Remember Lot's wife (Luke 17:32)

Remember Lot's wife (Luke 17:32)

This phrase "remember Lot's wife" is not found in Matthew 24 but in a parallel passage of bible text in Luke 17.

To understand this phrase, we need to understand the verses that are surrounding this phrase, and that is about the "days of Noah".

The background or pre-text of this phrase is about the "days of Noah".

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

Mat 24:38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 

Mat 24:39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

Mat 24:40  Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 

Mat 24:41  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 

Mat 24:42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 

See also Luke 17:26-32.

Luk 17:26  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 

Luk 17:27  They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 

Luk 17:28  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 

Luk 17:29  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all,

Luk 17:30  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 

Luk 17:31  On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 

Luk 17:32  Remember Lot's wife. 


The context of "days of Noah" is still within the conversation of Jesus about the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus has not changed topic in the midst of His conversation with His disciples. Jesus was not switching timeline and meant it to be a future event of a few thousand years to come. Jesus is still in the timeline of "this generation shall not pass away", and this generation shall witness all these events. Nothing has changed in terms of timeline, audience and context.

Jesus used a comparison of the "days of Lot" with the "days of Noah".

In the "days of Lot", God led Lot and his family away from the destruction that came upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

In the "days of Noah", God led Noah and his family away from the flood that came and swept everyone away.

This was the example of Jesus to his audience that God will lead them away from the destruction that is coming upon Jerusalem in AD70.

Note: Some futurists interpret these "days of Lot and Noah" as examples of a future event when Jesus will come again a second time and take everyone away. That is wrong interpretation. Firstly, it is not about a future event that is going to happen. Secondly, God did not take Lot and Noah out of the world that they lived in. God led them out of the destruction, but not out of the world.

In fact, Jesus prayed to the Father, that His disciples will NOT be taken away or out of the world.

Joh 17:15  I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 

Jesus is preparing them that just like the flood that took all away, so it shall be on that day.

In the days of Noah, they were living normal lives, eating, drinking, marrying, given in marriage etc.

It doesn't mean that they were in debauchery (excessive indulgence in sex, alcohol, and other bodily pleasures).


Wrong contemporary teaching.

Some bible teachers say that in our future, just like during the days of Noah and Lot, the people will be in excessive indulgence, and then Jesus will suddenly come and take the believers away. They interpret it as a sign of the timing of the Second Coming of Jesus in the future.

But Jesus never meant it that way in Matthew 24 and Luke 17.

Jesus meant that the people at the times of Noah and Lot were just living normal lives that's all. Normal in their routine of  eating, drinking, raising their families etc. The people who perished had no apprehension (anxiety or fear that something bad is going to happen) that they knew of a flood or destruction that was coming soon.

Consider this issue of marriage (Matthew 24:38; Luke 17:27).

Before the flood and destruction came upon the people, they were having marriage plans. They were not expecting any disaster coming.
However, Paul dealt with this issue of marriage in view of the coming destruction of Jerusalem.

1Co 7:25  Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 

1Co 7:26  I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. 

Paul suggested to those who were about to get married,  not to marry, because of the "present distress".

Why? What was the "present distress"?

Paul was speaking to the believers that were undergoing persecution. They were about to be invaded by the Roman army, and the destruction upon their beloved city Jerusalem was imminent, so in view of that, it is better to put off getting married. (Compare this with what Jesus said about the rest of the others who were indifferent, and were marrying and giving into marriage).

Paul continued in 1 Corinthians 7:27-28

1Co 7:27  Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 

1Co 7:28  But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 

Paul was referring to their particular dangerous circumstances. Paul was not saying generally that marriage is not good.

Their current situation is so stressful that there is going to be lots of trouble in their physical world, and they might lose their spouse or love ones that were caught up in the coming destruction.

1Co 7:29  This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 

Verse 29 says that "the time is short". There is coming a particular day of great tribulation and disaster, and that event is coming very soon.


