Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle Peter – II Peter
An Intimate Review
Pt – 3 End-time Scoffers
By Lawrence DeMetrius

-II Peter 3-

In [II Pet 3:1-3] Apostle Peter reiterates why he wrote the second letter. It was to express the importance of serious consideration to divine word already spoken by ancient prophets and the Original Apostles of Jesus Christ. He begins by stressing the reality of FALSE TEACHERS, their presence and influence throughout the latter generations. He writes,
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days SCOFFERS, walking after their own lusts,
[II Pet 3:3]

*scoffers Gk #1703 empaiktes (emp-aheek-tace)
1. one who derides which is to...
a. laugh at in scorn which is to…
i. treat or regard with contempt or disdain
ii. reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain which is to…
1. despise
2. think unworthy of notice or response
3. consider beneath oneself

b. laugh at in contempt which is…
i. the feeling with which a person regards anything considered to be mean, vile, or worthless
ii. the state of being despised
iii. dishonor and disgrace

c. scoff at which is to speak of with ridicule and mockery

d. mock which is to…
i. attack or treat with ridicule, contempt, or derision
ii. ridicule by mimicry of action or speech
iii. mimic derisively, imitate or counterfeit
iv. challenge, defy, deceive, delude, or disappoint

e. jeer at which is to speak or shout derisively and rudely

2. a false teacher and a mocker
In [II Pet 3:4-7] Apostle Peter notes that FALSE TEACHERS WALK after their own LUSTS being fully convinced of their own lies. He writes,
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. for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
[II Pet 3:4]

*fathers Gk #3962 pater (pat-ayr) fathers or parents near and remote or parent

*fell asleep Gk #2837 koimao (koy-mah-o) to put to sleep, slumber, decease or be dead

Per this statement, THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING refers to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. The news of Him coming again was well publicized but not believed by many and grossly misunderstood in terms of the Christ’s character and events leading up to His Second Advent. This naysaying attitude expressed in Apostle Peter’s day was prevalent also in Noah’s day prior to the Great Flood and will continue wax worse until Christ’s Second Advent. [Mt 24:37, 38; Lk 17: 26, 27] In [II Pet 3:4-7] Apostle Peter declares that FALSE TEACHERS willingly ignore that which was already spoken, fulfilled and proven by the Oracles of Yahweh who lived in previous generations. FALSE TEACHER makes light of the idea that people live then die and life goes on without interruption. They encourage people to believe that nothing horrible will happen to them after their mortal death neither will there be catastrophic events upon those who reject Christ and His testimony. FALSE TEACHERS tell people to discard such ideas and give their energies to accomplishing that which pacifies the desires of their present mortal lifetime as nothing else matters. All such teaching is contrary to the Divine Word of Wisdom first provisioned by Yahweh through HIS servant Enoch. [Enoch 37] In [II Pet 3:8-11] Apostle Peter admonishes The Elect writing,
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.
[II Pet 3:8]

From Apostle Peter’s perspective, it is advantageous for true Christians to beware of this measurement of time, per THE DIVINE as it directly relates to identifying seasons of prophetic events that serve as signs that indicate the nearness of Christ’s Second Advent, which FALSE TEACHERS strive to persuade people from believing in. As a born-again believer and Chief TEACHER of the Testimony of Christ, Apostle Peter reiterates Yahweh’s desire for every soul to be reconciled to their rightful place in divine worship for which they were created and why HE sent Christ to die for their sins.

Apostle Peter writes,
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.
[II Pet 3:9; Eze 18: 23, 32; Eccl 12:13; St Jn 3:16-18; 4:23, 24; II Cor 5:18-20]
However, because Yahweh is not a liar, HE must also honor HIS promise which includes the judgment of those who oppose HIM, HIS Christ, and HIS directives. [Num 23:19; Heb 6:18; Exo 32:30-33; Isa 1:18-20; Eze 18:4, 19-22, 31; St Jn 3:19, 36; Rev 20:11-15] Apostle Peter writes,
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.
[II Pet 3:10; Lk 24:44, 45; Heb 11:6; Pro 8:17-21, 35, 36]

Apostle Peter as the Chief Apostle of all earthly apostles of Christ truly believed these things and earnestly admonished true Christians to do the same by expressing such belief in their character and conduct writing,
Seeing than that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy CONVERSATION and godliness,
[vs 11]

*conversation Gk # 391 anastrophe (an-as-trof-ay) behavior [Mt 5:14-16, 19]

