God's inescapable judgment
They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 2 Peter 3:5-7 CSB
God governs the world and the course of history. Peter, in his response to his detractors who are continually spreading false teachings, reminds them that “By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago.” By His Word, the earth was destroyed through the flood. By reminding the false teachers, Peter brought to their minds what they already knew had happened in the past. He reminded them of the creation account when the earth was formed. “‘Then God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so’” (Genesis 1:9). It is by God’s Word that “separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so” (Genesis 1:7). God, who made the world, also has the power to destroy it. He upholds His creation by His power. However, just as by His divine word the universe came into existence, so at his command he can unleash natural elements in creation to destroy that which He has made. As He formed the earth out of water, so He destroys the world by water. The scoffers of Peter’s Day saw God’s creation but refused to recognize the Creator and His authority. It is God who determines the beginning and the end of the universe. In the last day, “By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:7). With these discussions about the creation and the judgment, Peter is reminding the scoffers that they will be judged if they will remain in their unbelief. Three times from the chapter (vv. 7, 10, 12), Peter discloses the destruction of the universe by fire. The nature of the fire is not revealed. Whether there will be a nuclear holocaust that will happen and will destroy everything, that remained to be seen. The purpose of the fiery demise of the earth is for the judgment of the wicked. God exercises patience, but when His restraint comes to an end, He will pronounce judgment for the scoffers.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
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