1Co 7:30  and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 

Verse 30 is preparing them to take heed that there are more important issues at hand as compared to marriage plans. These issues will result in their salvation from the wrath that is coming upon the Jews.


1Co 7:31  and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. 

Verse 31 says "the present form of this world is passing away". That means their way of life is coming to an end. It is going to be hard on them. Paul is discouraging the unmarried Jews to stay unmarried to spare them of the difficult hardship.


So when you read 1 Corinthians 7:25-31, you will see that it is in line with what Jesus meant about people getting married in Matthew 24:39.
Jesus and Paul is not against getting married, but discourages it because they have so little time left till the destruction. The judgement is coming very soon and they will go through a very present distress.


The future disappearing act?

Futurists and dispensationalists teach that there will be a last days coming and there will be a rapture as according to Matthew 24:40-42.

They claim that in the future "last days" that is coming, one will be taken, and the other left. One will be gone, and the other is still working.

They have even produced very dramatic disaster-themed movies that show how some pilots will disappear, and then the planes will nosedive into disastrous results. Parents will disappear. Important people will disappear, and then worldwide disaster will take place. They claimed that this judgement is going to happen to planet earth.

Futurists and dispensationalists have always through the past years been proven wrong. They are using scriptures to wrongly fit into their wrong theology. Sad, that the modern religious churches have followed onto this wrong path. They preached that 50% of the people are going to die because of this rapture. This is called taking the verses out of Context, and misunderstanding the historical timeline.

Also, Jesus was referring to the last days of the Jews before the destruction of Jerusalem, and not referring to our  future event of a great judgement to come. Jesus did not speak to an audience and warned them of a great tribulation that will not happen during their time. What is the point? They will be long dead by then. This is called wrong interpretation with regards to audience relevance.


Now, let's consider the "days of Lot". This is found in the parallel passage of Luke 17:28, and not in Matthew.

Right after Jesus spoke about the "days of Noah" in verse 27, He spoke about the "days of Lot" in verse 28.

Luk 17:28  Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 

Luk 17:29  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all.

Verse 28 and 29 is related to the coming of the Son of Man in judgement on Jerusalem.


Rapture? What rapture?

In the story of Noah and the flood, and the story of Lot and Sodom, you will notice that Noah and Lot were not raptured away out of this world, prior to the judgements. Righteous Lot was encouraged to leave the city prior to its judgement. Lot got out, but Lot's sons-in-laws, stayed behind (See Genesis 19:14), and died in the judgement.

Similarly, when Jesus told His disciples about the coming judgement that took place in AD70, He was not promising them about rapturing them out, but instead they should flee the city, and flee the judgement. See Matthew 24:17; Mark 13:15 and Luke 17:31.


Remember Lot's wife

However, this phrase "remember Lot's wife" is only found in Luke 17:32, and not in Matthew or Mark.

Qn: Why this phrase "remember Lot's wife"? What is the significance?

Some motivators have used this verse to instill vision and motion in people to move forward and not look backwards. However, Jesus did not meant this verse to be used in this way.

An: This verse should be interpreted in its historical context. When Lot's wife looked back, she didn't really want to leave the city. As a result she died. That's it. Not any deep meaning into it.

So Jesus said it to His disciples, as a warning to them, not to us, but to that generation of believers, that they should not linger but flee. They should not delay like Lot's wife and died. So when the destruction begin, don't drag their feet and delay or put off fleeing. Just get out of there. Don't look back and don't leave their heart or mind behind.


This verse should be read just as it is and not spiritualized into a motivation message.


A spiritualized meaning of "remember Lot's wife"

However, if you want to spiritualize the verse Luke 17:32, then it should be, that our heart should be cut off from the Mosaic system, and don't let your heart go back to that old covenant. Don't ever consider it and look back, because that was what Lot's wife did and it cost her life. If you delay you will not make it. If you hesitate you may die.


Jesus added in Matthew 24:43, 44.

