...a sentiment shared by Daniel, the prophet.
...a study about 2 Peter 3:7-13.
"Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of the
prophecy, and watch for the things written in it; for the season draws
near."
-- Rev. 1:3.
The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ tells of the things that will be, during which time the kingdom is restored to Israel, of the signs in the heavens and of the end of the nations which now dominate the promised land.
The prophecy of the Revelation is long but not difficult to understand - if, and - when its reader is not led astray by any deceptive voice.
For years the permissive elements of our society - liberal and humanistic - have worked to demean both the ethos and the pathos in our lives. Every man is thus himself taught to grasp for things. While greed and covetousness is to be expected of those "in the world," it should not be a constant in those "not of this world." The true Christian must remain unspotted by the natural things which tend to degrade his spiritual life.
For the spiritual life, by New Testament standards, is maintained by a close and prayerful contact with the Maker and Sustainer of All Things, Who is God in the heavens, through the mediation of our present high priest, Jesus Christ.
Through prayer it is the faith of the believer that saves him in the day of God's wrath. Until our redemption comes, with God's help we are kept unspotted by "the world."
THERE IS A SPIRIT AT WORK TODAY THAT IS REVEALING THE NATURE OF THE WORKS OF MANY HEARTS. This spirit of division eventually will reveal the "man of Sin" who will lead all the opposers of Jesus Christ against the nation of Israel at his return to claim the throne and the high priesthood. As the "spirit of Christ" recognizes and separates his own for salvation at that appointed time, it also weeds out "the tares." The spirit weeds out the tares that ripen with the true harvest, identifying and picking out the "bad seed" for destruction from the midst of the saved godly "people."
So we ought not to naively expect that there is now no cause for concern about our life. (Not that we have been deliberately consuming "food" that when fully assimilated brings death; but we are always touched in some unseen way by the evils of the world). So we must pray for the unseen evil to be rooted out while time remains. However, where the heart and mind are unguarded by prayer, the spirit of truth cannot work with its full might. Our own sloth is the greatest danger.
What we see and hear in the world is not "the truth." Nor do we always see and hear the truth from those "not of the world." This is where the adversary, the deceiver of the last days, creeps in - from the world. The voice that pretends to be the voice of Jesus Christ is the deceiver. The true "sheep," said Jesus, "do not recognize" the stranger's voice; they will not respond to the deceiver's call. For, the spirit of truth dwelling in them will repel the deceiver's subtle persuasion toward double-mindedness, and toward rejection of the Lord as king and priest.
The Reformation of the Church in the 16th century supplied much freedom for religious thought. The times provided the Holy Scriptures to all the peoples. This provoked great controversies as well as great men who participated in the great controversy. Many sects (heretic from "the hope of Israel") arose in those days.
In the interpretation of the book of the Revelation, the Evangelical Christian community generally follows the interpretations of Mede, and of Lord Bacon, who supposed that the Revelation was "a Gentile history of the time between the comings of Christ." The thesis is one based on the (oldest Greek) "continuous history" interpretations of prophecy. Those who opposed Lord Bacon's theory are known as "futurists," and "preterists." (Within the two groups, the opinions vary).
Futurists hold that the prophecy of the Revelation will come to pass at a certain time in the future after the millennium. But, "continuous history" proponents also believe that most of the Revelation is already fulfilled - the "Rapture" and some of the vials of judgment are excepted. Preterists, however, believe that the prophecy is entirely past, and done with. So the mainstream (i.e., the non-Protestant) Christian is not much excited about the prophecy's content.
Who should watch over the truth? The Church? The individual? For, today, the form of the truth is badly misshapen and mishandled. An individual's perception of the prophecy is obscured by the darkness of "the Church," and is unclear to his mind. "What is truth," Pilate asked of Jesus. "Him who hears my voice," the Lord replied.
In a magazine of the 1830's, the APOSTOLIC ADVOCATE, which was edited by John Thomas, this statement is made: "The cause of the failure of so many in interpreting certain parts of the Apocalypse, to me appears to consist in their ignorance of the Gospel, of the genius of Christianity, and of that which constitutes the True Church of Christ.., and I flatter myself that I shall not have laid before my readers the results of my humble efforts without substantiating my claim to the discovery or solution of certain problems in the Apocalypse which have hitherto baffled the ingenuity and learning of some of the most celebrated illuminati of the religious world... In my investigation therefore I have renounced speculation and substituted, according to the suggestion of Lord Bacon, the simple narration of historical facts."
