Does 2 Peter 3 teach that the earth is going to burn up?
2 Peter does say in verses 8-10.
“8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
If this passage is indeed teaching that the world is going to end in fire and the heavens are going to disappear with a roar. Then it needs to be consistent with the rest of the teachings in the New Testament.
I believe that what we think it says is inconsistent with the New Testament teaching for the following three reasons:
First. 2 Peter 3:1-3
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts”
Peter says in verse 3 “…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days …” Peter spoke of the last days in Acts 2:17
“ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…”Here he mentions the fact that they were in the last days.
In 2 Peter 3:3 Peter tells them that scoffers would come in the last days and that they must understand it or know this first. Either way Peter was telling those in the 1st century that the scoffers were coming in the last days. In Acts 2:17 Peter tells them that they were in the last days. Was this the last days of the Church? How could it be, the Church was just beginning.
I believe that it was the last days of the Hebrew nation, which terminated in the destruction of their Temple when Jerusalem was laid waste. I believe that these people understood that Peter was speaking present tense not 2000 years in the future.
Second. Luke 21:20-22
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.”
It is quite clear that this passage refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. Verse 22 also says quite clearly that these were the days of vengence (Gods’ vengence on the Hebrew people TP). Then we are told why. “that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” Would all things that are written include those things written about the end? I believe they would.
Third. Matthew 5:17-18
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Jesus says that he came to fulfil the law and the Prophets. Then he says that not one bit of the law would pass away till all was fulfilled. Jesus said All.
Did Jesus fulfil all the law and the Prophets. I believe he did. If he didn’t fulfil the law and the Prophets then we are still under law.
Does that mean that 2 Peter is incorrect? It only means we don’t understand what it means. But I do believe that the people Peter wrote to understood it to happen in their lifetime.