Mat 24:43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 

Mat 24:44  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

This was the warning from Jesus to His disciples to be on guard, and watch out, be ready, time is short. The judgement is going to happen very soon and it will be within their generation.

It was not a warning to us about a future event that is going to happen 2000, 3000, or 4000 years in our future. That is wrong teaching.

It was a warning to the Jews that it was going to happen in a very short while within their timeline. The calamity is coming upon the Jews, and they are to flee to the mountains. Make haste, do not look back, and do not delay, but to escape quickly, and to remember that by delaying Lot's wife lost her life.


Additional note from a commentary of John Gill on why Lot's wife looked back:

[ Remember Lot's wife: whose name by the Jews, is said to be Adith, or Irith, and who, they also say was a native of Sodom; and that the reason of her looking, was either to see what would be the end of her father's house and family; or as others, because her heart yearned after her daughters, and she looked back to see if they followed her; upon which she became a pillar of salt, Gen 19:26. ]



Extra reading on: what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? (The historical location of Gomorrah was just a short distance away from Gomorrah, and that their histories were connected).

1. New Science Suggests Biblical City Of Sodom Was Smote By An Exploding Meteor.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmack/2018/12/04/new-science-suggests-biblical-city-of-sodom-was-smote-by-an-exploding-meteor/?sh=7ecd3a975c67

2. Evidence of Sodom? Meteor blast cause of biblical destruction, say scientists
https://www.timesofisrael.com/evidence-of-sodom-meteor-blast-cause-of-biblical-destruction-say-scientists/

3. Sodom and Gomorrah Proved!
https://watchjerusalem.co.il/489-sodom-and-gomorrah-proved

A Metaphorical Example - Revelations 12

 

A Metaphorical Example - Revelations 12

Revelations is a book full of metaphorical language.

An example is in Revelations 12:12-14

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 

14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.


My question: Can it be that the apostle John, who wrote Revelations, would suddenly used literal language, after their people had been using prophetic, apocalyptic, and metaphorical language for thousands of years? Would John suddenly change their ancient and cultural way of writing and thinking?

My 2nd question: Can it be that Jesus, also coming from the same historical and cultural background as John, suddenly used literal language instead of metaphorical language? Thereby causing miscommunication and confusion to His listeners and disciples?

My answer to these questions: Of course, definitely and conclusively NOT!


The book of Revelation was spoken to the Jews to THEIR generation, to THEIR culture, with THEIR understanding. This book has more than 400 references to Hebrew scriptures to prove that it was about the Jews.


There is plenty of evidence to show that the book of Revelations was written before the fall of Jerusalem in AD70. It was written to predict its coming catastrophe. And the purpose of this book, was to warn them before the Great Fall of Jerusalem.

In that Day of Judgement on Jerusalem, their earthly Israel kingdom (the Mosaic and Law system) will be removed, and Jesus will usher in the eternal spiritual kingdom as was promised by Daniel to the Jews.


Revelations was a book about warning them to flee from the destruction that is coming from the Roman invasion on Jerusalem in AD70. Jesus told them not to be caught in the fires of Gehenna (literally the Valley of Hinnom) where the fires will burn their bodies for months after the city of Jerusalem is burnt to the ground.

That was the end of the Old Covenant, the end of the Age of the Mosaic Law system, and the end of the city of Jerusalem as the central place of worship of God. This was exactly what happened according to history.

The writings of the New Testament reveals the same apocalyptic and metaphorical language that is meant to turn the hearts of the Jewish audience from the coming destruction of Jerusalem that the Roman empire will bring to their nation.

It was meant to show the foolishness of their sins and ways, the futility of their religious system, and to point them to the certainty of God's kingdom through Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

If you can understand this from a metaphorical perspective / viewpoint, then literally hundred of bible verses will open up to you and you will see God wasn't in the business of destroying the heavens and earth, but leading us to change our minds and trust in the spiritual kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.

