Be Holy

Shalam, brothers and sisters, I wanted to expound on the following three scriptures from 2 Peter 3:9.10.11 regarding the last days and how we should to live during them.
 I will provide reference scriptures to help explain some key points and terms in breakdown to help increase the understanding of these scriptures.

2 Peter 3:9

The backdrop of this scripture is found in the verses above it- 2 Peter 3:1-8- this will help us understand the context of the verse we want to breakdown. In backdrop, Peter explains that the believers in God and Christ must have knowledge and faith in the holy scriptures and the commandments of the apostles as their first priority in establishing their faith. This is because in the last days the truth of God would be greatly compromises and discredited by a people who would rise up and consider it foolishness and would mock at it. These people are the children of wrath or of the devil spoken of in the scriptures, who would appose everything related to God-His words, His prophecy, and his people ( Col. 3:5-6, Rev. 21:7-8).
The argument that they attempt to use in order to discredit God's word is the length of time that has past without any change in the world per the establishment of the Kingdom of God. They argue that mankind continues live as it has always lived, with ruling nations, wars, buying and selling, and generations coming and going. They say God has not intervened nor will He ever do so.
   But they are ignorant, Peter states, of the history of God's mighty acts in the events on earth, which is in agreement with His words. He reminds them that is was God who destroyed the first civilization of mankind that descended from Adam with  the greatest flood ever recorded in history; because they doubted God's power and sovereignty on earth and gave themselves over to evil . And the generations in the last days disregarding this fact, according to Peter, would still continues to imitate ways if ungodly men, even up to the day of Christ's return.
Hence, God has reserved this current wicked civilization for destruction by fire from heaven and from the nuclear bombs He cause to be created for this purpose in the final judgement; because of their sins against Him ( Zep. 3:8, Rev. 17:16,17,18). According the the scriptures Christ will return to make war against them and with fire will he to punish them. And at the end of the war God will cause his all enemies, who doubt Him and refuse His truth, to destroy themselves by their own hands  via their nuclear bombs.
Furthermore, regarding the length of time, God states that time is actually shorter than we think- in fact one thousand years in human time is only a day in heaven . Peter does not want us, who believe, to be ignorant of this crucial fact. Because we  too can become cynical like these wicked people who doubt God, due to the length of time that has past without the revelation of His holy kingdom and so rebel. But, this is actually due to a  lack of understanding of God's measurement of time.  Human history is very short when comparing to time in heaven . For example, it has only been two days in heaven since Jesus Christ completed his ministry on earth and approximately two thousand years on earth. In heaven time is moving faster than on earth. Hence, why the prophets and apostles say repeatedly that Christ is returning soon.
Now with this understanding,  we can understand the context of 2 Peter 3:9 and it's saying- "the Lord is not slack concerning his promise." Time is moving rapidly in heaven, moving ever closer to the fulfillment of all God's prophecies. We must understand that God is the master of all time and has determined the set times for all His prophecies to come to past on earth, even the end of this civilization and the new world He has promised to bring into existence for all His faithful saints as a reward( Matt. 5:5,10, Micah 4:8, Dan. 7:27). His promises will come to pass regardless if we doubt or feel it's been to long and therefor it wont happen ( Luke 12:45-46).
God is not negligent in this matter of establishing His kingdom. He has moved time and history steadily along towards it's establishment. He prophesied to Adam that His Messiah would come to redeem all the faithful people that believed in Him and judge this world, and gather all things to Him( His divine Kingdom) ( Gen. 3:15, 49:10-12). God, also told Noah that He would no more destroy the earth with water again. But revealed to His prophets that the final judgement  would be with fire( Gen. 9:8-11, Is. 13:9-11, Zep. 3:8). And again, He prophesied that He would take a people for Himself out of the coming judgement, just as He did with Noah and his family-He will save a remnant. These are His faithful people, who would turn from sin and evil and believe on Him through His Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth(Gen. 9:26, 12:1-3, Gal. 3:8-9). Therefore, time is used as a tool by God for His purposes and as an opportunity for His people to draw closer to Him through the process of repentance from the rebellion that is in the world through wickedness.
The fact that the end has not come yet is actually a sign of God's patience or long-suffering towards His people (states in the above scripture), who would return to God. These people know that something is not right in the world, that there must be a better way for a man to live instead of cheating, lying stealing murdering, and being consumed with only their own selfish desires; because God has put in their heart to desire righteousness and justice. They can feel it, through God, that there must be something better than  this current world order. However, they may not have full truth of God  yet found in the holy scriptures( Is. 60:2, Eph. 2:1-5). They too are susceptible to being seduced by false teachings about God and His word.  But, the gradual progression of time and history will bring forth God's true teachers to help restore his saints to the true path( Rev. 14:1,4-6, Matt. 24:14). And this also is according to the prophecy ( Rom. 10:14-15, Jer. 3:15, Jer. 23:3-4).  But many with doubt, out of ignorance and pride, regarding the prophecies. But know for certain that  the end will surely come just as it prophesied to come in the day's of Noah ( 1 Thess. 5:1-2, Matt. 24:37).

