Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

'We look for new heavens and a new earth.'


"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, 
look for new heavens and a new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness." 
2Pet 3:12
What did apostle Peter has in mind when he said with the Jewish believers, "we... look for new heavens and a new earth"? 
- Were they looking for a new world rid of the last remnant of ancient geriatric earthly theocratic Israel, or
- Were they looking for a new heaven and a new earth that will replace the present world at Christ second coming? (Rev 21:1)
 - Let me know if you think if they had something else in mind.

Let us consider some questions concerning the relevant text before us. 
Do remember that Apostle Peter was writing to the JEWISH believers around the year 66AD. 

Here is the passage, and some inquiries... 

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
What did Apostle Peter intend to bring the Jewish believers to remembrance in his writing to them?
- was it the imminent passing away of the old covenant, or the imminent passing away of the present world?

2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
What were the words that were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the apostles?

- Were they words concerning the passing away of the old covenant or passing away of the present world to be replaced with something new?

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Why the urgency, "knowing this first"?
- Does the urgency has to do with the imminent obliteration of geriatric old covenant Israel, or the world which was present then? Which did Peter has in mind? You choose!  
- What is the "last days" spoken off? Is it the "last days" of the old covenant theocratic Israel, or the last days of the world then present?
- What did the scoffers scoff at - at something that was imminent, or at something that was still distant in the future? 
- Were they scoffing at the prophesied (by the holy prophets, and by the Lord to his apostles) imminent dissolution of the ancient geriatric theocratic earthly Israel, or the dissolution of this present world?

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
- What is the promise of the Lord and Savior's coming? Is it His coming in wrath against the rebellious theocratic Israel, or His coming at the end of the gospel age? 
- Is His promised coming in the "last days" the last days of the old covenant theocratic Israel, or the the "last days" of the present world? 

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
- Why did Apostle Peter appeal to the immutability and veracity of the word of God? 
- Is this passage speaking of the creation, or what happened in the days of Noah? 

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
- Why did Peter appeal to the judgment in the flood? 
- Is there a similarity between the judgment of flood in Noah's day, and the judgment in AD 70 upon the old theocratic world?  
[It was prophesied, and took a long time to come to pass. There were scoffers too in the days of Noah... the threatened judgment would never come.... and bang it came... BY THE WORD OF GOD. Even so... scoffers may scoff at the prophesied judgment... yet it will most certainly come... and all the unbelieving children of God also perished in the flood. Even so, in the 70AD.]

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
- What were "the heavens and the earth, which are now" that had been kept and preserved until that day in AD 66 ("which are now") by the same immutable and certain word of God? 
- [Theocratic Israel, the old heavens and old earth - the world of the Jews for thousands of years - has been kept and preserved by the word of God UNTIL... its appointed time. It lasted as long as God has determined it. It was everlasting in that no man could obliterate it - until its appointed time. Then it shall be roasted on the day of judgment - AD 70.]
- What were the heavens and the earth that were reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men?  What is that day of judgment?
- What judgment was Peter warning the recipients of his letter: the judgment that ended the Jewish world, or the judgment that will end the natural world?

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- What is His promise? His coming in judgment in AD70, or His coming for His redeemed at the end of the gospel age? What is the promise being scoffed at by the Jewish scoffers?
- The Lord is not willing for any of His people should perish - perish from what? From the judgment in 70AD, or from the judgment at the end of the end of the gospel age? Will any of His perish in the latter? 

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
- What does the term "the day of the Lord" mean to the Jews? (Hint: check up with the OT prophets!)
- the day of judgment upon Isreal... or the day of of judgment at the end of the gospel age?
- Are the passing of the old heavens and the burning up of the earth (land) a reference to the horrendous destruction and complete obliteration of the old covenant Israel in AD70, or the dissolution of the present world? 

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
- What things shall be dissolved - the geriatric old covenant Israel and its religion, or the present world - that has immediate relevance with these Jewish believers? 

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
- What was the day of God, which coming, were the believing Jews looking for and hasting unto?
- Was it the imminent day of God's wrath upon Israel in AD70, or the yet distant day of deliverance at the end of the gospel age? 

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
What is the promise here? Is it the same promise already mentioned in verses 4 and 9? 

Now doubt many other questions may be asked by others holding to other views! 
I do welcome serious questions. This is not because that I have the answers. I welcome questions because serious questions lead and drive sincere Bible students to the truth.  


Also, just in case Rev 21:1 is quoted to shed light on the 2Pet 3 passage, bear these in mind.
Re 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. [note: "a new heaven and a new earth" replacing "the first heaven and the first earth."] 

Ge 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 
- This is the first heaven and the first earth of the original creation that will finally pass away.
- This indeed speak of the passing away of the first, and only created heaven and earth, to be replaced with the new heaven and new earth. Kindly note: "the heaven" and "the new heaven" are both in the singular.

Re 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

The first heaven and first earth are said to "pass away," and "fled from the face of Him who sat on the great white throne. The heavens and earth Apostle Peter spoke of were said to "pass away with a great noise, the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth and the works therein shall be burned up, the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved..." 

Sincere folks who are given to sound bites flippantly equate the two, and insist that the two passages speak of the one and same event! I seriously doubt it! 

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/10203175630927097?pnref=story
Posted by at