A Metaphorical Example - Isaiah 13

 

A Metaphorical Example - Isaiah 13

Isaiah 13:6-10 reads:

6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand!
It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore all hands will be limp,
Every man’s heart will melt,

8 And they will be afraid.
Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them;
They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth;
They will be amazed at one another;
Their faces will be like flames.

9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes,
Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger,
To lay the land desolate;
And He will destroy its sinners from it.

10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations
Will not give their light;
The sun will be darkened in its going forth,
And the moon will not cause its light to shine.

Did every man's heart physically melt? NO.!

This is metaphorical and exaggerated language to describe an imaginary picture of their hearts melting so that it will cause the people to wake up and come to their senses. 

The prophet Isaiah wanted to awaken and shake them up!

These writings describe a literal and physical event that actually happened as shown in the past history.

Qn: How to interpret this?

An: Look at the Context in Isaiah 13:1.

Isaiah 13:1 "The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw." 

This was a prophecy predicted by Isaiah about the fall of Babylon in 689 BC! 

When the prophets used the language of sun, moon and stars, it referred to the governmental powers of their times. It meant kings, queens, governors, and leaders would fall from power. 

God did not literally come out of clouds, darken the sun, nor cause the moon to cease its light.

He can (because He is God). But he didn't.


According to ancient Assyrian historical writings:

Notice how King Sennacherib (King of Assyria) uses his language to describe his victory over Babylon:

 “I made its destruction more complete than by a flood. That in days to come the site of that city, and (its) temples and gods, might not be remembered, I completely blotted it out with (floods) of water and made it like a meadow” 

(Daniel D. Luckenbill, Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, 1926-1927, Vol. 2, p. 152).

This is a Metaphorical Example.

A Metaphorical Example - Psalms 18

 

A Metaphorical Example - Psalms 18

What is metaphorical?

Metaphorical means you use something else to stand for, or symbolize, another thing.

For example, in a poem, "a dark sky" might be a metaphorical representation of sadness.

Let us look at Psalm 18, which is a Psalm of David.

Psalm 18:7-17 reads:

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.

8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.

10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.

12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.

14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.

15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.

17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.



Wow!! : Smoke from His nose, and fire from His mouth!!

Did it really happen? NO.!

Do you know what really happened?

Well, before you read into Psalms 18, it is written in the beginning of the Psalm "To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul." 

This Psalm is a song recounting how God delivered David from the hand of Saul and his armies (see 2 Samuel 22).

The earth didn't quake.

The oceans didn't break open and expose the channels of the sea.

God simply delivered David in a battle.

It was a very natural event but written in an exaggerated and metaphorical language to make a strong point.

This is called a Metaphorical Example.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

 

No One Knows That Day or Hour

The phrase "No one knows that day or hour" is found in 2 parallel passages of the bible i.e. Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:32; 

Mat 24:36  But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 

Mar 13:32  But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

In Luke, there was a similar passage about "that day" in Luke 17, and the events that are going to unfold on "that day".

All these passages are a continuation of the conversation between the disciples and Jesus when the disciples asked Jesus the questions in Matthew 24:3.

It is interesting to note that the Strong's Concordance translate "that day" as "that one day", indicating a particular date and day, that these things are going to take place.

Modern day controversy:

Some bible interpreters indicate that "that day" refers to a future day or future date that Jesus was referring to (we shall call them futurists). 

Their explanation was that:

a. They agree that Matthew 24:3-35 was actually referring to the events of the destruction of Jerusalem, and 

b. that Matthew 24:36 was referring to a future event of the "day of judgement/apocalypse or a future 2nd coming of Jesus" that has yet to happen.

c. They call this a transition verse, where Jesus changed His topic or agenda.

My explanation:

I choose to differ from their explanation, because:

a. Jesus did not make a topic change or a topic transition.

b. The conversation of Jesus and His disciples did not change. It was the same thing that Jesus was talking about and conversing with His disciples.

