The Last Days: 2 Peter 3 Fulfilled?
Video Details
Description: In the 15th message of the series on the last days of the Old Covenant, the Bryan continues examining the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. Jesus warned that the temple and Jerusalem would be torn down in the disciples' generation, with signs including false teachers and persecution. "Behold, I have told you in advance," He declared, affirming His divine ability to foretell the future as only Yahweh can.
The sermon focuses on 2 Peter, particularly chapter 3, which Peter wrote to remind believers of Jesus' words and those of the prophets and apostles. In chapter 1, Peter greets those sharing the same faith and urges them to add to their faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. This diligence makes their calling and election sure, ensuring entrance into the eternal kingdom realized fully in 70 AD. Those lacking these qualities are blind, having forgotten their purification.
Chapter 2 warns of false prophets and teachers, identified as Jews who deny the Master who bought them, much like in the Exodus. Peter draws parallels to past judgments—Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah—as examples. These false teachers, sensual and greedy, would face swift destruction, tormenting the righteous like Lot.
The heart of the message is 2 Peter 3. In the last days of the Old Covenant, mockers would question the promise of Christ's coming, claiming everything continues as from creation. Peter reminds them that the world (cosmos) was destroyed by water in Noah's day, yet the physical earth remained—showing "world" refers to people under judgment. The present heavens and earth are reserved for fire and the destruction of ungodly men.
Bryan carefully exegetes key phrases using Old Testament context. "Elements" (stoicheia) refers to the elementary principles of the Old Covenant, as used by Paul in Galatians and Colossians. The melting by intense heat echoes Ezekiel 22, where covenant-breaking Israel is like dross melted in a furnace. Isaiah 66 describes the Lord coming in fire to judge His enemies with flames, while delivering His servants. The "day of the Lord" comes like a thief, revealing works.
Peter calls believers to holy conduct and godliness, hastening the day. According to God's promise, they await new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells—drawing from Isaiah 65-66, symbolizing the New Covenant people replacing the old. Righteousness once lodged in Jerusalem but departed due to injustice; now it dwells in the New Jerusalem.
Peter concludes by urging growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This entire epistle reinforces Jesus' advance warnings in Matthew 24 about the imminent judgment ending the Old Covenant age in 70 AD.
Uploaded By: schuttemeier
Uploaded On: October 24, 2026, 11:25 PM