“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. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

If there is one thing about which people want to know it is the future. Untold amounts of money are spent on fortune tellers or mediums, or other means to try to discern it. In the Bible, some were told specifics about their lives, such as Peter who was told how he would die (John 21:18, 19). Or, Paul who was told how great things he would suffer for the Lord (Acts 9:16).

One upcoming event, told in the verses above, is the coming of the day of the Lord. It will include the heavens passing away with a great noise, and the earth melting with fervent heat. The start of it all will be the removal of God’s people from the earth. Then the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign on the earth. One scripture in which His return was promised is found in Acts 1:10, 11 where we read, “And while (the disciples) looked steadfastly toward heaven as (Jesus) went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

Starting with His return Jesus will reign on this earth for one thousand years. After that, the current heavens and earth will be burned up, as Peter tells it above, and be replaced with a new heavens and a new earth. In Revelation 22:13 Jesus said of Himself, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” John 1:3 tells us that without Jesus was nothing made that was made (He is the beginning). And in Revelation He said He is the ending. The end of all things described above will not come until He says it will. But it will come.

So, after His return to rule the earth, and after the thousand years, Jesus’ command to end the heavens and the earth will come. The verses above use graphic language to describe the event, “…the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat…” and verse 10 says that, “…the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” Since it is impossible for God to lie, these events will certainly happen.

In verse 11, Peter asks the obvious question: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness…” Knowing that He is coming back is not the important part of this passage. The important part is what are we going to do with that information? Having learned these promises, how will we order our lives?

This life is temporary. Even if we make it through our life before these things are dissolved, it will surely end for us. The things of the next life are eternal. Every one of us will face the Lord. Peter is appealing to his readers to be taken up with holy conversation and godliness while we live this life. Holy conversation, or holy behavior, is living in accordance with what God requires. The writer of Hebrews said, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” 1 Timothy 6:11 says, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Galatians 5:22, 23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” And Proverbs 16:6 says, “… by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” In the new heavens and new earth will dwell righteousness. Living like that now will have eternal impact!

The overwhelming might of God will come to bear on the current heavens and earth, and nothing will be left. Then He will put the new in place, as described in Revelation 21 and 22. Since this will all be dissolved, what kind of people ought we to be? May we determine to live for the glory of God. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

Lift up your heads, pil­grims awea­ry,
See day’s ap­proach now crim­son the sky;
Night sha­dows flee, and your Be­lov­èd,
Awaited with long­ing, at last draw­eth nigh.

Refrain

He is com­ing again, He is com­ing again,
The very same Je­sus, re­ject­ed of men;
He is com­ing again, He is com­ing again,
With pow­er and great glo­ry, He is com­ing again!

Dark was the night, sin warred against us;
Heavy the load of sor­row we bore;
But now we see signs of His com­ing;
Our hearts glow within us, joy’s cup runneth o’er!

Refrain

O bless­èd hope! O bliss­ful pro­mise!
Filling our hearts with rap­ture divine;
O day of days! Hail Thy ap­pear­ing!
Thy trans­cend­ent glo­ry for­ev­er shall shine.

Refrain

Even so, come, pre­cious Lord Je­sus;
Creation waits re­demp­tion to see;
Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee;
O bless­èd as­sur­ance, for­ev­er with Thee!

Refrain (Mabel J. Camp)