2 Peter 3:10

How will the last judgement or day of the Lord come? Suddenly, says the scripture, like a thief in the night. The prophecy states that most of mankind would be so consumed in their own pursuits of power, pleasures, wars, godlessness, and survival in the last days that they will become convince that there is no God or even the  hope of His coming kingdom( Matt. 24:37-39, 2 Tim. 3:1-4, 2 Thess. 2:11-12, 1 Thess. 5:3). Nevertheless, it will surely arrive at it's appointed time according to the word of God. Because man's disbelief will not make the faithfulness of God to fail(Rom. 3:3-4, 2 Tim. 2:13, Heb.10:35-39).
This great judgement of God will be with fire and not water or the flood as He told Noah. This fire will be so intense that everything will melt before it-the very elements will melt, saya the above scripture.
But, is this judgement  referring to the entire globe being on fire or a specific place of judgement? A  set place of judgement is what is determined for this great demonstration of God's wrath with fire. However, the rest of the world will be afflicted with wars, plagues, and famines at that time. But  the place of fiery judgement is Babylon the Great.  Because she is the little horn that came out of the fourth beast in Daniel 7: 7-8, and would lead the whole earth into an uprising against God and Christ( Dan. 7:25, 2 Thess. 2:3-4, Rev. 18:2-3).  She will deceive them into believing the lie that they are capable of overthrowing God and His angels. Therefore, God has reserved her to be burned and show all His great power and wrath in her(Rom. 9:22, Deut. 32;39-42).
This little horn, the great Babylon, is America, who came out of the fourth beast or fourth world empire and is a remnant of the Greco-Roman empire. However, her rebellion against God will not be  successful. Because Christ will return to make war with her and all her duped allies and overcome them at the battle of Armageddon ( Dan. 7:9-12, Is. 66:15-16, Matt. 13:49-50, Rev. 19:19-21).  After this, the Bible states that the allies of the Beast will turn and burn America according to the intent of God, who has put it into their minds to burn her with fire- nuclear bombs (Rev. 17:16-17, Obadiah 1:7, 18).
As for the rest of the earth, God states the nations and kingdoms that are left who followed the beast will be brought under the authority of Christ( 1 Cor. 15:24-25). And at that time they learn the true way to righteousness and not the lies taught them by the Beast and the Devil, their spiritual ruler ( Dan. 7:12, Is. 60:3, Zech. 14:16-18, Is. 2:1-4, Rev. 21:24-27) ( Acts 26:16-18, 2 Tim. 2:25-26, Rev. 18:2-3). Also, this coming kingdom of God will be administered from Jerusalem in the land of Israel, where the throne of Chris and the kingdom of his holy people Israel will be established( Matt. 19:27-28, Luke 22:28-30, Acts 1:6, Rev. 1:5-6,7, Ezekiel 37:27-28). The current world as we know it will be brought to an end according to the word of God in due time- which is coming faster than we all think.

