THE DAY OF THE LORD
(2 Pet 3:8,9) But, beloved, be not ignorant [Gk: unaware] of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord [Gk: supreme in authority] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack [Gk: delaying, tarrying] concerning his promise, as some men count slackness [Gk tardiness]; but is longsuffering [Gk: long spirited: patient] to us-ward, not willing that any should perish [Gk: be destroyed], but that all should come to repentance [Gk: to think differently].
(2 Pet 3:10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [i.e., with no warning in the coming, but suddenly monumentally manifested upon arrival – in effect, instantaneous]; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise [an enormous blast of sound], and the elements shall melt [Gk: dissolve] with fervent heat [fervent = syn: fiery, ardent, eager, zealous, vehement], the earth also [an allusion to the former physical signs] and the works that are therein [an allusion to the works of man] shall be burned up.
(Zech 14:12-16) And this shall be the plague [Heb: pestilence: slaughter] wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away [Heb: melt: dissolve] [nuclear warfare] while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away [Heb: melt: dissolve] [nuclear warfare] in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away [Heb: melt: dissolve] [nuclear warfare] in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult [Heb: confusion or uproar: destruction, trouble, vexation] from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And so [likewise] [nuclear warfare] shall be the plague [Heb: pestilence: slaughter] of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague [Heb: pestilence: slaughter] [nuclear warfare]. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left [converted and saved] of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
(Deut 4:24) For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
(Deut 9:3) Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them [“the Anakims” Deut 9:2], and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.
(Heb 12:29) For our God is a consuming fire.
(1 Cor 3:11-15) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest [Gk: apparent]: for the day [of the Lord] shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try [Gk: test] every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide [Gk: stay: remain] which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(2 Pet 3:11,12) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved [in nuclear warfare], what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation [Gk: behavior] and godliness, Looking for and hasting [Gk: use speed (study), urge on; await eagerly] unto the coming of the day of God [How? By praying “come, Lord Jesus” Rev 22:20, and winning souls to Christ, and/by feeding His sheep], wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
(2 Pet 3:13-18) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent [Gk: use speed, make effort, be prompt or earnest: labour, study] [“hasting” 2 Pet 3:12] that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles [Gk: letters], speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned [Gk: ignorant] and unstable [Gk: unfixed, vacillating] wrest [Gk: wrench, to torture, fig. pervert /// twist, turn quite around], as they do also the other scriptures [i.e., as they have a “pattern” of doing], unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness [Gk: stability]. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
(2 Tim 2:15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman [Gk: toiler: labourer] that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [Gk: to make a straight cut; fig. to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message)] the word of truth.
study = Gk: use speed (study), urge on; await eagerly. [“hasting” 2 Pet 3:12; “diligent” 2 Pet 3:14]
Amen