He continues: "If there be such a thing as prophecy and truth in historical detail, and if history be indeed nothing more than a summary of prophecy fulfilled, (which every believer admits), then certainly the natural method of prophetic illustration is simply to place in juxta position, the predictions and the facts of history." Note in this statement both the tautology's premise, and Thomas' respect for the man, Lord Bacon, (1561-1626). Bacon, the first Baron Verulam, Viscount of St. Albans, was an English philosopher, essayist and statesman. Bacon's view of prophecy was secured from his forerunner, Sir Isaac Newton. Both were men of "the world," and, of "the Church."
Question: Should we follow, therefore, the natural method of prophetic illustration?
Like many of the evangelists of the mid 19th century who lauded and sometimes even cursed the others, John Thomas acknowledged that Lord Bacon's opinion of the prophecy of the Revelation was the basis of his major work, EUREKA. His book is still used by some fundamentalist Christians to interpret the Revelation with the "continuous history" interpretation. Such an addition to Scripture is usually made in support of a creed. Thomas, originally an English Baptist, in fact helped to formulate a creed that was adopted as the "Statement of Faith" by his followers.
Many other religious activists of the day also followed Bacon's (200 year's old) theory. The few voices that preached the truth of the Judgment Day's "fire" and "brimstone" punishment to come as a vengeance upon the ungodly were swiftly drowned by the more vocally superior "genius" of mainstream Christianity, and branded as heretic.
Question: Does respect for any man, or for a false tautology's conclusion justify or prove the truth concerning the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ? If either such respect or such a tautology does, then we should find support in the Gentile history of the Dark Ages - between 70 A.D. to 1948 A.D., - in the prophecies of both the Old and the New Testaments. We cannot find that support there. And since neither respect nor tautology is found to prove the truth either, then the "natural method of prophetic illustration" is in error; and those who follow such teachings of men - rather than they who follow the whole Word of God - are still in "the dark" in understanding the books of apocalyptic prophecy.
The end result (of darkened understanding) is shown in present day controversies concerning unfolding events of "the Lord's Day." The controversy is not limited to the sects which followed Thomas, but the same troubled spirit is also evident among other fundamentalist Bible churches that have retained degrees of the "continuing church age" theory from the time of the Reformation. The theory is a doctrine not "grafted in" from the Holy Scriptures. The theory comes out of popular, old Church tradition.
Such addition of past (Gentile) history to a prophecy of a future time - of facts which are beside the case, even behind the case - but only seems to help establish the reasoning of the prophecy - is a ploy known as "bye-leading." Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, calls this "paradiegesis." He states that such "figures are not used in Scripture," but are "artifices of argument invented for human reasoning." So much for the ploy's worth.
Gaining converts to a following is not necessarily the same as preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although many are called to hear the Word of God, very few have chosen to follow after "the truth in Christ".
Many scholars of those earlier days and times were taught various sophisticated methods for a convincing debate, by inducing a distracting method of philosophy upon the question in debate.
Is it not then, rather curious that prophecy of the Lord's apocalypse was understood by the apostle Paul, and the church at Thessalonica? Paul's understanding was acknowledged by Peter as profound, but hard to understand by the unestablished and the untaught in the gospel of Christ's kingdom, (2 Peter 3:16)! More curious still, these two Jewish Christians were able to understand things about the "day of wrath" - before the overlayment of any continuous history theory, - and with only the Hebrew Law, Writings and Prophets as their guide and witness!
Is this not a remarkable fact? We therefore conclude that it is only the unestablished and the untaught in the gospel of Christ's kingdom, who disregard the teaching of both Paul and Peter concerning "the day of the LORD/Lord."
Many men have fallen into Bacon's trap. His misdirection certainly influenced much of America's Bible Belt and other fundamentalist churches that sprung up in America during the Civil War times. Every age has its charismatic religious leaders, however great or small, or reluctant. The age of the late 1800's was no different.
Beside inconsistent word translation, the 1611 King James Authorized Version of the Bible shows bias toward King James' own personal beliefs. But the greater errors were established by the Greek philosophers well before King James, Mede, Lord Bacon or John Thomas lived. So all interpretation must be tested by the Word of God, especially when it is charismatically delivered. Rich men will "cross land and sea" via satellite TV to make converts. Poor men simply cross land and sea to do the same. The Word of God tests their work in both cases!
