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But in accordance with His promise we are awaiting new heavens and new earth1 in which righteousness is to dwell.2 [Isaiah 65:17]
| 1 | In accordance with His promise we are awaiting new heavens and new earth: The phrase is drawn from Isaiah 65:17 and Isaiah 66:22. According to Isaiah 51:16 similar language regarding a “heavens” and an “earth” are used in the context of the restoration of Israel. Peter’s inspired application of Isaiah places these “new heavens and new earth” in the context and the parousia and the Day of Wrath. Though some view these as a completely new cosmos and planet, Peter’s discussion above seems to rule this out. Up to this point the “heavens” has been the Sky or atmosphere (where Satan rules = Ephesians 2:2) and the “earth” the dwelling of the ungodly and irreverent. As the great Deluge changed the construct of the heavens and cleansed the earth of wickedness, so the parousia, or Arrival of Messiah in glory with his angels, “gathers together again everything in the heavens and the earth.” (See notes on Ephesians 1:10 in Nazarene Commentary 2000.) Thus when the Seventh Trumpet blasts both the heavens and the earth will come under a new rule replacing the former KOSMOKRATORAS and bring Satan’s earth-wide order to ruin. (See notes on Ephesians 6:12; compare Revelation 11:15-18) |
| 2 | In which righteousness is to dwell: Or, TCN: where righteousness shall have its home; WMS: in which uprightness will have its permanent home; BAR: justice will have its home. The “heavens” and the “earth” will become righteous with Satan gone (Revelation 20:3) and the new world order of the wild Sea Beast wiped out. (See notes on Revelation chapter 13.) Under Messiah’s rule the tendency of earth’s inhabitants will be righteous one. (Isaiah 26:9, 10; Isaiah 65:17-25) |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose 2 Peter 3:13 as the theme verse of chapter three – Devoted Patience. Peter introduces a reminder about some who would scoff at the idea of Christ’s return. [1-4] He then writes about three worlds and God’s judgment. [5-7] God once destroyed a whole world by the great Deluge, and just so the present world is being “reserved until the Day of Judgment.” Peter writes about God’s patience. [8-10] God is not slow but is patient hoping people will repent. Judgment will show up suddenly like a thief and the present world will experience a change.
So Christians should wait for these new heavens and new earth, waiting in holiness. [11-13] Peter asks the rhetorical question: What kind of persons ought we to be while we wait for these cataclysmic changes? Saintly and reverent. He continues to stress the example of God’s patience. [14-16] Christians must strive to remain spotless and unblemished as they await salvation. Peter states that Paul had written about this but the “unlearned” are “distorting” his words as they do all the rest of the Scriptures. Peter concludes with the exhortation to be on guard or they might be misled by false teachers and “possibly fall from your own stability.”
Abba our Father bless those who patiently wait for the Master’s Return.
[6 September 2002]
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