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Daily Devotions

2 Peter

2 Peter 
Day 
Day 47

"As a thief in the night"

Text: 2 Peter 3:10

THE SECOND COMING

The false teachers in the days of the Apostle Peter rejected the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ. Others turned to speculations, attempting to predict His return. Peter’s understanding came from the teaching of the Lord Jesus directly.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,
in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise,
and the elements will melt with fervent heat;
both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
2 Peter 3:10

1. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night”

a) The Second Coming was called “The day of the Lord”.

b) This was a phrase that was taken from the Old Testament prophets.

c) The Day of the Lord represented two main strands of thought:

i) Judgment from the Lord against the wicked.

ii) But to the righteous, it meant deliverance.

2. “Will come as a thief in the night”

a) Peter must have remembered what the Lord Jesus had taught (Matthew 24:42-44).

i) The movement of a thief is unpredictable.

ii) This imagery was used on purpose; to curb speculation.

b) This imagery was employed by Peter in this text.

3. Cataclysmic events would take place

Three things were highlighted:

a) The heavens will pass away with a great noise.

b) The elements will melt with fervent heat.

c) Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

4. What is the meaning of these statements?

a) There will be a day of judgment.

b) The heavens as we know it today will be destroyed.

c) Fire will consume the earth and all its structures.

5. How would God do this?

a) By the power of His word.

b) It would be done according to His will.

6. When would the Lord do this?

Nobody has any clear answer!