The Narrow Path Ministries

2 Peter 3:12 seems to indicate that we can hasten the 2nd coming. What are some ways that we can do that?

I know this flies in the face of some models of eschatology, but the Bible seems to indicate that we can hasten the 2nd coming.

Do you agree with this? What are some Scriptural passages that would support this idea?

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:10-12 NKJV

The idea that we can hasten the coming seems to rest upon the idea that the Greek word SPEUDW means "hasten". It can, but apparently it can also mean "earnestly desire".

Notwithstanding what I wrote in my previous post, I believe that SPEUDW does mean "hasten".

I think the best way to determine what a Greek word normally meant, during NT days, is to look at its use in the NT.

It was used in 5 other places: Lk 2:16, 19:5, 19:6, Ac 20:16, and 22:18.
I think it clearly means "hasten" or "hurry" in each case.

I don't think the word occurs in the Greek Septuagint of the OT, but it does occur in the Greek Apocrypha in the following texts:
Judith 10:15, 12:14, Wisdom 18:21, Sirach 2:2, 11:11, 36:7,
2 Maccabees 9:14, and 11:37

In each instance, the word seems to mean "hasten" or "hurry".

Hey Paidion,

As I was just reading this post something occurred to me. Which leads me to ask you a question from your futurist view.

2 Peter 3 associates the day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night with heavens and earth passing away. But the heavens and earth don't pass away until after the millennium.

Something doesn't jive here.

How can you have a heaven and earth passing away before and after the millennium?

2 Peter 3 associates the day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night with heavens and earth passing away. But the heavens and earth don't pass away until after the millennium.

Something doesn't jive here.

How can you have a heaven and earth passing away before and after the millennium?

Well, that should prove simple for you to figure out, since your assessment of us is that " 'near' means 'far', etc." So the answer is simply that " 'before" means 'after' " and " 'after' means 'before'"

Actually, the Day of the Lord begins when Christ returns and continues until the heavens and earth pass away. The Millenium is part of that great Day.

Hi Mark,

This topic was discussed in another thread that might be food for thought.

http://www.wvss.com/forumc/viewtopic.php?t=501

Thank you Christopher - that is exactly what I am looking for. I thought I had remembered reading something about that here before, but I couldn't find it when I was looking for it.

Paidion - thank you for your responses as well. By the way, I notice that your picture has changed. Are either of the pictures of you?

Paidion wrote:

2 Peter 3 associates the day of the Lord coming as a thief in the night with heavens and earth passing away. But the heavens and earth don't pass away until after the millennium.

Something doesn't jive here.

How can you have a heaven and earth passing away before and after the millennium?

Well, that should prove simple for you to figure out, since your assessment of us is that " 'near' means 'far', etc." So the answer is simply that " 'before" means 'after' " and " 'after' means 'before'"

Actually, the Day of the Lord begins when Christ returns and continues until the heavens and earth pass away. The Millenium is part of that great Day.

I should write a book, "Exegetical Gymnastics...The 31 Flavors of Futurism."

Paidion - thank you for your responses as well. By the way, I notice that your picture has changed. Are either of the pictures of you?

Yes, both of them are. I'm getting younger every day.

The present avatar is a picture of me when I was about 45. The first picture is more current. I will turn 69 tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Paidion!!