day? Don’t be caught unprepared and be one of those who will be punished forever and ever.
