03/14/11 COMBINED SS AND AM WORSHIP...
NOT JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.
According to the skeptics and scoffers in our society, End Times Bible Prophecy is just a delusion, because nothing has changed for thousands of years.
Read carefully what Peter said about this, almost 2000 years ago.
2 Peter 3:3-15 with DLG notes...
Remember, the Scripture is God's infallible and inerrant revelation.
(3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
DLG note...
There will be LAST DAYS, because this present world will be destroyed, contrary to some people, who say there is no, “End of the world.”
Basic Overview Of Last Days and End Times
1. The Church Age (Age of Grace), now until the Rapture (catching away of believers who are alive on the earth).
2. The Tribulation, a 7 year period after the Rapture, when there will be a 1 world government, a 1 world religion and a 1 world economy.
3. The Millennium, the 1000 literal years of Christ's earthly rule over the entire world from Jerusalem, with a rod of iron
4. Short Time of Testing, after Millennium Satan will be loosed for a short time and there will be a final human rebellion against God.
5. The End of the World is the melting/dissolving of this material world and the end of man's probationary period.
6. The Great White Throne Judgment, God's final judgment of the human race. All the unsaved will be judged according to his words, thoughts and deeds.
7. Unsaved cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
8. Eternity with God is a new beginning; including the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem.
While there will be great numbers of people who follow the false Christ's of the Last Days, there will be many who will scoff at the Bible revelation of End Times. This skepticism is accompanied by a profligate and perverted lifestyle. Desire for sin and hatred of the Bible are loathsome lovers.
(4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
DLG note...
The skeptics rail against Biblical prophecy of end time catastrophes (as the result of man's rebellion against God), yet they champion the idea of natural disasters being the result of man's abuse of nature.
They refuse to acknowledge the intensity and frequency, though it is blazoned over the news.
(5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
(6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.
DLG note...
Though the skeptics speak with an air of authority, they have chosen not to study the word of God and its prophesies. In fact they have chosen to denounce the prophetic word of God without honest inquiry, as with Noah's Flood.
Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit bore witness to the historicity of the Noahic flood. Jesus believed in the worldwide flood, as did Moses.
(7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
DLG note...
God reserves, keeps, sustains the world. It is by His continuous attention that we consist (Co. 1:16-17; He. 1:2-3).
Colossians 1:16-17
(16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
(17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Hebrews 1:2-3
(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Just as God destroyed the OLD WORLD by a flood of water, He is going to destroy this present evil world by fire.
God sent vaporizing, melting fire on Sodom and Gomorrah; Vesuvius consumed Pompey and the atomic bomb vaporized and consumed Nagasaki and Hiroshima. God can and will fulfill this promise of judgment.
(8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
DLG note...
God is not under time constraints, as we are.
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
DLG note...
God is not tardy, late concerning His promises.
Peter considered the return of Christ as a promise from God that would be kept.
Some people scoffed the Return of Christ, the Second Coming, the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgment, just as they do today.
It is God's mercy that has kept back His day of judgment.
(10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
DLG note...
The Day of the Lord is two-fold; secret and obvious.
The judgment of God is final.
The judgment of God is as a consuming fire.
The world will be ignited, vaporized and melted.
Psalms 46:6
(6) The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Psalms 97:5
(5) The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Nahum 1:5
(5) The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
DLT note...
The certainty of coming judgment should move us to preparation.
The words, “conversation and godliness” refer to both the behavior (conduct) and nature (character) of the sanctified believer. There is no holy living if there is no holy heart. Holiness must be experienced as well as lived.
Preparation for judgment requires that we be holy.
(12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
DLG note...
We should be looking for the Return...
Titus 2:13
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
We should be praying for the Day of the Lord...
Revelation 22:20
(20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
(13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
DLG note...
The redemption of God is as certain as the judgment of God.
God has extended His mercy so that we might escape sin and judgment.
God offers holiness and heaven forever.
(14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
DLG note...
The certainty of coming judgment should make us diligent in pursuing, experiencing and living the life of holiness. Remember, without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (He.12:14).
(15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
DLG note...
God's longsuffering is salvation.
God is giving opportunity for the final person to get saved.
There will be a last salvation in the Church Age, and a last salvation in the Tribulation and a last salvation in the Millennium, until then, there is mercy and time to get saved.
