In the last chapter, as we have said, it is materialism: trust in the
stability of that which can be seen, in contrast with trust in the word of
God which teaches us to look for the coming of Jesus, the return of the
Lord. They judge by their senses. There is, say they, no appearance of
change. This is not the case. To the eye of man it is indeed true that
there is none. But these believers are willfully ignorant of the fact that
the world has been already judged once; that the waters, out of which by
the mighty word of God the earth came, had for the moment swallowed it up
again, all perishing except those whom God preserved in the ark. And by the
same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for the day of
judgment and perdition of ungodly men. It is not that the Lord is slack
concerning the promise of His return, but that He is still exercising
grace, not wishing any to perish, but that all should come to repentance.
And a thousand years are to Him but as a day, and a day as a thousand
years. But the day of the Lord shall come, in which all things will pass
away, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat and all that is on the
earth will be consumed. Solemn consideration for the children of God, to
maintain them in complete separation from evil, and from all that is seen,
looking for and hastening the day in which the heavens shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat! Everything on which the
hopes of the flesh are founded shall disappear for ever.
Nevertheless, there shall be new heavens and a new earth, in which
righteousness shall dwell. It is not here said, "shall reign," which would
be the thousand years of the Lord's dominion; here it is the eternal state,
in which the government, that has brought all things into order, will
terminate, and unhindered blessing will flow from God, the kingdom being
given up to God the Father.
It is in following out the ways of God in government that the apostle
carries them on to the eternal state, in which the promise will be finally
accomplished. The millennium itself was the restitution, of which the
prophets had spoken; and, morally, the heavens and the earth had been
changed by the imprisonment of Satan and the reign of Christ (see Isaiah
65:17, 18, Jerusalem having been made a rejoicing); and the heavens indeed
entirely cleared by power, never to be defiled by Satan again, the saints
on high too in their eternal state, the earth delivered, but not yet
finally freed. But, materially, the dissolution of the elements was,
necessary for the renewal of all things.
It will be observed, that the Spirit does not speak here of the coming of
Christ, except to say that it will be scoffed at in the last days. He
speaks of the day of God, in contrast with the trust of unbelievers in the
stability of the material things of creation, which depends, as the apostle
shews, on the word of God. And in that day everything on which unbelievers
rested and will rest shall be dissolved and pass away. This will not be at
the commencement of the day, but at its close; and here we are free to
reckon this day, according to the apostle's word, as a thousand years, or
whatever length of period the Lord shall see fit.
So solemn a dissolution of all that the flesh rests upon should lead us so
to walk as to be found of the Lord, when He comes to introduce that day, in
peace and blameless; accounting that the apparent delay is only the Lord's
grace, exercised for the salvation of souls. We may well wait, if God makes
use of this time to rescue souls from judgment, by bringing them to the
knowledge of Himself, and saving them with an everlasting salvation. This,
the apostle says, had been taught by Paul, who wrote to them (the Hebrew
believers) of these things, as he did also in his other epistles.
It is interesting to see that Peter, who had been openly rebuked before all
by Paul, introduces him here with entire affection. He notices that Paul's
epistles contained an exalted doctrine, which they who were unstable, and
not taught of God, perverted. For Peter in fact does not follow Paul in the
field on which the latter had entered. This however does not prevent his
speaking of Paul's writings as forming a part of the scriptures; " as also
the other scriptures," he says. This is an important testimony; which
moreover gives the same character to the writings of one who is able to
bestow this title on the writings of another.
Let Christians then be watchful, and not allow themselves to be seduced by
the errors of the wicked but strive to grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for
ever. Amen!