In the parallel passage in Mark 13:4, we read:

Mar 13:4  Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when ALL THESE THINGS shall be fulfilled? 

and as an answer to their questions, Jesus said in Mark 13:32:

Mar 13:32  But concerning THAT DAY or THAT HOUR, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 

Jesus answered verse 4 with verse 32. It was a continuous conversation. Jesus did not change topic or transition into another subject, nor talk about another era or time period. Jesus did not change audience. It was all within the same time, in answering to the disciples in front of them.


Qn: Did Jesus gave a clue as to the timing of That Day? 

That Day when all these terrible things are going to happen?

An: Yes, Jesus did. Two verses before Matthew 24;36, we read in Matthew 24:34:

Mat 24:34  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 

The timing indicator is "this generation shall not pass away".

However, the timing as to the exact "that one day" or "that hour", no one knows, not even Jesus knew.


Qn: Did Jesus himself knew of "That Day"?

An: Some may say that Jesus knows. But Jesus himself said that not even He himself knows.

Why is this?

When Jesus was physically on planet Earth, He was bound by certain limitations. For example, He can only be in 1 place at a time. He was not Omnipresent.

Based on Luke 2:52, we read that Jesus was 12 years old and He was having a discussion with the teachers of the Law in the temple, when His earthly parents were looking for Him. The the verse said:

Luk 2:52  And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 

Note: that Jesus had to grow, to advance, to gain wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. He did not automatically knew everything. He wasn't born earthly to know everything from His Father (God).

Jesus in the physical was not Omniscient. He did not know everything. Jesus only spoke what He heard His Father said. He did what His Father said to do. He did not have all knowledge about every situation.

For example, in Mark 5:30, when a woman touched Him, Jesus did not know who touched Him.

Mar 5:30  And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 


That Day vs pregnancy Date

The speculation of the exact "that one day" can be roughly compared in a simple analogy for purpose of clarification.

In a woman's pregnancy, the doctor may give you a particular date of when the baby is going to come out, but we  know that the actual date may differ to several days before of after that stated date. You will not know the exact date or hour of when the baby will be born, but you will know that it will be within that period of time.

Similarly, the actual "that day" of when it shall be is not known, but it shall be within the timing of "all these things that will happen, will definitely take place within their time period, "their generation".


What is the meaning of "That Day"?

Luke 17 tells us the events that will take place on "that day". This is similarly recorded in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.

In Luke 17:30-31, we read:

Luk 17:30  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 

Luk 17:31  On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 

These verses quoting "in that day" is a direct reference to the fall of Jerusalem, and not some future event or day.

In his book John L. Bray called "Matthew 24 fulfilled", he said:

["That Day" is the culmination of "those days"]

Qn: What are "those days"? Or What are "those last days"?

An: Those days refer to everything that Jesus said from Matthew 24:3-35. These are the last days.

So verse 36 "that day" is  the culmination (highest or climatic point) of verse 3-35 "those days"

There was no indication that the events had changed from verse 35 to verse 36. We can conclude that we are dealing with the same events.


Note: When the disciples were told that it will happen in their generation, and that they did not know the exact moment. It was enough. It was not too vague or uncertain. Jesus did not leave them dangling in hopelessness because Jesus told them that they just need to know the signs, the landmarks or indicators that will happen in their generation along their way. And all these signs were very clearly foretold to them in all the parallel passages above.


John Lightfoot, an early Christian writer, wrote about "that day and hour".

[Of what day and hour? That the discourse is of the day of the destruction of Jerusalem, is so evident, both by the disciples' question, and by the whole thread of Christ's discourse - that it is a wonder, any should understand these words of the day and hour of the Last Judgement.]


Another prominent Christian writer John Gill, in his 1809 commentary on Matthew 24:36 (his commentary is freely available in e-sword app).