God is a consuming fire. We will either have the fire of the Holy Spirit or hell fire.
Just as God is reaching for each one, we should be reaching also.
(3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
DLG note...
There will be LAST DAYS, because this present world will be destroyed, contrary to some people, who say there is no, “End of the world.”
Basic Overview Of Last Days and End Times
1. The Church Age (Age of Grace), now until the Rapture (catching away of believers who are alive on the earth).
2. The Tribulation, a 7 year period after the Rapture, when there will be a 1 world government, a 1 world religion and a 1 world economy.
3. The Millennium, the 1000 literal years of Christ's earthly rule over the entire world from Jerusalem, with a rod of iron
4. Short Time of Testing, after Millennium Satan will be loosed for a short time and there will be a final human rebellion against God.
5. The End of the World is the melting/dissolving of this material world and the end of man's probationary period.
6. The Great White Throne Judgment, God's final judgment of the human race. All the unsaved will be judged according to his words, thoughts and deeds.
7. Unsaved cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
8. Eternity with God is a new beginning; including the New Heaven, New Earth and New Jerusalem.
While there will be great numbers of people who follow the false Christ's of the Last Days, there will be many who will scoff at the Bible revelation of End Times. This skepticism is accompanied by a profligate and perverted lifestyle. Desire for sin and hatred of the Bible are loathsome lovers.
(4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
DLG note...
The skeptics rail against Biblical prophecy of end time catastrophes (as the result of man's rebellion against God), yet they champion the idea of natural disasters being the result of man's abuse of nature.
They refuse to acknowledge the intensity and frequency, though it is blazoned over the news.
(5) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
(6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.
DLG note...
Though the skeptics speak with an air of authority, they have chosen not to study the word of God and its prophesies. In fact they have chosen to denounce the prophetic word of God without honest inquiry, as with Noah's Flood.
Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit bore witness to the historicity of the Noahic flood. Jesus believed in the worldwide flood, as did Moses.
(7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
DLG note...
God reserves, keeps, sustains the world. It is by His continuous attention that we consist (Co. 1:16-17; He. 1:2-3).
Colossians 1:16-17
(16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
(17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Hebrews 1:2-3
(2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Just as God destroyed the OLD WORLD by a flood of water, He is going to destroy this present evil world by fire.
God sent vaporizing, melting fire on Sodom and Gomorrah; Vesuvius consumed Pompey and the atomic bomb vaporized and consumed Nagasaki and Hiroshima. God can and will fulfill this promise of judgment.
(8) But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
DLG note...
God is not under time constraints, as we are.
(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
DLG note...
God is not tardy, late concerning His promises.
Peter considered the return of Christ as a promise from God that would be kept.
Some people scoffed the Return of Christ, the Second Coming, the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgment, just as they do today.
It is God's mercy that has kept back His day of judgment.
(10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
DLG note...
The Day of the Lord is two-fold; secret and obvious.
The judgment of God is final.
The judgment of God is as a consuming fire.
The world will be ignited, vaporized and melted.
Psalms 46:6
(6) The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
Psalms 97:5
(5) The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
Nahum 1:5
(5) The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
(11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
DLT note...
The certainty of coming judgment should move us to preparation.
The words, “conversation and godliness” refer to both the behavior (conduct) and nature (character) of the sanctified believer. There is no holy living if there is no holy heart. Holiness must be experienced as well as lived.
Preparation for judgment requires that we be holy.
(12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
DLG note...
We should be looking for the Return...
Titus 2:13
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
We should be praying for the Day of the Lord...
Revelation 22:20
(20) He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
(13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
DLG note...
The redemption of God is as certain as the judgment of God.
God has extended His mercy so that we might escape sin and judgment.
God offers holiness and heaven forever.
(14) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
DLG note...
The certainty of coming judgment should make us diligent in pursuing, experiencing and living the life of holiness. Remember, without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (He.12:14).
(15) And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
DLG note...
God's longsuffering is salvation.
God is giving opportunity for the final person to get saved.
There will be a last salvation in the Church Age, and a last salvation in the Tribulation and a last salvation in the Millennium, until then, there is mercy and time to get saved.
God is a consuming fire. We will either have the fire of the Holy Spirit or hell fire.
Just as God is reaching for each one, we should be reaching also.
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