"Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (1 Peter 3:12a), indicates an eager anticipation on the part of believers, not a sense of worry or fear. Paul told Titus that believers will be joyfully "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
"Looking for" (v. 12a) reflects an attitude of expectation. "Hastening" (v. 12a) strengthens that idea. Rather than fearing the earth's destruction, we long for the Second Coming of Christ and pray His return is soon. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
"The coming" (v. 12a), the familiar Greek word parousia, literally means "the presence" (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 129). It refers to the personal, physical return of Jesus Christ.
"The day of God" (v. 12a) and "the day of the Lord" (v. 10a), are not the same event. "The day of God" (v. 12a) refers to the eternal state when God will have vanquished all His enemies. "The day of the Lord" (v. 10a) refers to the final, horrifying events of the last judgment of unbelievers. John's vision in Revelation 10:9-10, where he ate the little book and found it sweet to taste but bitter to swallow, illustrates the dual feelings Christians have concerning these two events. The little book represents the coming judgment—sweet to believers because of "the day of God," but bitter because of the "day of the Lord."
"Because of which" (v. 12b) indicates that certain things must occur before the arrival of "the day of God" (v. 12a). Namely, the destruction of the universe: "the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat" (v. 12b). Judgment will fall on unsuspecting, unrepentant sinners, but great blessing will follow for the believer.
Following "the day of the Lord" (v. 10a) and the destruction of the universe (vs. 10b, 12b), comes "the day of God" (v. 12a) with a "new heavens and a new earth" (v. 13b), "according to His promise" (v. 13a). God will create an entirely new universe!
"New" (v. 13b) means "new in quality," "different," or "unlike anything previously known" (Ibid, 130). The new heavens and the new earth will be more than just new in time or chronology; they will also be new in character—a realm "in which righteousness dwells" (v. 13b). "Dwells" means "to settle down and be at home," or "take up permanent, comfortable residence" (Ibid). The new heavens and the new earth will be filled with righteousness.
John described the wonder of it all: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away…' But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27).
Always live your life expecting the Lord to return at any time. Always live your life in light of your eternal destiny. Always live your life in righteousness, patterned after the life of Christ. That is what it means to have an eternal perspective. Amen.
"The coming" (v. 12a), the familiar Greek word parousia, literally means "the presence" (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 129). It refers to the personal, physical return of Jesus Christ.
"The day of God" (v. 12a) and "the day of the Lord" (v. 10a), are not the same event. "The day of God" (v. 12a) refers to the eternal state when God will have vanquished all His enemies. "The day of the Lord" (v. 10a) refers to the final, horrifying events of the last judgment of unbelievers. John's vision in Revelation 10:9-10, where he ate the little book and found it sweet to taste but bitter to swallow, illustrates the dual feelings Christians have concerning these two events. The little book represents the coming judgment—sweet to believers because of "the day of God," but bitter because of the "day of the Lord."
"Because of which" (v. 12b) indicates that certain things must occur before the arrival of "the day of God" (v. 12a). Namely, the destruction of the universe: "the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat" (v. 12b). Judgment will fall on unsuspecting, unrepentant sinners, but great blessing will follow for the believer.
Following "the day of the Lord" (v. 10a) and the destruction of the universe (vs. 10b, 12b), comes "the day of God" (v. 12a) with a "new heavens and a new earth" (v. 13b), "according to His promise" (v. 13a). God will create an entirely new universe!
"New" (v. 13b) means "new in quality," "different," or "unlike anything previously known" (Ibid, 130). The new heavens and the new earth will be more than just new in time or chronology; they will also be new in character—a realm "in which righteousness dwells" (v. 13b). "Dwells" means "to settle down and be at home," or "take up permanent, comfortable residence" (Ibid). The new heavens and the new earth will be filled with righteousness.
John described the wonder of it all: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away…' But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27).
Always live your life expecting the Lord to return at any time. Always live your life in light of your eternal destiny. Always live your life in righteousness, patterned after the life of Christ. That is what it means to have an eternal perspective. Amen.
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