foretell a mighty shaking both of earth and heaven, such as Job 9:6; Isaiah

2:19,21; 13:13; 23:11; Haggai 2:6,7,21, and Hebrews 12:26,27.  Also such

references to earthquakes as Isaiah 29:6; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:7 and

the five occurrences in the Apocalypse, Revelation 6:12; 8:5; 11:13,19 and

We now arrive at the climax prophecy 2 Peter, chapter 3.  We will not

attempt here a complete literary structure of this passage, but the following

will exhibit its salient features.

A

a

This second epistle (Peter's).

b

Pure minds stirred to remembrance.

c

Words of Lord and Saviour.

B

d Scoffers.

Promise of His Coming.

e  Wilful ignorance.

e  Be not ignorant.

d  The Lord.

e  Day of Lord.

Heaven and earth pass away.

e  Day of God.

Heaven and earth made new.

A

a

In all his epistles (Paul's).

b

c

Grace of Lord and Saviour.

It will be noted that the first two chapters form a preface, the third

chapter being 'this second epistle' proper.  Prefaces are often skipped by

readers, but a divinely inspired preface cannot be so lightly treated.  Peter

is concerned, among other things, with the safeguarding of prophetic truth

and the assurance of his readers.  The expression, 'knowing this first',

links 2 Peter 1:20 with 2 Peter 3:3, and both passages are concerned with the

integrity and inspiration of the prophetic writings, 'we have not followed

cunningly devised fables', in spite of all that the scoffers may say, or the

arguments they may bring forward.

Chapter 2 passes from the true Prophet to the false, and also counters

the objection of chapter 3, namely that 'all things continue as they were',

by giving three instances of Divine interposition: (1) The angels that

sinned.  (2) The flood.  (3) The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, and

contrasts the 'grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ' (2

Pet. 3:18) with a graceless knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2

Pet. 2:20).  The Received Text be it noted makes a distinction here.  In 2

Peter 2:20 it is 'The Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ', but in 3:18 it is 'Our

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'.  In both passages there is 'knowledge', but

in 2 Peter 1:8 Peter warns of a 'barren and unfruitful' knowledge.  In both

chapters 1 and 2 there is an 'escape' from corruption, but one is ensured by

reason of the partaking of the 'Divine nature' (2 Pet. 1:4), which is absent

in 2 Peter 2:18 -20.  So much for the surrounding context, but our main theme

is found in 2 Peter 3:10 -13.  Here we find the day of the Lord, succeeded by

the day of God.  As the day of God was the object of desire (verse 12) and as

the New Heaven and New Earth were equally desired, 'looking for' and 'look

for' being translations of the same Greek word, the day of God seems to

include the New Heavens and Earth.  The passing away of the heavens and earth

synchronizes with the passing away of the 'former' heaven and earth of