[But of that day and hour knoweth no man,.... Which is to be understood, not of the second coming of Christ, the end of the world, and the last judgment; but of the coming of the son of man, to take vengeance on the Jews, and of their destruction; for the words manifestly regard the date of the several things going before, which only can be applied to that catastrophe, and dreadful desolation: now, though the destruction itself was spoken of by Moses and the prophets, was foretold by Christ, and the believing Jews had some discerning of its near approach; (see Heb 10:25) yet the exact and precise time was not known; ]


Another early Christian writer, N. Nisbett in 1787 in his book title "An attempt to illustrate various important passages in the Epistles, etc. of the New Testament, from our Lord's prophecies of the destruction of Jerusalem from some prophecies of the Old Testament." talked about Matthew 24:36

[ But though the time was hastening on for the completion of our Lord’s prophecy of the ruin of the Jews; yet the exact time of this judgment, laid hid in the bosom of the Father. Verse 36. ‘Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.’ St. Mark has it: ‘Neither the Son, but the Father;’ but the sense is the same. Some men of great learning and eminence have thought that our Lord is here speaking, not of the destruction of Jerusalem, but of that more solemn and awful one of the day of judgment. But I can by no means think that the Evangelists are such loose, inaccurate writers, as to make so sudden and abrupt a transition, as they are here supposed to do; much less to break through the fundamental rules of good writing, by apparently referring to something which they had said before; when in reality they were beginning a new subject, and the absurdity of the supposition will appear more strongly, if it is recollected that the question of the disciples was, ‘When shall these things be?’ ‘Why,’ says our Saviour, ‘of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only’” ]


In conclusion: The judgement on Jerusalem is about to fall soon. This judgement will come suddenly and without further warning like in the flood that occurred at the time of Noah.

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

Mat 24:38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 

Mat 24:39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

Fold the Old Garment

This judgement was about to fall on the Mosaic system and the Jews who crucified Jesus Christ. Just like in the flood, it came and took all of them away. That judgement (that physically and historically occurred in AD70) is going to be the same and to take them all away.

The whole Jewish system of Mosaic Law is going to be completely take away. In fact, to be folded up like a garment as described in Hebrews 1.

Heb 1:11  they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,

Heb 1:12  like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” 

Jesus spoke about an old garment and a new garment, and that you cannot put a patch on an old garment (Luke 5:36)

So what do you do with an old garment?

You just fold it up and put it away. You then put on a new garment, and that garment is Jesus Christ.

Like the days of Noah

Like the days of Noah

This phrase "like the days of Noah" is taken from what Jesus said in Matthew 24:37

Mat 24:37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Qn: What happened during the days of Noah?

An: It was the judgement of God on the people of the world and only Noah and his family were saved. The reason was that the whole world's system and its human morality has been corrupted to the extend that God had to begin a new human race with Noah and his family.

Note: The judgement and destruction was on the world's system and the immorality in the people. The planet earth was NOT destroyed, and God did NOT re-create a new planet for Noah and his family. We shall come to this later.


Matthew 24:37 is a continuation from Verse 35, where the phrase "heaven and earth will pass away" was a reference to Israel, the Mosaic system, the Jewish system and its religion, and not a reference to the physical planet Earth.

In fact, God was consistently speaking that the planet earth will NOT be destroyed. It will not physically pass away. See:

Psa 104:5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should NOT be removed for ever. 

Forever and ever and ever, it shall NOT be removed.

Ecc 1:4  A generation passes away, and a generation comes; but the earth REMAINS forever. 

The planet earth remains forever and ever. God is not fickle and go back on His word.

There are many, many events that have happened and have changed the human system of the earth, but the planet has never never been destroyed and will never be. During the big flood that happened at the days of Noah, the planet was never destroyed, but the human system has been changed forever. 

During the Roman horrendous attack on Jerusalem as a sign of God's judgement, a confirmation of all the warnings given by the prophets and Jesus, the entire Israel's system of traditional worship and culture have literally been changed significantly, BUT the planet earth was not destroyed.

It is absurd to think like the futurists and dispensationalists that proclaim the entire physical earth will be destroyed with fire, and God will re-create a new earth, which is then a contradiction to the scriptures that confirmed that the planet earth will remain forever. 

This is their escapism mentality that have put fears into ignorant believers, who do not want to be left out (or left behind) in their escape track from God's judgement on planet earth.

