The Future of the Past End of All Things 2 Peter Chapter 3

Hello, it's William Bell. I want to welcome you to our All Things Fulfilled channel. For those of you who may be new to our channel, this is where we study eschatology, which is the study of last things. And our current study is on 2 Peter 3. We're talking about the end of the world. In other words, what does that text mean when it talks about the end of the world? Is it the end of the universe, as men like John MacArthur say? Or those like John Hagee and others are predicting something imminent about to happen in our time? Or is it a reference to something that was more current in the day and time of the apostles and those to whom the text was originally written in the first century? So our topic today is the end of all things is at hand. The end of all things is at hand. Remember, we started out this series talking about the fact that Peter is reminding his readers of what he said in the first epistle. So what we want to do is we want to go back over there and look at how he spoke about the end of the world in the first epistle and what he said about it. We also mentioned the fact that you can talk about something and then remind the person without necessarily saying the same identical words. So let's take a look at what he said in 1 Peter, particularly on the end of all things. And by the way, the verse that I'm going to be focused on today in 2 Peter is verse 4, I believe. Let's look at the text. Actually, yes, it is verse 4. And the scripture says, And saying, Where is the premise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. Now this is a very controversial point. It's a very highly discussed point in terms of what Peter means in this text. And I'm going to suggest to you my view on it as what I believe the scripture is saying. And of course you have the opportunity to share your comments as always. Let me also make this sidebar while we are preparing for our study today. Notice on some of the videos, and we're going to try to include this as much as possible, that I'm going to start including a chart or study aid in one page that you can download. So if you see a link on the video, be sure and click on that because you can download and you'll have a document that you can follow along with the video. So you might want to download that. Alright, so let's go ahead and get started. Now in 1 Peter chapter 4 and the verse 7, the Bible says, But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. Now what did he mean when he said the end of all things is at hand? I'm going to suggest to you that when he said the end of all things is at hand, that he is talking about the end of the world, meaning that it was near. The word at hand means imminent, that it was at hand in those days. Now, when we go to 2 Peter, Peter is going to elaborate on that a little bit more. He's going to mention it again, but we're going to look at the context and understand what he means by that. Because everyone sees in that the end of the universe, but let's see if that's in fact what Peter meant. So again in verse 4, he says, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? These are the scoffers who had come forth, and I mentioned that in the previous video, so go back and watch that if you haven't already. Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. Now, people have a tendency to read words into the text which are not there. In other words, some people will say, From the beginning of the creation, all things continue as they were. For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Now, the original text does not have from the beginning of the creation, and nor does it say from the beginning. So it isn't the beginning, and it isn't the creation. It simply says, from beginning of creation. From beginning of creation. Now, why is that important? To me, it is important because Peter is not saying, again, that this is from the beginning of the creation, as in Genesis 1 and verse 1. And I know many will disagree with me on that. Many believe that that is in fact what he's talking about. But my question is, how do we determine what creation is under consideration? Have you ever thought about it? Have you ever considered it? First of all, he gives us a qualifying statement before he ever mentions the creation. And that statement is, for since the fathers fell asleep. So this is a point in time for Peter's reference. The word since is from the Greek word apa. It's the same word from which we get apostles, which means to send forth or to send from. Apa is a preposition that means a point away from. So you have a point, and then you move away from that. That's the direction of apa. Something that is away from a point. So in other words, what Peter says as he starts this, when he's talking about the objection and the scoffing of the scoffers, he says, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. So, for since the fathers fell asleep. Now, who are these fathers of which he refers to when he says, for since they fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. Well, does it make sense for Peter to be speaking of the original creation of the world? Does it make sense for him to be talking about when the world was created? Because, here's my question. What physical world was created after the fathers fell asleep? Doesn't that sound kind of weird? Isn't that kind of crazy to even think about? You