In the book of the Revelation, the Spirit repeatedly warns us to, "Behold!" We are warned against following a deliberate captivity in these last days. "Many deceivers are gone out into the world." Thus, Jesus urges us to continual prayer for safe keeping during these perilous days. For, "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."
"Everyone," Jesus said, "should be as perfect as his Teacher."
The ancient prophets of Israel said nothing of the interim Gentile times. Their prophecies pass over the interim to the last days of Israel's commonwealth. Throughout the four Gospel accounts Jesus submits evidence of the treacherous nature of the last days of the present world order. His apostles repeated the warnings in their writings. None of those holy men made any reference to the interim history or any interim church. They refer to the close of time as the period of the Lord's nearing apocalypse. The Revelation is the book of his coming and is forbidden to be sealed to its readers. This injunction was in accordance to the word first given to Daniel, the prophet, as shown in Daniel 12:9: "The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." The time of the end is at hand when all the eyes of the world are focused on Israel, and upon Jerusalem, the holy city.
The truth concerning the future day of vengeance is found in the words of Jesus Christ and his holy apostles - not in the words of prominent religious men, past or present. Respect for the prominent or rich person is a work of sin, says James.
Any secrets of the prophecy of the day of Christ - the Day of the LORD, as written in the book of the Revelation - were revealed long ago in the "mysteries of the kingdom of God" that Jesus disclosed to his apostles and disciples when he opened the Scriptures to them, teaching them (per Daniel). See Mark 4:34; Luke 24:27 and Acts 1:3b. When accurate understanding in the "mystery of godliness" is forgotten it is because knowledge of the Scriptures is first forgotten. The teacher of the gospel news - the "priest" whose lips should keep knowledge before the people - has fallen short of the mark.
"Abraham rejoiced to see my Day; and he saw and was glad," John 8:56; Hebrews 11:8-19. I AM; Yah - prior to Abraham - is and will be; and He will destroy the ungodly from the earth during His day of vengeance.
The spirit of truth should be our guide; a comforter. But the addition of symbols and false doctrine by strange voices has again hidden parts of Christ's revelations to his apostles. Many are those disciples who choose neither vigilance in prayer nor to "occupy" in faithful work till he returns. In the meanwhile the false accuser runs rampant throughout the world.
How will Jesus find the faith in the earth when he returns? The light of the world should shine from the lights upon the lampstands, where they should shine for all who are in the house, to see!
The day of the sign of Christ's judgment unobtrusively will come. The "peace and security" in the earth and within Israel is evident and enjoyed. This characteristic of the day is emphasized over and over in the New Testament writings. The people, per Ezekiel 38 "dwell safely," at home, satisfied, living peacefully, and secure at heart. They are completely unaware of the nature of the nation's true position before God...
This is how their day of judgment begins, with "peace and security." This is known because Jesus and Paul tell us so. Yet the strange voice ignores the warning sign, saying, Don't listen to that! Don't worry about things. Nothing extraordinary is going to happen! Besides, we have never believed that...
Nevertheless the unusual signs do appear. They appear in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. The sun darkens. The moon becomes red. Moonlight disappears. Stars begin to fall from the sky. Under the cover of a real darkness, the thief breaks in. The nations are "distressed" with the reality of their dreadful expectations.
The full implication of these signs is not realized until a notable major earthquake occurs.
This is the first earthquake of Revelation 6:12-17.
The first five seals of the prophecy have been accomplished without the world being aware of what is truly happening. The "thief" has been busy stealing and destroying for some time! The earthquake, proving the literality of the words of John the Baptist - who is quoting Isaiah 40:3-5 - brings the full realization that this is the end.
This is the end. Every mountain and island has been shaken out of their places. The day of the LORD and of His Christ is here.
Peter says there will be a dispute about any interruption in the celestial mechanics of the heavens in the last days.
This is not a difficult statement to accept. The proponents of ancient Egyptian history and its application to archaeological work dispute that Israel ever existed, does exist, and indeed, that any of the Hebrew Holy Scriptures have historical validity. As such fools, so the ungodly will die in their folly. Such mockers - who scoff by prefacing their remarks with a statement similar to, "I really don't believe that..." - are willing to ignore that the Flood which destroyed the first world's order was the work of God's hand. They similarly question the nature of the plagues on Egypt before the Exodus which brought God's people out of slavery to that idolatrous nation. ...Yet Peter declares that the Divine hand of power in the heavens will again bring the vengeance of God upon the adversaries of the Chosen People. The ancient prophet, Daniel, would doubtless concur with Peter.
