What about 1 Peter 3?

That is certainly how many Christians interpret Peter’s comments in 2 Peter 3:10-13, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

If you’ve already looked at the previous topic about “the new heavens and a new earth” you are probably prepared for what comes next. We’ve already seen that the heaven and earth phrase refers to the old covenant system and not planet earth. Peter makes this even clearer in his use of the word stoicheion (elements) to describe what will be burned up.

This form of the word appears seven times in scripture (Galatians 4:3, 9; Colossians 2:8, 20; Hebrews 5:12; and 2 Peter 3:10, 12). Without exception it refers to the principles or rudiments of the old covenant system. This is not the word for the elements (gold, silver, zinc, etc.) of the physical world.

Additionally, the Jewish historian Josephus records that the Jew referred to the Holy of Holies as heaven and the surrounding areas as land and sea (the land was reserved for the Jews and the sea or outer court was called the court of the Gentiles. It is easy to see how this figure applies to what Peter is predicting.

He says they are already experiencing the fiery ordeal (1 Peter 4:12). For believers, this was a purifying fire. For unbelievers it was the fire of judgment. It came to full flame in A.D. 70 and the elements were burned up. The old covenant system and all its trappings were utterly destroyed by God and He will never re-establish them. To do so would be to diminish the blood of Christ to a level of that of the blood of bulls and goats. God forbid!

Again, this is not an exhaustive discussion on this topic. Use it to spur your thinking. Begin to realize that there are solid biblical answers to the many objections you have to seeing Christ’s work as complete.

God will bless your diligence with a clearer understanding of His truth.

© Copyright 2003 – 2020 Jim Wade