had some fathers who fell asleep before the creation of the world in which the fathers were created or born. You see, that doesn't make sense if we start at Peter's point of reference. For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. And he does not say, from the beginning of the creation. Now, let's go on and let's see if we can further develop this for you. Why would he start with, since the fathers fell asleep, if it was not significant to the argument and to the response, the rebuttal that he's going to make to these scoffers. And remember, we identified them as Jewish scoffers, which is significant in helping us to understand this. So, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. Now, it wasn't because he was focused on the natural creation from my point of view. The reason he starts there is because he's not even focused on the physical creation of the world. Peter is focusing on a creation that came into being after these fathers fell asleep. For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. This is where he starts. And so when they ask, where is the premise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were. See, this is what the scoffers are saying. The scoffers are saying, since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. In other words, it's the Old Covenant creation, which occurred after the fathers fell asleep. And what creation was that? Well, if you think about the Jewish scoffers, what creation would they have in mind? Let's look at a contrast of creations in the Bible. In the 5th chapter of 2 Corinthians, verse 17, the Bible says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Now wait a minute. If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. Now watch this. All things are passed away. Behold, all things have become new. And that's an elliptical phrase. All things have become new things. So, Paul said, Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. Well, what that's telling you is there is a contrast between two creations. And I'm going to suggest to you that the two creations that are spoken of are covenant creations. They are not a physical as opposed to another physical creation. Because Christ is said to be the beginning of the creation of God. When was He the beginning? When did He become the beginning of that creation? When He rose from the dead. As the Bible says, You are my son, this day have I begotten you. And Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, the beginning of the creation of God. That is the new creation. That is the new covenant creation. And the new covenant creation implies an old covenant creation. Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. All things are passed away. And by the way, that's the already but not yet. They hadn't completely passed away according to Hebrews 8 and verse 13. But they were in the process of passing away. So, Paul is saying all things are passed away and therefore we are a new creation in Christ. So you have a new creation, a new covenant creation. There is an old covenant creation. But when did the old covenant creation come into being? It was after the fathers fell asleep. Now, when you look at that, you can see very clearly, therefore, that what we're talking about is covenantal creation and not a physical creation. Yes, it involved individuals. But they are involved in the covenant and that's what made them a creation. So, God is therefore recreating humanity in Christ. He's creating a new people. That's why the scripture says, therefore, although we have known Christ after the flesh, yet from henceforth know we Him after the flesh no longer. After Jesus died, He was born according to the flesh of the seed of David. But He rose from the dead according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. And Romans 1, 3 and 4. Also 1 Peter 3 and verse 18. Put to death in the flesh, made alive in the spirit. So we've got a new creation going on from that perspective. Now, this tells us that the old covenant creation of Israel began under Moses and not under Adam. Even though Adam, in some sense, prefigures Israel. But see, when you read the scripture in Romans chapter 5 and verse 14, for example. When it says, nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses. That's telling us that Adam and Moses are not the same. They did not occur in the same chronological time frame. They were different. Even though the death continued from Adam to Moses, He makes a distinction between the two. Death reigned from Adam to Moses. If we make them the same as some people want to do in their analysis of 2 Peter 3 and their analysis of other texts that relate to the creation, then He may as well have said death reigned from Adam to Adam. Or He could have said death reigned from Moses to Moses. That's not His point. His point is death reigned from Adam to Moses. Because there was something that was added in addition to Adam that didn't exist prior to that point. That's why the scripture tells us that the law was 430 years after the promise. Well, that's the promise of Abraham. But it was even further in terms of time after the time of Adam. Now, if we plug the creation of Israel under Moses into the text and then read it, see if it doesn't make sense and perfectly fit the context. For since the fathers fell asleep. Now, who were the Jewish fathers? Every time they talked about their origin, they always said, Our Father