In 2 Peter 3:1, we read of the passage that speaks about the day of the Lord and how it will be compared to the days of Noah. Sounds familiar?

Yes, Peter was teaching exactly the same thing that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. How did Peter know all this? It is because Peter was there among the audience listening to the warnings of Jesus. 

It could even be said that Peter might be one of them that asked Jesus the 3 important questions in Matthew 24:3 i.e. "when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

In Matthew 24, Jesus answered Peter with a full interpretation of their last days leading to AD70, where the Old system (Old Covenant) was destroyed and a New Covenant was ushered in through the finished work of Jesus.

In 2 Peter 3:1-2, Peter starts off by reminding them to remember the words of the last days as foretold by the prophets and Jesus.

2Pe 3:1  This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

2Pe 3:2  that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Peter was telling them what will happen in the last days. He said in 1 Peter 4:7 that "the end of all things is coming very soon." These are their last days. The events are coming very soon.

2Pe 3:3  knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

You can read that there were people during those days that were scoffing at Peter and the Christians for proclaiming that the day of the Lord is coming in THEIR last days.

Note: Peter was NOT speaking to scoffers that are going to come more than 2000 years later from the time of the audience. It is absurd because it does not mean anything to them, the hearers. In 2000 years from then, all of them would have died and long gone. There is no need for Peter to warn them at all. 

Peter was speaking of scoffers in their last days. Whose last days? Peter's and the audiences' last days. Peter said, the end of all things is already at hand. It is happening very very soon. Peter was just reiterating what the earlier prophets, Jesus and the apostles have been preaching all along.


Audience relevance

If you want to understand audience relevance, 2 Peter 3:4 has the key.

2Pe 3:4  They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 

What did the scoffers say? They said, where is his coming? Who are these scoffers anyway?

a. Historically, the Gentiles do not speak of the beginning of the planet earth in terms of God's creation. It is the Jews who referred the beginning of the earth to the creation work of God. The Torah (or Old Testament) have always described how God created the earth in Genesis 1.

b. Secondly, the Gentiles do not refer to their ancestors or historical figures as "fathers". This is a term that is only used by the Jews throughout the Torah to describe the genealogical history of Israel.


2 Peter 3:4 does not refer to 21st century people who are scoffing or mocking them. It does not refer to the Gentiles living in their days who were scoffing or ridiculing them. It refers to the Jews who were living in their days that were scoffing them.


2 Peter 3:5-6 says that the Jews purposely and willfully chose to forget that God had at one time destroyed the world with a huge flood as in the days of Noah.

2Pe 3:5  For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 

2Pe 3:6  and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 

Even though Peter did not use the phrase "days of Noah", but the audience can understand that he was talking about the flood during the days of Noah, because Peter said that "the world was flooded with water and perished". Peter is telling them that they deliberately forget that judgement had happened before during the Noah's flood. They are not remembering their history lesson.


The Noah Story

The Noah's story is important. The Noah's story does not tell you about the end of the physical world, but only the end of their world system. The granite, the stones and the material earth were not destroyed. The planet earth continued to exist. God did not start all over again with a new planet but God destroyed the system of that day.

So what did Peter do? He grabbed hold of their Noah's story, a story of a system being destroyed, and reminded them of the similarity between that story and the end of their world and their system.
 
In Matthew 24:37, Jesus himself did the same thing when He compared the days of Noah to their last days - the end of all things, the end of their way of doing things, the end of their Age. Jesus used the same story, similar to 2 Peter 3:5.

In 2 Peter 3:7, we usually find that futurists like to take this verse out of its context and said that God will destroy the world with fire, just like the days of Noah, when it was destroyed with water. They claim that God will give them a new heaven and new earth after completely destroying this one,

2Pe 3:7  But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 

We need to understand that 2 Peter 3:7 is figurative language and not literal. God did NOT destroy planet Earth in the days of Noah so God is not going to destroy planet Earth with fire just to start all over again. God only destroyed the system of that day during the days of Noah.