Peter agrees with the word of Jesus who said, "The powers of the heavens shall be shaken." The coming of the judgment of wrath upon the ungodly is alluded to next in all texts about his presence or arrival.
The length of the time involved during the apocalypse of Jesus is also disputed, being confused with the "rapture." (This topic is not considered here).
The prophecy of the Lord's apocalypse limits the time of its duration. The use of the Greek word, kairos, provides its limit. Some illustrations of season are as follows:
1) The time is a season, a short but limited period made ready for the event. It is a season ending with a specific year, (kronos); a month, (meen); a day (heemera); and an hour, (hora). For example: 1776, July 4th, 10:00 am.
2) Examples from the Gospels show the Lord's authority over both the "powers of the heavens" and "devils." See Matthew 8:23- 27, 29 and Mark 5:9-15. The demoniacs asked, "Art thou come hither to torment us before the season?"
3) Jesus castigated the Jews for being unable to interpret things right. Although they were adept at interpreting the signs of the sky, they were unable to discern the signs of the seasons, Matthew 16:3. The inability was due to their evil, adultery, and hypocrisy, so willfully refusing to see the signs of judgment to come.
4) Certain ordinances of the Law, now null and void, will be changed when the season of reformation is imposed from heaven.
5) The day and hour of Messiah's return is reserved to the Father's knowledge only. "You will not fully perceive when the season is," Mark 13:33. "Watch."
6) The season of the Lord's apocalypse was precisely and fully taught to the Thessalonians by Paul. "The day of the LORD so comes as a thief in the night. When they (the ungodly) say 'Peace and security,' sudden destruction comes upon them."
7) Seasons of refreshing proceed from the presence of the LORD prior to the years of restoration of all things. These signs have been evident since 1948. Consider the implication then, of what Peter says in Acts 3:19-26.
8) With the giving of the prophecy to John on Patmos, a revelation concerning the season of Christ's return is in order and fully detailed. These signs come quickly, Revelation 22:6-7. Watch for them.
Those eight points are some illustrations from Scripture concerning the "seasons" relevant to the apocalypse of Jesus Christ. His apocalypse unfolds swiftly with seasons of activity in the heavens and upon the earth - all related to Israel. The present season provides the light upon the coming "day."
The first earthquake of Revelation 6 initiates the reality when the heavens are "shaken by a mighty wind." It brings "upon the earth great distress of nations with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring..." Its "mighty wind" is a power of heaven that causes the earth to shake repeatedly thereafter.
The tumult of the "mighty wind" is the work of the Holy Spirit, of which the Old Testament witnesses in numerous places and in context with the Day of the Lord. Furthermore, both Daniel and the Revelation speak of another work of the four winds...
Peter's words in Acts 3, and from his second Epistle, preclude any thought of a continuous history interpretation of the text. Time itself has made the theory a clone of the Preterit; ready for "the fire" to come. The "nations" who drink of Babylon's golden cup full of evil, adultery and hypocrisy, also seek - as Israel once did - to bypass the judgment to come. (Modern Iraq is the "stump" of the revived ancient Babylonian "spirit." Her spirit is a false witness against Israel).
Paul reminded the unruly Thessalonians that "the apocalypse of Jesus Christ from heaven, with the angels of his power, in flame of fire, awards vengeance on those who have no perception of God, and those who disobey the gospel of Jesus Christ; who shall pay the penalty of everlasting destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his strength..." But Paul speaks to the pious of the "rest with us .. when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be wondered at by all them who believe ... in that day," 2 Thess. 1:7-10.
So the fire from heaven brings a destruction that leaves no sign of the prior being, only "ashes under the feet," per Malachi. At last we go on to examine what Peter's words actually mean, regarding the strangely crafted "things" which produce the "fervent heat" in the day to come. These fiery "things" are visited upon the ungodly on a recurring basis - three times - during "the day of vengeance," before the full wrath of the LORD descends at "the end."
"For the present heavens and the earth by His (same) word are in a storage container of fire, being kept for a day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men."