Abraham. When God met Moses at the burning bush in Exodus chapter 3, God said, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words, Israel's point of reference for their fathers was not Adam. Israel's point of reference was Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And particularly beginning with Abraham. Because this is where God begins to form Israel into a nation. It was the beginning of the development of Israel into a nation through the seed of Abraham. We see the call of Abraham in Genesis chapter 12. And where do they always want to go? Where do people who claim their lineage, they always go to Genesis chapter 12. And that's where they want to start the lineage of Israel because it comes through Abraham. But now, watch. Since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue from the beginning of creation. So if you take Moses at Sinai around 1490 B.C. or so, 1450 B.C. And you look at that time frame, you can see that a new creation is being made with Israel. It's a new creation that is coming about through Torah, through the Law. And this is after the fathers have fallen asleep. And here are these Jewish scoffers who put their stock into Torah and into their Jewish heritage with Abraham because every time they showed up, I mean, what were they saying? John the Baptist had to tell them, think not to call yourselves the children of Abraham. That's what was at the forefront of their minds. When Jesus spoke to them, they said, we are Abraham's children, John chapter 8. We've never been in bondage to any man. See, their world started with Abraham. And this is what they're referencing when they say, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation. Now, remember Peter said the end of all things is at hand. The end of the physical creation wasn't near when Peter spoke. But the end of all things was imminent, was at hand when he spoke. Meaning, the end of the old creation was at hand. Well, that couldn't have been the physical creation. Therefore, what the scoffers were saying was that the end of the old creation was not at hand when Peter spoke. See, they're scoffing against what Peter is teaching. And if he was teaching the end of all things is at hand, then they must therefore be scoffing against the end of all things being at hand. Therefore, the end of the old creation is not at hand. If you think about Acts chapter 6, verses 13 and 14, to understand what was in their mind from the perspective of the preaching they heard from Stephen and the apostles. Here's what they said in Acts 6, 13 and 14, or at least what's recorded. We have heard him say, this was the charge they made of Stephen. We have heard him say, this Jesus of Nazareth will come and destroy this place. What place was that? The temple. Alright, remember in our previous video we talked about the temple being the heaven and earth? We have heard him say, this Jesus of Nazareth will come and destroy this place and watch the next phrase, and change the customs delivered unto us by Moses. That was their heaven and earth. That was the all things that they were scoffing against. And that is exactly the all things that Peter was saying was at hand to be brought to its end or consummation. So the all things is not the physical creation, it was the creation under Moses that came about since the fathers fell asleep. After the fathers fell asleep. Now when Peter begins to correct that, he takes them at a point before that so they could see that God would judge evil. And that He would judge the ungodly. But when you think about that point, it is very, very significant that we get the difference in the creation. So the end of the physical universe was not at hand in Peter's day. If it were, he would be a false prophet just like those who have ranted about the end of the world coming in 1988. Such as men like Hal Lindsey, like Edgar Wisnott, like Harold Camping, like the Jehovah's Witnesses who have predicted over and over and over again and then tried to go back and cover up lie after lie after lie in their writings. When they first predicted 1914, then 1915, then 1925, 1975, causing people all kinds of havoc in their lives. And you know the Bible defines a false prophet. It says if the thing that they predict does not come to pass, that is the person through whom God has not spoken. And ladies and gentlemen, if they make a false prophecy one time and then come back and do it again, it shows that they are bent on their false prophecies. And that discredited them from the beginning. And so men like John Hagee and others who are teaching an imminent end, and like John MacArthur is saying, the end is soon to come. That's not what Peter said. Peter said the end of all things. And we're defining all things as the Old Covenant related to the Temple, etc. Now, let me give you another scripture as we wind down to show you this distinction in scripture that Peter is making from the writings of Paul in Hebrews. In the ninth chapter of the book of Hebrews, the Bible says, But Christ as High Priest. Now notice how this language is still focused on Old Covenant Temple typology. But Christ as High Priest of the good things about to come. That's the word mellow. And we've demonstrated in previous videos that mellow and at hand all mean imminent. So was the word hetormos, the word ready from the writings of Peter. They're all used in one chapter. First Peter chapter 4. And he shows, therefore, that