◄ What Does 2 Peter 3:7 Mean? ►

The very God Who created the world is the same Almighty God Who has promised a great, final, fiery judgment upon this fallen world. This fire will be a cleansing, purifying flame that will sweep across the earth and heavens, and bring an end to all wickedness. It is a very sombre thought to realise that a day is coming when the world as we know it, will be utterly destroyed.

In the final chapter of his second epistle, Peter tells of this coming event: "But 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 Holy Scriptures remind us that the Lord is sovereign of the beautiful world he created. He is the eternal, self-existent, all-knowing, omnipotent God who has the right and wisdom to also destroy the world that has been corrupted by sin. 

God spoke the world into being, and everything he made was very good. He breathed the breath of life into Adam and gave the man He created in His own image and likeness, the authority to rule over the beautiful earth He had made. But although Adam rebelled against his Maker, God in His grace purposed to redeem fallen mankind and the world He had made, and His plan of redemption began. Fallen man would have to be redeemed and a cursed earth would have to be destroyed by fire. And according to His promise, we are to look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

There are many who scoff at Peter's prophetic warning. They reject God's gracious gift of salvation through faith in Christ, and they pour scorn on the Christian's hope in Christ’s return and the coming judgement of God on His fallen creation: "What happened to the Messiah's promise to return?" they scoff, "Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of creation." What such foolish people forget is that in the past, the Lord judged the world through a global flood, and a day is coming when the present heaven and earth will be destroyed by fire (which will take place after the Great White Throne Judgement of the wicked). 

Before the present heaven and earth is destroyed, God will deal with mankind. Every unsaved person from the whole of world history will stand before the judgement throne of God. No unsaved person will escape this awful judgement day. As born-again believers, Christians are not appointed to God's wrath, because Jesus paid the price for us with His blood on the Cross. And this offer of salvation and the escape from God's wrath, is open to all: "For it is not God's will that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance," In other words, any unbeliever who changes their mind about the Lord Jesus Christ, believes on Him, and receives His free gift of salvation, will not perish but be saved and receive everlasting life.

Believers will be judged at the Bema Seat Judgement of Christ, where they will receive rewards, while ungodly men will one day be judged before the Great White Throne, where they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. As we ponder this thought, we are reminded of God's power and His justice. No unbeliever will escape His judgment, and all will be held accountable for their actions. What a powerful reminder to us that our lives are temporary, that the earth and all it contains is not permanent, that God is the ultimate judge of the earth, and that He is able to change them in an instant.

God has clearly told us His plans and purposes for this world in the Bible and after the Great White Throne judgment of ungodly men the present heavens and earth will experience a terrible destruction by fire. This destruction is not by water, as was the case in the days of Noah, but it is just as inevitable as the great flood, because it has been revealed in Scripture.

While this destruction is indeed an act of judgment, it is also an act of mercy because it is a way of purifying what has become tainted. It is God's way of restoring what has been broken, redeeming His fallen creation, and making preparations for a wonderful new heaven and a new earth so that God's righteous rule may be established on earth.

God in His grace has told us the end from the beginning. May this truth motivate us to draw near to God, to share the gospel of grace with all we meet, and live a life of holiness and obedience to His Word.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us hope. You have promised us a new heaven and a new earth that will be free of ungodliness. I praise You that You have explained future events in Your Word and that the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, for the day of judgement, and the destruction of ungodly men. Help me to share the gospel with all I meet so that many may come to a saving knowledge of Christ and be spared a part in the Lake of Fire. In Jesus' name, Amen.