As you read both of these passages, notice these two things. Rev.20:11 says
that the earth and the sky fled from God’s presence on that Day when He takes
His seat on His great white throne for this final judgment. What became of this
earth and sky? II Pet. 3:7, 10 and 12 tell us three times, “the present heavens
and earth are reserved for fire,” “The heavens will disappear with a roar; and
the elements will be destroyed by fire,” “…the destruction of the heavens by
fire, and the elements will melt in the hea t.”
And when will this all take place? Rev.20:11-15 is the very scene of the Final
Judgment, and we are told in II Pet.3:7, 10 and 12 it is that very same day
three times saying it is, “the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men,”
“the day of the Lord,” and, “the day of God.”
Revelation 21:1-2 opens with a new heaven and a new earth, with the Holy
City, the new Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven.
But we cannot leave II Peter 3 without noting these words from verses 13 and
14, “we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of
righteousness,” and from verse 14, “since you are looking forward to this….”
It may be that you were never made aware of all of this before. But it is very
important that we instruct you in these things as the Second Tool of inductive
Bible reading and study.
It is critically important to your understanding of the Word of God to know just
what God’s own goal and purpose is before you even turn to Genesis chapter 1
and begin to read the Bible story. If you did not know how this story was going
to end, how would you be able to keep reading as the story twists and turns
through so many people’s lives and through so much time? How would any of it
make any sense at all to you unless you knew where it was all going to
ultimately end?
Further, as you read the Bible story, and you do know just how it is going to
end, you might also ask this question: How would this story ever get to this end
that we learn about from Revelation 21:1-22:5, if it were not God who saw to it
Page | 30
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator