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CLEANSING
2 Peter 3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lusts, 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 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: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with
water, perished: 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.
Now any honest Bible student would see that this fulfills Peter's
prophecy that; "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: Whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water, perished:
Noah: "This one will "comfort" us concerning our work and the toil
of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed."
Gen. 5:29
The word used as "comfort" is "nacham" meaning: give forth
sighs, to breathe strongly, be sorry, full of pity, seeking comfort,
trying to ease, even has a sense of repentance and avenge.
Noah was one who would sigh and cry for the abominations of his
people. This sounds very much like Ezekiel nine to me, where God
commissions an investigative judgment before the executive
judgment-- for judgment was about to befall upon them.
Ezekiel 9.4-5 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of
the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the
foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through
the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
God says, "My Spirit will not always strive with man I will give him
120 years." Gen. 6:3
It wasn't sins that were drowned, it was people who hardened their
hearts and would not listen.
The majority of the people will reject God's mercy, and will be
overwhelmed in swift and irretrievable ruin. But those who heed
the warning shall dwell "in the secret place of the Most High" and
"abide under the shadow of the Almighty." His truth shall be their
shield and buckler. Psalm 91
The time has come to prepare to meet God. The call of the Spirit in
our heart of hearts must be answered. Everything in the life must
be squared by the Spirit with the Word of God, His law and the
everlasting gospel.
Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins,
and that you receive not of her plagues.
2 Peter 3:10-12 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.
Luke 21.35-36
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of
the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may
be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to
pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
The Bible tells us that after Noah and his family entered the ark
and the door was shut, seven days went by before anything
unusual happened. The obedient ones inside the ark had to
depend upon God's Word — for it seemed the predicted event
would not transpire. Outside the inhabitants of the preflood world
had their last parties, celebrating the stupidity of this paranoid old
man and the deluded family members who locked themselves up
in the ark. Silly, foolish people to limit their freedom in such a
strange fashion and to think they expected other rational, people
to do the same.
The flood did come! Filled with anguish the rioting crowd now
began to shriek in anguish. "Oh, for a place of safety! O, had we
only listened and obeyed we would now have rest from this
dreadful fear."
Soon the party will end! Just like it happened to King Belshazzer,
throwing a party while the enemy was at the gates, trusting that
even yet all was peace and safety, so the party-pleasure- crazed
world lives for self-indulgence imagining itself safe and secure
while the greatest of enemies is at the gate and invading every
stronghold, and God will soon step in to end it all.
Yes, there is a judgement. The investigative judgment is now in
progress. The executive judgement will soon take place.
In light of the seriousness of the times what will we do. How will
we choose to live? Soon the verdict will be pronounced — will it be
like Belshazzer "You are weighed in the balance and found
wanting." Or "Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into
the joy of the Lord"
Painting by Robert Temple Ayres
2 Peter 3.13
Nevertheless we, according to his
promise, look for new heavens and a new
earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
2 Peter 3.14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent
that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;
Peter points out that Paul has given the true light, but people
would wrest it to their own destruction. People would take the
precious blood of grace that was to cleanse us from sin and
trample it under foot by declaring obedience to God's law is not
necessary. (Hebs. 19)
2 Peter 3.18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.
Amen.