QUESTION!

There ARE tow issues in this verse that speaks of two comings, the second coming in respect to the "thief in the night" and the third coming in respect to the destruction by fire.

WHEN is the World "Burned UP?" 2Pe 3:10 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.

This "cannot" be speaking of the Second Coming of Jesus as the scripture is clear that Jesus will be in the "element of the air" when He returns the Second time, and the Earth cannot be burned up as the "resurrection" must take place, so this verse is NOT speaking of the Second Coming of Jesus but that of His THIRD coming at the end of the 1000 years when all the wicked and the Earth will be burned up together as Fire and Brimstone from God out of heaven is rained down upon Satan and the wicked who attempt to overthrow the New Jerusalem the Holy City of God that came down from God out of Heaven and settled on the great valley created by Jesus when His foot settles on the Mount of Olives at the third coming. Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

POINT #1. 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. When Jesus returns the second time He will not set foot on the Earth but will be above the Earth in the clouds above. The word "clouds" here has a double meaning of the actual clouds, but also that of the clouds of angels who accompany Jesus, the reapers of the harvest. Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

POINT #2. The heavens therefore, cannot possibly "pass away with a great noise" nor "can the elements melt with fervent heat." This verse is NOT speaking of the Second Coming, but of the third coming of Jesus back to Earth with all the saints collected at the second coming when the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven and settles upon the Earth. Then the saints of God will occupy that city. This all takes place at the third coming when ALL heaven is moved to this Earth. Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

POINT # 3. "The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" does NOT take place until after the 1000 years as is recorded in Revelation 20. Rev 20:7-10 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. THIS IS WHEN 2Pe 3:10 TAKES PLACE! At the THIRD coming of Jesus in ALL His Heavenly GLORY.

The phrase "the day of the Lord" in scripture has many contexts in its application, depending on the acts of God at that day the specific day of His works. The day of the Lord came to Jerusalem in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was burned by the armies of ROME. Babylon's demise "the Day of the Lord for Babylon" came through Cyrus the Persian and Dairus the Mede when Babylon fell. Dan 5:6 Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. This was a fulfillment of prophecy found here: Nah 2:10 She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness. Dan 5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. Dan 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

The phrase the "Day of the Lord" doesn't speak of a specific day but means the specific "day God acts" that fulfills His ultimate will. Many other verses in scripture refer to the THIRD coming of the Lord, and many speak of the Second Coming. One must take the verse read with a knowledge of scripture concerning both the second and third comings of the Lord. The two comings are 1000 years apart. The Second Coming Jesus returns to collect His saints, the third coming He returns after the 1000 years with all the saints to establish the dwelling place of the redeemed. It will be right here on Earth after it's purged from sin and wickedness by and through fire. 2Pe 3:7 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. (The THIRD COMING)

Here is another verse that speaks of a post 1000 year event. Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. This is speaking of the saints of God in the New Jerusalem, it's NOT speaking of Israel literal, but that of Israel spiritual those who dwell in the New Jerusalem when there will be no more war. It cannot be speaking of literal Israel as literal Israel fought in both the 1947 and 67 wars, and have fought in wars since it was named Israel. Many try to read and understand scripture by "finger point" by that I mean they close their eyes open their bibles to just any page point with their fingers and then read and try to understand what they read.

You cannot understand the word of God in this manner, all you're doing is confusing yourself. It takes at least three complete readings of scripture from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 to even get a jest of what scripture teaches. After three complete readings then a slow methodical reading with prayer for wisdom and understanding verse by verse over about a three year period, and then you only get a "pin tip" of understanding. This pin-tip can grow into a pin diameter after a lifelong study. However, without a parallel study of recorded world history along with scripture you still cannot acquire the knowledge necessary for understanding the word of God. Going to church three times a week for your lifetime is NOT studying the word of our Holy God. The word of God should a man live to be 10,000 years old he/she could never fully understand the word of God. WHY? Because it originates from the "holy mind of God" and no man or woman even redeemed and dwelling in the presence of God will never have the mind of God. Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Jobs final answer is "Job 40:3-5 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Job 38-41 records the majesty of God's wisdom that no man can attain unto.

The scripture is inexhaustible in content and wisdom and will be the schoolbook in Heavens school for the saints of God. What we learn in this life, the most important lesson is to keep ones mouth closed and both ears open to God first and man second. I would not desire the profession of journalism as every word spoken by any reporter or news person will be taken notice of in the judgment of the individual. Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

The WATCHMAN !!!