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Be
Careful
An important rule of Bible study is that you
need at least several verses to make a teaching.
Here’s a perfect example: One verse, II Pet. 3:10
says the whole earth is going to be burned up.
But this is not consistent with the rest of the
Bible. This larger body of truth teaches that the earth will be cleaned
up! Back up just a few verses to 3:7, “But the
heavens (the sky) and the earth … are reserved for
fire until the day of judgment and the destruction
of ungodly men.”
I did an extensive study on the words fire
and burn in the Bible. I found many references
to God’s fiery wrath and burning anger
toward the wicked. Interesting?
Yes!
Jesus
told what would happen
In Matt.13:24-30, Jesus told a story to
illustrate what would happen at the end of this age.
Then later when His disciples were alone with Him,
they asked Him to explain this one to them.
He did in 13:36-43.
If you want to read it all, you can, but here
is a summary: A
farmer planted good seeds in his field, and an enemy
came at night and planted weed seed among the wheat.
When they matured some, the servants asked what
they should do. The owner told them to let the plants all grow together until
the harvest time, and then take out the weeds first,
and burn them (13:30).
In the explanation, Jesus told them that the
field is the world; the wheat seeds are the
sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the
wicked one (the devil). The enemy is the devil; the
harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are the
angels. 13:40, “Just as the weeds are gathered and
burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this
age; the Son of Man (Jesus) will send out His angels
and they will gather out of His kingdom all things
that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and
will cast them into the furnace of fire.
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.”
(Please notice that the world will be
cleaned up, but He called it the kingdom.
I think He’s claiming the planet! Daniel 7:16-18 and Daniel 2 agree.)
Verses 47-50
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some
of every kind. Which, when it was full, they drew to
shore, and they sat down and gathered the good into
vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the
end of the age. The angels will come forth and separate
the wicked from among the just, and cast them into
the furnace of fire.
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
Shine
like the sun?
Did you notice that after the weeds were
removed, Jesus said we’d shine like the sun?
Many believe that we’ll glow when we get to
heaven. But
remember our rule?
What does the rest of the Bible say?
Matt. 5:14-16, “You are the
light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but
on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in
the house. Let your light so shine before men that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father
in heaven.” Phil. 2:15, Prov. 4:18, and Dan. 12:3
are other verses which also say that our good lives
are to be conspicuous. That is shining!
The
wicked go first!
Prov. 2:21-22, “For the
upright will dwell in the land and the blameless will remain
in it. But the wicked will be cut off (destroyed)
from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted
from it.”
Isa. 13:9, “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 out of it.”
Psa. 119:119, “You put away
all the wicked of the earth like dross.”
Isa. 41:10-13, Psa. 11:5-6, Psa.
21:8-10 Psa. 34:16, 101:8, 104:35,
Col. 3:6, and
Eph. 5:6 are
other verses that agree.
We’ll
be here
Psa. 58:10-11, “The righteous
shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance …”
John 17:18, (Jesus is praying
for His disciples and us!) “I do not pray
that You should take them out of the world, but that
You would keep them from the evil one.”
Prov. 10:30, “The righteous
will never be removed, but the wicked will not
inhabit the earth.”
Psa. 52:5-6, (Spoken to the
wicked) “God will likewise destroy you forever.
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of
your dwelling place and uproot you from the land of
the living. The
righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at
him …”
Psa.37:9-11, “Evil doers shall be cut off, but those who wait on the
Lord shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked will
be no more. You will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no
more. But
the meek shall delight themselves in the abundance of
peace.”
And Psa. 37:22, 28-29,
34-36, Prov. 11:31, 12:7, Matt. 5:5 and Heb. 12:26-28
We’re
protected!
Psa.91:7-8, “A thousand may fall at your right side, and ten thousand
at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward
of the wicked.”
Isa. 26:20-21, “Come, My
people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind
you. Hide
yourselves as it were for a little moment, until the
indignation is past.
For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to
punish the inhabitants of the earth for their
iniquity.” (Also,
Zeph. 2:3)
Prov.3:25-26,
“Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither the
desolation of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord shall be your confidence and shall keep your
foot from being taken.”
(Words from the King James translation are
in italics.)
Mal. 3:16 to 4:3 is all good,
but here is 4:3. “For behold, the day is
coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes
all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming will burn them up,’ says
the Lord of hosts.
You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be
ashes under the soles of your feet on the day
that I do this.”
Others
are: Rev. 18:4 and 3:10.
(For one day, Rev. 18:8, or one hour, 18:10,
17, 19.) |
