It is not uncommon to hear people of our day make fun of the Bible’s message that the Lord Jesus will one day come again to judge all people. Jude 18 speaks of "mockers," and 2 Peter 3:3 refers to those that would come forth as "scoffers, walking after their own lusts." There appear to have been scoffers already in Peter’s day that, in reference to Jesus’ appearance, asked, "Where is the promise of his coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). They seemed to be saying, "We hear all of this talk about Jesus coming again. But, He hasn’t come yet, and it looks like the promise of His coming was a falsehood. We guess He is not coming after all."

2 Peter 3 gives a thorough refutation of a number of false concepts that people have about our Lord’s Second Coming. A great portion of that whole chapter (2 Peter 3) is connected with the theme of the Lord’s coming. What can we learn about His Second Coming from this chapter? Let us observe and learn together.

First, look at The Names Or Descriptions of That Great Day. The day of Jesus’ return is called "his coming," that is, His Second Coming (2 Peter 3:4). It is called "the day of judgment" (3:7). It is further identified as "the day of the Lord" (3:10) and "the day of God" (3:12). In the context of 2 Peter 3, these expressions are not speaking about four different occasions, rather they all point to the same day and same event: the Second Coming of the Christ. We recognize that in other Bible verses, the expression "the day of the Lord" sometimes refers to God’s judgment on a particular city or nation, that is, God’s day would be a local judgment (See examples of this in Isaiah 13:16,9 and Joel 1:13-15). However, the context of 2 Peter 3 points to the last day, the final day of judgment, identified elsewhere in the Scriptures as "the end of the world" (Matthew 13:49).

Second, look at The Certainty of Jesus Coming Again. 2 Peter 3:10 declares, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." Yes, this verse makes it so plain: ". . . the day of the Lord WILL come" (emphasis mine, rdc). Furthermore, Jesus’ coming is assured by the promise of God that it will happen. As we have already noted, even the scoffers spoke about "the promise of his coming" (3:4). And, Peter states that "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise" (3:9). What promise is that? It is the promise that Jesus will come again. Earlier in this same epistle, Peter the saints of the first century of the "exceeding great and precious promises" of God (1:4). The point to be made here is this: since "the Lord is faithful" (2 Thessalonians 3:3), then whatever He says about every topic is credible and reliable, including when He tells mankind that one day Jesus will come again. How do we know that Jesus will come again? God said so, and that settles it! It is, as we say, "a done deal."

Third, look at The Timing of Jesus’ Coming. In one sense, we know exactly when it will take place: it will be on "the day of judgment" (3:7). But, since we know not when judgment day will be ("the last day," John 6:39,40), we are also "in the dark" as to when Jesus will come. Yea, the message of the text that we are examining clearly states, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" (3:10). That simply means that He will come unexpectedly, at a time when men and women are not looking for Him. Every effort that humans have ever made to predict the time of the Christ’s Second Coming has been an exercise in folly and has demonstrated super ignorance. Why is that the case? Because Jesus Himself said that "of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of haven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36). Just as there was a period of God’s longsuffering before He brought the universal flood on the world in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20), even so we are now living in an era that the Bible calls "the longsuffering of our Lord" (2 Peter 3:15,9). Yes, the Christ will come again, and His coming will take place according to the Father’s schedule, not man’s.

Fourth, look at Some of The Events Associated with Jesus’ Coming. The context of 2 Peter 3 points to two matters. Again, it will be "the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (3:7). Thus, on that great day there will be a judgment carried out by the Master, and, it will not be a joke or prank, but will be "for keeps." Ungodly men will be sentenced to perdition on that day. The Bible makes that plain. In addition, the context shows that when the day of the Lord finally comes, ". . . the heavens and earth 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 . . . all these things shall be dissolved . . . the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat" (3:10-12). God does not reveal the details of how this will all come about, nor the type of fire that He will use, but we can rest assured that since God said it will happen, it will happen! Since the planet earth will be burned up, it seems silly for a person to put his/her focus and trust in the perishable material things of this life, does it not? Furthermore, since the earth will be burned up, what does that do to the notion that after Jesus comes again the earth will be one glorious paradise, or that Jesus will reign on the earth for 1000 years? Those man-made messages just do not jive with what 2 Peter 3:10-12 reveals, do they?

Finally, look at what this chapter shows about The Proper Preparation for the Coming Day of the Lord. The Bible says that "the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" (3:15). Every day that the Lord allows the earth to stand, that is another opportunity for lost people to turn away from sin and to the Lord in order to receive the salvation that He offers. So, in short, the proper preparation for Jesus’ coming is to be in a saved relationship with Him. What does 2 Peter 3 show that God’s children ought to be doing to prepare themselves as they watch, wait, and work? Every member of the Lord’s church needs to be holy (3:11), be godly (3:11), be looking for and hastening the Lord’s coming (3:12), be diligent (3:14), be found in peace (3:14), be without spot (3:14), be blameless (3:14), beware lest he/she be led away, and be growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus (3:18). Did I hear you say that you cannot find anything to do?! Brothers and sisters, these verses show you and me matters in which we ought to be engaged each day of our life. Let us determine that we are going to make getting to heaven the number one goal of our existence on this corrupt, temporary planet.

No, not every aspect of Jesus’ Second Coming is revealed in 2 Peter 3. Yet, this chapter provides us much information to consider, digest, accept, and teach. Thank God for what He has revealed about "the day of the Lord." May we give all diligence to be prepared for that great day.

-- Roger D. Campbell