In [II Pet 3:12-14] Apostle Peter continues his admonishment on personal mannerism writing,

…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? Nerveless we, according to HIS PROMISE, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
[II Pet 3:12, 13; Heb 11:1, 6; Rm 8:24, 25]

All of this was foretold of in the writing of Enoch, the earliest Official Scribe and Prophet of Yahweh. [Enoch 37] Apostle Peter continues his admonition to The Elect writing,

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be DILIGENT that ye may be FOUND of Him in PEACE, without SPOT, and BLAMELESS.
[II Pet 3:14; Pro 8:17-21, 35, 36; Isa 26:3; Jn 14:27; Mt 11:28; Heb 4:1-11]



*be diligent Gk #4704 spoudazo (spoo-dad-zo) to use speed, make effort, be prompt and earnest
*found (of Christ) Gk #2147heurisko (hyoo-ris-ko) to find, obtain, perceive, see, and get literally and figuratively
*peace Gk #1515 eirene (i-ray-nay) literally or figuratively peace, prosperity, rest, quietness, and oneness
*spot Gk #784 aspilos (as-pee-los) morally and physically unblemished
*blameless Gk #298 amometos (am-o-may-tos) unblameable
In [II Pet 3:14-16] Apostle Peter explains that while others may choose to reject or renounce Christ and His doctrine, the Elect of GOD are to be firm and at ease firm in their devotion thereto as it is necessary to secure their eternal inheritance. [Rev 3:8, 10; Dan 12:3, 10; Eph 6:10-18; I Jn 3:1-3, 8-10] Apostle Peter goes writes,
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are UNLEARNED and UNSTABLE WREST, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own DESTRUCTION.
[II Pet 3:15-16]

*unlearned Gk #261 amathes (am-ath-ace) ignorant which is…
1. lacking in knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact
2. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training
3. unlearned, uninformed and unaware

*unstable Gk #793 asteriktos (as-tay-rik-tos) it means…
1. unfixed, not resolute, wavering and indecisive
2. fluctuating, hesitating and swaying
3. to be swinging or moving to and from as does a pendulum
4. to be varying between differing beliefs, opinions, or conditions

*wrest Gk #4761 strebloo (streb-lo-o) it means to wrench, torture by the rack and to figuratively pervert which is to…
1. affect with perversion and lead astray morally
2. lead into mental error and false judgment
3. turn away from the right course and to an improper use
4. misapply, misconstrue and distort, especially deliberately
5. to debase and bring to a less excellent state

*destruction Gk #684 apoleia (ap-o-li-a) it is ruin and physical, spiritual or eternal loss

It was James, the biological brother and Apostle of Jesus Christ who warned that doubleminded people are UNSTABLE in all their ways meaning their thoughts and decisions. These people do not receive insight from THE LORD. [Jam 1:5-8] The writer of the epistle of Hebrews states that Yahweh only rewards people who seek and firmly believe in HIM. [Heb 11:1, 6] Christ Jesus warns that anyone who straddles the fence of faith in THE DIVINE will likely forfeit their eternal oneness therewith. [Jn 14:6; Rev 3:15, 16; I Cor 8:6; I Jn 5:20] In this passage Apostle Peter clearly states that anyone who is Apostle Peter clearly states that anyone who is UNLEARNED and UNSTABLE in their KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING of words that teach of Yahweh and HIS Christ are easy prey for FALSE TEACHERS. Thus, in [II Pet 3:17, 18] he writes to true Christians,

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
[II Pet 3:17, 18]

Words like these written by Apostle Peter were also expressed by the other Original Apostles of Christ. Teaching and protecting the purity of the true Christian Doctrine was their primary goal. [II Jn vs 7-11] It was never their intention for their audience to simply assume their words to be true but to move them consider, study, and research for themselves the Word of Wisdom imparted to the children of earth from Yahweh through HIS scribes and prophets from Enoch to Christ and His Original Apostles. The Original Apostles of Jesus Christ sincerely desired their audience to personally discover the realness of Yahweh, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. They taught in a manner that directed the faith of their audience to be grounded in the infinite wisdom of THE LORD and not the finite wisdom of mortal men. [I Cor 2:1-4] In that Apostle Peter was the Rock upon which Christ founded His organization who served as the Chief Apostle of His Doctrine, who else is more qualified to express the value and importance of obtaining the most accurate knowledge and understanding of the ancient writs by effective and continual study thereof then he? [Jn 8:31, 32; II Tim 2:15] One does well to sincerely heed to his advice.

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