"The day of the LORD shall come as a thief in night, in which the heavens shall pass overhead with loud roaring sounds; and the elements, being heated (from things), shall dissolve; and the earth and the works in it shall be totally burned. Seeing then all these things being dissolved, - What manner of person ought you to be, in holy conduct and piety, expecting and hastening the presence of the Day of God? - in which the heavens, being set on fire, dissolve; and the elements, being heated, melt down?"
"For we expect new heavens and a new earth - according to His promise - in which righteousness dwells."
In the Second Epistle of Peter, 3:7-13, these verses describe the operation of some "things" in the day of the LORD. They reveal the actions which remove all the ungodly from further existence upon this earth. These actions are the LORD's "strange work" - His "strange acts" of power that shake the heavens and the earth, per Isaiah 28:19-21, acts which level hills and mountains, per Isaiah 40:3-5. The verses reveal that:
1) "The heavens will pass (by overhead) with a great noise."
2) "The elements (of the atmosphere reacting with the "things") shall melt with burning heat."
3) "The earth, and the (evil) works in it, shall be burnt..."
4) "All these things shall be dissolved."
5) "The heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved."
This activity happens, says Jesus, because "the powers" of "the heavens" shall be "shaken," Luke 21:26 and related Gospel texts). The activity is preceded by certain signs seen in the sun, moon, and stars - the true indicators which Jesus said would reveal his swift and speedy coming.
Science calls the working of the heavens "celestial mechanics." The Bible describes the work of the heavens as "the work of God's hands." The heavens operate by the might and strength of the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The Lord GOD of the heavens and the earth is the Chief Celestial Mechanic, Who empowers and will change the heavens and the earth, "like a garment." He did this once before with a Deluge of water. The next change of the earth's covering - the mantle - comes from the operation of a "thesaurus;" (the storage "pit" and the "hails") of "fire" upon it.
In the Gospel records the sun, moon and stars show the signs: seemeion, 4592, that precede the "noise." A sign instructs. A sign may be a signal; a symptom, or an indication. (See WORD LIST below).
In the Revelation, (13:13-14), the beast does "great (but pretentious) signs." He also brings fire out of the heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. But his action is a counterfeit of the power of the Holy Spirit. The beast also fakes it when the two witnesses (11:3-7) stand before the God of the Land. Even "devils," - like Jannes and Jambres did before Moses and Pharoah - do acts that counterfeit true signs, but are meant to mislead.
The false signs produce confusion and perplexity in the scientific and religious worlds. Many scoff at the display in the heavens; they mock. Many dispute that the destruction of the earth appears imminent, "Nothing is going to change..."
The "powers" of the heavenly activity is, in Greek: dunamis, 1411; an ability to do things by the indwelling spirit which comes from God, a miracle, a dynamic force.
The word list for "powers" is very long, hinting of the nature of the "strange" work of God. By all means, check the correlations of the list.
These powers will be "shaken:" saleuo, 4535, moved, stirred to make a change. The things which Peter mentions will act when the LORD shakes His powers in the heavens.
The earth shaking is a literal shaking. It is a visible shaking associated with earthquake, wind, tumult, and noises in the heavens. This shaking is confirmed in the Word of God by the Hebrew prophets, who speak of the signs in sun, moon and stars beforehand. The events of this time are confirmed in the book of the apocalypse of Jesus Christ.
The "heavens:" ouranos, 3772, are the skies above us. The science of the heavens is called astronomy. Astronomy is the study and documentation of the planets and stars, their motions, their magnitudes, their distances, and their physical constitutions. The science of astronomy is somewhat more reliable than a study of ancient Egyptian history, and archaeology based on that history.
Astronomers observe how the heavens are presently arranged and operate. They search the heavens for new phenomenon and periodic events.
Now, the present heavens will continue to "pass away:" parerchomai, 3928. The word means to come into and to pass out of view; the daily coming and going of the heavens. The passage of the sun, moon and stars across the heavens follows a natural pattern of rising and setting. The heavens go past regularly until the appearance of the signs that obscure sun and moon, making them to disappear from sight. A "smoke" beclouds the atmosphere. Then, during the gloomy darkness, the heavens change.
The Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 21:25 clearly states the effects of the shaking of the powers of the heavens. There are no symbols or metaphors involved in his speech.
This is the situation:
1) Upon the earth the nations periodically are covered by the darkness. There is anguish; distress with perplexity, (Isa. 28:18a-22); and great doubts about what is happening in the skies above.
