Peter, Paul, and the Apocalype

"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat..." (2 Pet. 3:10)



"Even as our brother Paul, according to the wisdom given unto him, has written unto you. In all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand..." (2 Pet. 3:16)



Taken literally these passages would seem to describe some unmistakable global, nay cosmic apocalypse. But then why, if this description was intended to be taken literally does Peter say that these things are, "Hard to understand?" Well, it should be obvious that if plain speech is said to be easily misunderstood that some sort of figuritive hyperbole is at play here and that would mean these verses never were intended to be interpreted literally.



The key to diciphering the mystery of this text is the use of the word elements coupled with the apostle's allusion to Paul's letters. Thus the logical next step for a soley biblical interpretation is to reference the Pauline epistles alluded to above, i.e. Gal. 4:3-5 & Col. 2:8,20-22.

Let us view first the passage from Galatians:

"When we were children we were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal.4:3-5)



Notice Paul equates their bondage under the elements of the world, with bondage under the law. For further clarification on this point let us now turn to our final passage in this study from Paul's letter to Colossae:



Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ."

"If you are dead with Christ from the elements of the world : why, as though living in the world are you subject to ordinances... after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (Col. 2:8,20-22)



With these texts seen in their biblical context the point becomes clear: the elements of the world spoken of were the Temple system of the first century and all the ordinances and sacrifices that went along with it. A casual scan of history will reveal that this world and heavens (the Temple itself as heaven on earth) were destroyed in the apocalypse of A.D. 70, as prophesied in the Olivet discourse and the book of Revelation.



Glory to the Highest,

Amen.