Biblical View Of History

2Pet 3:8-10

End-time scoffers… it’s not about science (2Pet 3:3-5)

Peter knew the end was near for him, & he knew the church would face increased persecution, false teachers within, & ridicule from outside scoffers.

End-time scoffers are willingly ignorant of biblical facts that by the Word of God the earth was formed out of & by water, & by these waters it was later destroyed. (2Pet 3:5-6)

People who mock the Bible are doing so primarily because they don’t want to live up to its demands. It’s not a mater of philosophy/science but of not wanting to give up their sins. 

Don’t be discouraged. God is on the throne, He’s in charge, & history is “His Story”.

In the end, the righteous (godly) will be honored, & the evil (ungodly) will be punished, & God will be glorified… (v.2:9)

The biblical view of history. (2Pet 3:5-10)

Jesus & NT writers treated the events & stories of OT as historic facts. 

Scoffers today ridicule what Bible teaches about Creation, history, & final outcome of life.

Creation, God making something out of nothing, is a miracle, & natural man rejects it. 

Bible is supernatural & filled with the miraculous… it asks us to accept it by faith.

Bible, inspired Word of God, is filled with promises of Christ’s return. (over 300 in NT)

Still, how can we justify continuing to look for Christ’s return after all these years?

2 Pet 3:8-10 contains pertinent observations relating to doctrine of the Lord’s return, & justification to continue to look for His return.

God’s view of time (2Pet 3:8)

God is altogether above time, He is eternal & outside of time. He does not live at all in the realm, or in terms of the time process. Although above time, God controls & acts in time.

God looks at time far differently than we do. (Isa 55:8-9)

Early Christians expected Christ’s return within a short time. After 35 years, persecution was increasing, & temptation was to look at time from human perspective, not God’s.

Mankind views 1,000 or even 100 years as a long time… God views it as nothing at all.

He sees future, even 1000 years, as clearly as today… & all things are under His control.

When we see time from eternity’s perspective, our heartaches, suffering, & tears seem to fade away. Our brief years with trouble are nothing compared to eternal glory. (2Cor 4:17)

Don’t be so concerned about timing of His return… be concerned that you will be ready.

When the Gospel has been preached to all nations… then the end will come. (Mt 24:14) 

God’s love for man (2Pet 3:9)

God’s apparent “delay” is really a manifestation of His patience, mercy, & love.

He is long suffering & does not wish that any should perish. His waiting so long is really an indication of His love... each day He tarries, He gives sinners one more day of grace

God is righteous in all things… always loving & compassionate.

God’s prophecy is certain (2Pet 3:10)

Jesus is coming back & every prophecy relating to His 2^nd coming will be fulfilled.

His return is the blessed hope of the church. (Titus 2:13)

The Day of the Lord will come like a thief. (v.10; 1Thes 5:2)

Jesus taught that sinful man will be caught unaware. (Mt 24:37-39)

Believers will sense the “season” & be prepared. (1Thes 5:4-11)

Don’t listen to anyone who sets the date for Christ’s return. (Mt 24:36) Those who truly know Christ are looking for His coming every day… Perhaps Today.

The Day of the Lord will come… & we are exhorted to be ready, expectant, & prepared.

Key to understanding history are the doctrines of sin & salvation.

God created man & his environment perfect… but man rebelled & sinned against God.

All the trouble, contradictions, & problems have arisen from fact that man sinned.

Sin affected all of creation… God cursed the ground because of man’s sin. There would never have been thorns & briars, etc. but for sin. (Rm 8:21-22)

Mankind continues to rebel & try to get on without God. 

If we don’t understand biblical doctrine of sin, we can’t understand history. (violence, evil)

In Bible there is also God’s plan & history of salvation. Since before time God had a plan for salvation, & beginning with His calling out Abram, He has been working out our salvation thru history. In fullness of time, Christ came & fulfilled God’s plan of salvation.

Because of sin, there will be an ultimate & final consummation of earth. In interim, God is calling out His people… He is dealing with individuals, rescuing them & delivering them out of this world. That ongoing effort is leading up to Christ’s return.

Christ is coming back & He’ll judge the whole world. Sin & evil, & the earth & creation as we know it will be destroyed by fire, just as the ancient world was destroyed by the flood.

Based on biblical promises, we look forward to new heaven & new earth where there is no evil & sin, no disease, death, & no sorrow or suffering. Christians will be present in this new creation in glorified bodies & will reign with Christ & enjoy eternity with Him.

The hope of new heaven & new earth & eternity with Christ enabled early church to die gladly among lions, to die rather than deny the Lord, & has been the hope that sustained many thru the ages during times of persecution & suffering. It is our only true comfort… our blessed hope. (Titus 2:13) 

We too must stand on the promises of God’s Word & wait patiently for the Blessed Hope… the glorious return of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                                                              08-30-09