2) The seas are roaring and shaking.
3) Mankind is in cold-hearted fear.
4) Men expect judgment; the ungodly dread what is about to come upon the habitable earth.
Dark gloom covers the earth wherever the sun is darkened; when the moonlight fails; and when the star falling begins. While the heavens pass over "day by day" and "night by night," the acts occur which Peter describes. These acts happen three times...
When the heavens pass over, then comes the sound of great noise: rhoizeedon, 4500, (from rhoizos, to whir). The rushing sounds in the skies come after the dark signs appear in the sun, moon and stars. The rushing noise of 2 Peter 3:10 is a sound of (fiery falling stars) disintegrating as the "things" fly across the heavens. Flaming debris falls from them.
Word meaning is inferred from the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. The sound is illustrated in Ezekiel 47:5 by "oti ecubrizen," (which the Alexandrian text makes "rhoizos"), "rose as of a torrent." The whirring sound is like rainwater rushing down a dry wadi!
The LXX in 2 Kings 13:17 also associates the rushing with "pro tozeuo," meaning the sound "of the bow." The rushing ends with explosive impact.
The elements: stoicheion, 4747, (from stoixeo) are the beginning things used in the creation. They are the physical basics of all natural things. These elements are used to found the heavens and the earth in the arrangement of the present order of life.
These things - the elements of the earth, its mantle and its canopy - are listed in dictionaries and encyclopedia as a Table of Elements. These elements are found "in the heavens" which the ancients saw as having four components: air, fire, earth, and water. The body of Adam was made from the dusty elements of the earth, Genesis 2:7.
The elements of which Peter first speaks belong to the atmospheric canopy. The burning "things" ignite the elements, making noise; heated further, they disintegrate, raining fire.
Burning with heat: kausoo, 2740, lit., set on fire; (from kausis, burning, caustic). The elements become heated and some burst into flame.
Burning with heat is the result of "being set on fire" with the heat of friction as the "things" pass through the skies. The elements, when they are released by the heat, dissolve and burn. The process of release makes a noise...
The burning heat of each "hail" (Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:21) of brimstone produces the flame.
The atmospheric elements "shall melt:" luo, 3089, to dissolve, to break (apart), to loosen. They will become soluble.
When elements are dissolved, the individual components of the atmosphere (and of the "hail") combine and release. The release is, as Peter's words say, through "being on fire" by "burning with heat," in diffusion, and fissionable. This characteristic has led many to believe that Zech. 14:12 refers to man-made nuclear weaponry; but the text clearly states that the destruction is the "work" of the LORD on behalf of Jerusalem and Israel, and the saints.
The great heat of the "hail" and the subsequent fires "scorch" (ungodly) men, Revelation 16:8-9. Forests and grasslands also burn.
Peter does not need to identify the vehicles of the fire. Others prophets have. These vehicles, sounding like rushing chariots, arrive as a "hail" of hot stone (coming from a disturbance in the outer heavens) which falls toward the earth. Peter's statement about the day of the Lord identifies the manner of the LORD's "strange work" and its mechanism as He implements the Day of wrath to slay all the condemned, ungodly among men.
Being on fire: purioomai, 4448, on fire, burning with flames. Physical stresses in the heavens produces physical stresses from within the earth. Celestial mechanics follow the physical rules. Heat is produced. Both the skies and the earth are heated from within themselves. The heat dissolves and melts the elements of the atmosphere, the sea and the land.
In the Revelation, the "hail" is incendiary. First like locusts, then as scorpions, finally like horses, the growing hails of fire burn the heavens, producing great heat, and a "blood." The "hail," also becoming hot from friction of passing through the earth's atmosphere, melts. The great heat releases elements to degrade and recombine into compounds that, with roaring noise, explode into fire. Some "bloody" poisonous substances fall on land, sea, and on "the works" of men. Certain elements are acid, some caustic, some are poisons. More heat releases. A holocaustic fire storm develops...
The elements shall "melt:" tekomai, 5080, to melt down. The elements become volatile and crack. They are reduced to a melt. There are three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gaseous. The solid state melts, to become liquid. Liquids heated further produce gases. The intense "fervent heat" being produced releases the elements to an unstable condition. The ferocity is nuclear.
