The Day of the Lord: ProRevenge Jehovah Style
In the final chapter of 2 Peter, the writer (Peter or Not-Peter) describes what is termed the "day of the Lord." The Sabbath is often referred to as the "Lord's Day", but the arrangement of words for this phrase marks it as something quite different. The phrase "day of the Lord" is first seen in the Old Testament in Isaiah in which the prophet describes the Protagonist enacting a time of disciplinary action against His chosen people, Israel. Amos also uses the phrase in this way and describes it as a day of judgment and darkness that the people of Israel should fear and dread.
This picture may or may not have hung in the church I grew up in.
The phrase had had resonance with the people of Israel long before any texts were written down. The "day of the Lord" was something that was commonly announced as imminent. Later prophets proclaimed over and over that the "day of the Lord" was either coming, near or at hand. Much of the Old Testament usage of the "day of the Lord" paints a picture of the Protagonist pouring out swift and harsh discipline on the the unruly nation of Israel like a Facebook dad dealing with a sass-mouthed teenage daughter.
There were other uses of the phrase, however. In Joel, the "day of the Lord" is used to refer to a victory of Israel over her enemies. Other prophets like Obadiah and Ezekiel followed suit, describing crushing battles that result in mass casualties for the enemies of Israel and the Protagonist.
There's a bit of a time divide among Old Testament references to the "day of the Lord." While many allude to a far-off fulfillment of the judgment of the Protagonist, many others echo back to an event in history in which the Divine Retribution had already occurred.
Peter follows this with a vivid description of what would take place on this apocalyptic day of wrath.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar..." (2 Peter 3:10). According to Peter, the earth and sky will be burned up and all those who reject the Protagonist will be completely annihilated. After this destruction, the earth and sky will be replaced with "new heavens and a new earth" in which those who are "found by him without spot or blemish" will dwell in peace and safety at last.
In essence, Peter seems to say, "Look, I know things are bad, but don't worry. These guys who are persecuting us and living in rebellion against God are going to get what's coming to them. So stay with the faith and be strong!"
This message would have been a two-fold comfort to most Christians in that day. For one, they could look forward to a day when their persecution would end and they would be rewarded for their faithfulness. Secondly, they would get to witness the wrath of the Protagonist unleashed on their unsuspecting enemies.
There's a bit of a time divide among Old Testament references to the "day of the Lord." While many allude to a far-off fulfillment of the judgment of the Protagonist, many others echo back to an event in history in which the Divine Retribution had already occurred.
In the New Testament the meaning behind the phrase "day of the Lord" seems to take a shift. Rather than strictly referencing a time of judgment on Israel or her enemies, the phrase is used more to refer to the Protagonist's actions against unbelievers. The "day of the Lord" in most of the New Testament texts describes a final day of judgment upon all who reject or have rejected the authority of the Protagonist.
So why does Peter encourage his audience to look forward to a time in which "the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved..."? If we accept that Peter is the author of this epistle, his intended audience would have included the churches of Asia Minor who were struggling under severe persecution. There was also the growing problem of misinformed teachers in the churches who were spreading what was considered false doctrine.
The third chapter of 2 Peter seems less like a warning for a disobedient people and more of an encouragement for the believers of the churches to keep going despite persecution and the struggles that came with being a part of the fledgling faith. In the first part of the chapter, Peter warns his audience to be aware that some people would ask, "Where is the promise of his coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). He goes on to say that just as the Protagonist poured out judgment in the form of water during the Great Flood, he was prepared with an arsenal of heavenly fire stored up for the "destruction of the ungodly" (2 Peter 3:5-7).
Dies Irae: Soundtrack of the Apocalypse
So why does Peter encourage his audience to look forward to a time in which "the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved..."? If we accept that Peter is the author of this epistle, his intended audience would have included the churches of Asia Minor who were struggling under severe persecution. There was also the growing problem of misinformed teachers in the churches who were spreading what was considered false doctrine.
The third chapter of 2 Peter seems less like a warning for a disobedient people and more of an encouragement for the believers of the churches to keep going despite persecution and the struggles that came with being a part of the fledgling faith. In the first part of the chapter, Peter warns his audience to be aware that some people would ask, "Where is the promise of his coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). He goes on to say that just as the Protagonist poured out judgment in the form of water during the Great Flood, he was prepared with an arsenal of heavenly fire stored up for the "destruction of the ungodly" (2 Peter 3:5-7).
Peter follows this with a vivid description of what would take place on this apocalyptic day of wrath.
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar..." (2 Peter 3:10). According to Peter, the earth and sky will be burned up and all those who reject the Protagonist will be completely annihilated. After this destruction, the earth and sky will be replaced with "new heavens and a new earth" in which those who are "found by him without spot or blemish" will dwell in peace and safety at last.
In essence, Peter seems to say, "Look, I know things are bad, but don't worry. These guys who are persecuting us and living in rebellion against God are going to get what's coming to them. So stay with the faith and be strong!"
This message would have been a two-fold comfort to most Christians in that day. For one, they could look forward to a day when their persecution would end and they would be rewarded for their faithfulness. Secondly, they would get to witness the wrath of the Protagonist unleashed on their unsuspecting enemies.
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