An example of figurative language. Look at Luke 3:5

Luk 3:5  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways.

This verse was talking about John the Baptist who will do all these things in verse 5, as a preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. John was preaching from the book of Isaiah 40:4. John was referring to Jesus who came to fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of bringing salvation to many.
Now, was John talking figuratively or literally? Of course, it was figuratively.

Question: Did Jesus physically changed the mountains and valleys of Palestine?

Answer: No.! It was a metaphorical expression that was commonly used by Hebrews during those days.

But if we do go through "spiritual" valleys and mountains, Jesus' salvation will fill our valleys and bring low the mountains. Jesus will straighten our "spiritual" crooked roads.

So in 2 Peter 3:7, it was the world system of the ungodly that will be destroyed and not the planet Earth.


In Don Preston's book "The late great kingdom", on page 38, it refers to 2 Peter 3 as follows:

[... We understand from Peter, that in Noah's days, the moral world or society perished. We understand that Peter foresaw the coming dissolution of another society, the Jewish world. This is exactly what happened in AD70.  ]


Another good author David Pete Cruz, wrote "Prophecy Fulfilled" in 1994, subtitled "God's perfect church" in page 96:

[... The heavens and earth were simply the Jewish religious political authorities in the land of Palestine, and in the people who lived there. They were the ungodly men. Ungodly because they had rejected and killed the Christ and still rejected Him who was being kept by the gracious mercy of God, who wanted all to repent and come to Him, and not unto the day of judgement and destruction. This phrase tells us that this is another day of the Lord, just like the ones we see exampled in the Old Testament.. ]


Let's go on:

2Pe 3:8  But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 

2Pe 3:11  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 

2Pe 3:12  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 

2Pe 3:13  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 


In verse 8-9, Peter is highlighting to his listeners who think that they still have lots of time before anything will happen. God is giving them a span of time to change their minds, He is going to act. They do not have a thousand years. The Lord is not slow to act and do what He had promised. Time is running out.

In verse 10-13, Peter is using the same imagery as Jesus and Paul, where the "heavens and earth will pass away". This is covered in my earlier chapter.

https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2021/01/heaven-and-earth-will-pass-away.html
 
Peter is speaking the same as Jesus in Matthew 24. The old heaven and earth has to pass away, before the coming of the new heaven and earth. The old heaven and earth refers to the Israel's old system, the old covenant, the Mosaic system, the old practices of temple sacrifices and observation of the laws of the Old Covenant.

The new heaven and earth refers to the New Covenant, the new life that came through the finished work of Jesus at the Cross, the union of God living in us, the temple of His Spirit.


This "passing of the heaven and earth" is also described as the "day of the Lord" (2 Peter 3:4). And this day will come upon them like a "thief in the night", that means at the moment that they least expect it to happen. They need to get ready.

Jesus used this first in Matthew 24:43-44. Peter used this in 2 Peter 3:10, and Paul used this in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.

1Th 5:2  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 

I talked a bit about this "day of the Lord" in previous chapter.

https://advancingtruth.blogspot.com/2020/05/signs-in-heavens-day-of-lord.html


The day of the Lord is the coming and pending judgement in their generation.

Old Testament prophets and authors always refer to the "day of the Lord" when they spoke of God judging a people.

For example, Ezekiel prophesied about the judgement that is coming upon King Nebuchadnezzar in Ezekiel 30:3,

Eze 30:3  For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. 


This is bible figurative language and symbolic terminology. Old Testament and New Testament both speaks the same Hebrew metaphorical language.

When Peter speaks about the coming day of the Lord in 2 Peter, he was referring to the coming judgement and destruction on Israel as a nation and its religious system. This destruction on the Mosaic system took place in AD70 when the Roman armies destroyed them.

Jesus foreknew this would happen, when He said in John 4:21,23.

Joh 4:21  Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father."

Joh 4:23  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 

This is good news.