Be "burnt up:" katakaio, 2618, to completely burn with flames. The skies, being set on fire, in turn drop fire upon the earth. The "works" (things men have created or manufactured) in the earth are totally destroyed by the fire. The literal nature of the burning is shown in the Revelation. The land, and things on it: trees, men, grass, actually all burn. Ungodly men are singled out for burning.
John's prophecy in the book of Revelation reveals full details of the events of that great day. All the prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the coming of the Savior of the world.
Peter says that mockers will say, "Where is the promise of his coming?" For the benefit of all who read his epistle, he describes the actions in the skies that, with loud roaring sounds, drop molten fire upon the earth and its works. He describes the promise to all the mockers - a judgment which they cannot possibly escape even after they know its destination.
In an attempt to show a visible picture of Peter's words, the editors of the King James Authorized Version - wisely - have inserted the italicized word "Seeing," (at the beginning of verse eleven) in order to present the literal sense of Peter's text and to disavow any symbolic interpretation.
Other interpreters nevertheless have transposed the reality of that yet future day to be a symbolic act, thus distracting attention from the future earthly judgment to come upon all unrepentant and ungodly persons.
For the text asks, "All these things (of the fervent heat's attack) being dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be...? Peter's meaning is, Certainly you don't want to be counted among the ungodly then, for all these molten things are directed toward the disobedient individuals for their destruction! For, this is exactly what the locust/scorpion/horses of Rev. 9 are appointed to do in that "great and terrible day" - Destruction's work.
For a season of five months, Abaddon first torments the ungodly. Thereafter, the appointed year, month, day and hour, having come, his cavalry kills (with complete destruction) one third of mankind, who still remain unrepentant and ungodly.
The earth is not to be "destroyed" so as to become uninhabitable for humanity during the 1000 years of the kingdom's rule on earth. Its evil works are destroyed, yes; the earth itself is "changed," yes; and for the habitation of the "saved" righteous and holy people. The Scriptures assure us of these things. The kingdom of heaven - Israel, with the "chosen" of the LORD from all the nations - will be restored on the earth; with the redeemed of the Lord as rulers in and for the restored kingdom of the LORD. As the Lord's Prayer says, "Thy kingdom come. Let Thy will be done in earth as in heaven." God will not destroy the place where His kingdom is to be located and where His will is to be done for the millennial ages.
And He thus changes the heavens and the earth into a new state of glory for the inheritance of an obedient Israel, and for those who are saved out of the nations; the "new creation" in Jesus Christ.
Recall the words of Jesus: "On account of this every scribe instructed toward the kingdom of the heavens is like a man, master of the house, who puts forth from his treasure, new and old," Matthew 13:51-52. Peter's "new" thing of prophecy is an old but precious word of prophecy of the judgment to come, before the "new" kingdom begins its reign.
The Day of the LORD will bring the signs in the heavens that passing by, day by day and night by night, produce noises and fire from the skies, and intense heat from within the earth. The elements of the heavens and the earth are loosened by the intense heats; and melt, they fall to the earth to destroy only the ungodly and corrupt workers and their works.
This activity is accompanied by loud, rushing noises and fire.
The events are produced in the skies "shaken with a mighty wind" of God, exchanging the elements that govern in the heavens, to purge the heavens and the earth for new, better living conditions.
So notice the WORD LIST which provides a cross-reference to other related passages of the Scriptures. Study them together.
To be instructed about the kingdom of the heavens is to fulfill the joy of the Lord through your better understanding of the allegories of the kingdom of the heavens. To enjoy its inheritance you must, "Believe, and be baptized" into the Name of the Lord.
The words are keyed to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:
2343; theesaurizo, "to lay up," "to treasure up," "to lay up treasure," "to keep in store." See Matt. 6:19-20; Romans 2:5; James 5:3. See 2344 also.
5083; teero, "to watch over," "to be guarded," "to keep fast," "to be reserved."
1411; dunamis, "powers." Found throughout the Gospels; very long list.
3772; ouranos, "heavens." Found in 2 Peter 3:10 & 12, and in the Gospels.
4535; 4525 saleuo, "shaken." See Matt. 11:7; 24:29; Mark 13:25; Luke 6:38, 48; 7:24; 21:26; Acts 2:25; 4:31; 16:26; 17:13; 2 Thess. 2:2; Heb. 12:26, 27, 27.
3928; parerkomai, "pass away." In verse ten only. See any Concordance.
4500; rhoizeedon, "with a great noise." In verse ten only. See the prophecy in Isaiah 28:17-22; Ezekiel 38:18-23.