2 Peter 3:11
So then, how should we, who believe and trust in the word of God, having understanding of the coming visitation and final judgement of God, live in the last days? We should live in a holy manner at all times! Holiness is defined as living in obedience to God's laws, instruction, and commandments with faith in Him and in His word. In seeking  to live in obedience to God, we purify ourselves from sin and the evil that it produces in us (Col. 3:5-6, 1 John 3:2-6, John 15:3).
We should continually strive to live a holy life before God and Christ, while we wait on His arrival. This means we should endeavor to live in a pure and righteous way among our fellow believers and even among those that don't believe yet( 1 Peter 2:11-12, Matt. 5:14-16, Phil. 2:12-15). In the end we all will come to the obedience and acknowledgement of the one true God and His Messiah( 1 Tim. 2:4-6, Is. 66;23, Rev. 21:23-24). We, who know God, should be examples of God's light and holiness in world. Our life then becomes a demonstration of our obedience to the word and instructions of God. And not only this but our obedience helps us to escape the destruction that is coming to the world because of it's sin and wicked rebellion from God.  It is our obedience and faith that  gives us hope to endure unto the new world God has prepared for His people that followed Him.
We are taught in the writings of the prophets, Christ, and the apostles to constantly endure in the love of each others, especially as the time of the end draws closer.  We love each others when we practice His laws among ourselves out of a sincere heart ( 2 John 1:5-6). This is encouraged because it is actually a sign that we are the children of God ( John 13:34-35). And as His children, we are to carry out His laws with  mercy and truth towards each others( Romans 13:8-10, John 1:17, 2 Tim. 2:25-26). We should strive to practice abstinence  form telling lies to each others( especially teaching false religions and doctrines), murder, robbery, adultery, and the lusting after worldliness, or any other wicked thing that is in apposition to God's holy law or word( 1 Tim. 1:8-11).
God directly commands His people to be holy, as he is holy( 1 Peter 1:15-16, Lev. 11:45, Matt. 5:48). To do as He does.  We are to be pure and upright before Him at all times, just as He is at all times. We are to follow the examples God gave us in the records He left us and in the lives of all His holy saints noted in the holy scriptures (John 13:15-17, Heb. 6:11-12, 1 Cor. 4:16, Phil. 3:14-17). This is our model to patterns our lives after that we be inspired  unto holiness ( 1 Cor. 10:11, John 8:39, Gen. 18:17-19).
We must read and study the Bible to learn what God expects of us, if we hope to follow Him truly unto holiness and to return to Him with all our hearts( Rom. 15:4, Rev. 22:10, Eph. 3:4, Is. 33:5-6). We will have to add to our faith by study, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, self-control, godliness, and the love of our people Israel and all who fear God according to this gospel( 2:Tim. 2:15, 2 Peter 1:5-8). This is what is required of us if we hope to be transformed into his holy image; to be a reflection of His goodness(Col. 3:9-10, Eph. 4:23-24).
We know that this world is temporary and all the great cities and riches found in it will all fade away along with those that do evil. Therefore, we do not put our hope in this world, but strive rather to please God instead. Because it is His purpose and will that  will endure beyond this present world. So then, we distance ourselves from the wicked in every way and cling to the only true hope in this world: Yahawah, the Most High.

I pray and hope that these scriptures, and the revelation God has given me regarding them may be of some help to you on your journey with God and Christ.
I hope and pray also, that this little contribution to all the believers would increase the knowledge and understanding we get out of the Holy scriptures so that unity of faith would come to us all, just as Christ and the apostles stated and hoped for us, saying, "till we all come to the unity of the faith(John 17:20-21, Eph. 4:11-13, Ezekiel 37:15-17)."

Zarach