they all meant the same thing regarding the same event. The end of all things is at hand. God was ready to judge the living and the dead. And he says that He was about to come in glory. They were partakers of the glory that was about to come. Well here, he says, Christ as High Priest of the good things about to come. That's the Greek word mellow in that context. Now watch. With the greater and more perfect tabernacle. Look how he describes it. Not made with hands. In other words, not made with men's hands. So there is a contrast between the tabernacle that is not made with the hands of men. That means he's talking about the kingdom, the stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands. Now watch this. Look at what he compares it to. He says, that is not of this creation. He's talking about a new tabernacle. But he says this new tabernacle is not of this creation. Well, what does the term creation mean in this text? He hasn't finished his analysis and his comment. So let's read a little bit further and watch the contrast further develop. Verse 12. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered into the most holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself without spot to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. And for that reason he's the mediator of the new covenant. So what is he contrasting? He's contrasting two covenants. The old covenant where they had the blood of bulls and of goats compared to the new covenant which has the blood of Christ. That's the Levitical priesthood versus the priesthood of Christ who is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. But he calls the priesthood of Christ as a contrast to this creation. So priesthood on one end, creation on the other. That's the old covenant creation where they had the blood of goats and calves, of bulls and goats that could not take away sin. That is the creation that was soon about to come. Because if Paul in Hebrews 9 verse 11 and 12 says that the good things were about to come, then what he's also saying is that the old things were about to go. The end of all things was in hand. Now it's that understanding that I believe Peter has in mind when he says the end of all things is at hand. He's referring to the all things of the old covenant creation. And that's what the scoffers were scoffing against. They were saying the end of all things i.e. the end of the old creation is not at hand. The temple is not about to fall. The Levitical priesthood is not going to pass away. The customs of Moses are not going to come to an end. Are not going to be fulfilled and end with the destruction of the temple. And the passing away of the natural covenant Israel who refused to obey Jesus Christ. That's what Peter was teaching. That's the world the scoffers saw. That's why they were saying since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from beginning of creation. The creation of Hebrews 9.11 is not Genesis 1. The creation of Hebrews 9.11 is Sinai. It's Moses and the old covenant. And it was about to pass away. So Peter was saying that Christ was about to come and destroy them and send them back to Egypt into captivity or slavery per Deuteronomy chapter 28 and verse 68. Because they had been preaching it for some 30 years since Christ died. No one believed that it was going to take place. That is no one in the community of the Judaizers believed that it was going to take place. Just like they didn't believe Noah. And that's why the coming of the Lord is compared to the days of Noah. See Noah preached for 120 years. That's 3 40 year periods. And now we have another 40 year period from 30 to 70 AD where the apostles were preaching the end of all things is at hand. For about 6 years prior to the event. 4 to 6 years prior to the event. And Peter is saying the end of all things is at hand and they are coming around. Look how long it's been. Everything has continued since the fathers fell asleep. Judaism has been here ever since it was created. And yes it appeared as though it was never going to end. But that's why Christ said in Matthew 24 and verse 34 Assuredly I say to you this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Till all these things take place. And Peter therefore said the end of all things is at hand. That is the creation that they were scoffing against that was going to come to an end. That was the creation that was developed since the fathers fell asleep. And Peter as he rebukes them he's going to tell them what they were ignorant of. And we'll get into that in our next video. So be sure and subscribe to this channel. And if you like the information share it with your friends. Give them an opportunity to learn. Also remember that you can click on the link and download the lesson outline or it's really just a simple chart but it will help you to remember and you can use it in some of the study aids. Also visit our website. We appreciate it. And leave some comments. And I'm sure I'll probably get a ton of comments pro or con on this. And I'll read them. I'll address them as best as I possibly can. Our aim is to stay as true to the text as we can. And to use the text to interpret the text. Which is the only way from my point of view to study the Bible. Let the Bible interpret itself. And if we can do that I think we'll arrive closer to the truth. With that I want to thank you for watching. And we'll see you in the next video. Thanks.