4592; seemeion, "signs." Found throughout the Gospels.
4747; 4748; stoicheion, "elements." In verse ten and twelve only. See Galatians 4:3, 9; Colossians 2:8, 20; Hebrews 5:12.
2740; 2741; kausoo, "with fervent heat." In verse ten and twelve only. See Hebrews 6:8.
2618; katakaio, "shall be burned up." In verse ten only. Matt. 3:12; 13:30, 40; Luke 3:17; Acts 19:19; I Cor. 3:15; Heb. 13:11; Revelation 8:7, 7; 17:16; 18:8.
3089; luo, "shall dissolve." In verse ten, eleven and twelve.
4448; purioomai, "being on fire." In verse twelve only. See I Cor. 7:9; II Cor. 11:29; Eph. 6:16; Rev. 1:15; 3:18.
5080; tekomia, "shall melt." In verse twelve only.
In addition to basic Greek/English and Hebrew/English study aids, the following books are recommended as helps:
Most Public Libraries have these books in either the Reference Section, or in the Religion or Philosophy Sections.
Bullinger, Ethelbert W. Figures of Speech Used in the Bible. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1968)
Green, Jay P., Sr. New Englishman's Greek/English Concordance. (Wilmington, Delaware: Associated Publishers & Authors, 1976)
Green, Jay. The Interlinear Hebrew/Greek English Bible, Four Volume Edition. (Lafayette, Indiana: Associated Publishers & Authors, 1979)
Strong, James. Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Guardian Press, 1976)
Vine, W. E. Expository Dictionary. (London: Oliphants, 1969)
The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament. (London: Samuel Bagster and Sons Limited, 1794)
USE ALL REFERENCE WORKS WITH A CAUTION. FOR, UNAWARES, EDITORS SOMETIMES DO HAVE A BIAS...
ALSO, MODERN DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS QUITE OFTEN DO NOT RETAIN THE MEANING OF THE WORD IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT. SO CHECK EACH WORD DEFINITION FOR ACCURACY AGAINST THE SCRIPTURE'S CONTEXT.
(I haven't quite figured out yet how to include the Greek text here. Maybe as a graphic..?)
SIR ISAAC NEWTON, English philosopher and mathematician, 1642- 1717, formulated the law of gravitation and the elements of differential calculus. He is not to be confused with Bishop Newton.
BISHOP NEWTON: He was a Bishop of "the Church." The following is his proclamation regarding the "correct" view of Bible prophecy and of world history. Observes Newton:
"Prophecy is, as I may say, history anticipated and contracted; history is prophecy accomplished and dilated; and the prophecies of Scripture contain the fate of the most considerable nations, and the substance of the most memorable transactions in the world, from the earliest to the latest times.
"Daniel and St. John, with regard to those latter times, are more copious and particular than the other prophets.
"They exhibit a series and succession of the most important events from the first of the four great empires to the consummation of all things.
"Their prophecies may really be said to be a summary of the history of the world; and the history of the world is the best comment upon their prophecies.
"...and the more you know of the world and modern times, and the farther you search into the truth of history, the more you will be satisfied of the truth of prophecy."
The "history of the world," as written by Will and Ariel Durant in the many, many volumes which they have produced on the topic, has very, very little to do with "Bible prophecy" as envisioned by Newton and the followers of his philosophy.
The Christian is exhorted to live according to the "mind of Christ" in the world, but not (be) a part of it. Jesus told his disciples, "I pray not for the world..," John 17:5-25. The history of the cosmos indeed has nothing to do with Bible prophecy concerning the LORD's purpose in Israel's Messiah and the nation's future glory, but theological obstructionists would have us believe that the "worlds" of history and of Bible prophecy are one and the same. ...Test the spirits!
For further Bible information on timely topics, please write to the publisher. We will send a list of other published topics. Or by request, research a topic to your particular interest! There is no financial obligation; we require only a sincere desire on your part to know the truth concerning the establishment of the "new" kingdom where only right things shall reside!
This article, THE HEAVENS DO RULE, was originally published in WHEN EARTH BURNS, (a book about the prophecy of the Revelation of Jesus Christ) as Chapters 24 and Chapter 25. The chapters - as reproduced here - deal with just one specific point of the prophecy: the judgment to come - the wrath of God - which is to fall upon the ungodly for their complete ruin.