A question from reader regarding “destruction” under the blog post, “Just Imperfect men.” A perfect excuse?”
You don’t believe that Armageddon is literal” then how are we to understand 2 Peter 3:7 when it talks of the “destruction of the ungodly men”? - Daniel
My response:
Hi, Daniel, thank you for your question, it is an excellent one. Before I address your question, this is foremost: Please, please, do not overlook reading the scriptures referenced. Neither skim, rushing through the scriptures. I completely understand you may initially be overwhelmed seeing so many scriptures referenced, and may consider it daunting to read more than one or two - the experience in WT has left many with a distaste of scripture. WT cherry-picks scriptures in a weak attempt to support their doctrine, which has left many feeling confused when reading scripture. This is evident when JWs are shown scriptures that contradict their beliefs. JWs will close short the conversation with the excuse that they “do not argue.” JWs are afraid. They are afraid to test all things because WT has stressed to “listen and obey” them, equating themselves to “truth,” to God Himself and to Jesus (but, Jesus is the truth; John 14:6). The leaders of WT have orchestrated a masterful plan of enslavement, obedience to them, not God, through use of guilt and the fear of being physically annihilated at Armageddon, that is, WT’s man-made idea of Armageddon. Their interpretation of Armageddon as a physical sensory event of annihilation appeals to the sensory aspect of humans and their understanding of their physical environment and experience. WT’s doctrine is weighted and crafted in literal interpretation of spiritual words, because they are without Spirit and are not taught spiritual things, the wisdom of God, but are a natural man and teach according to human ideas, human wisdom (1 Cor.2:10-14). So please, in prayer ask for Spirit of truth granting spiritual discernment and test all things, reject what is evil, wicked (John 1:1,14; Eph.6:17; 1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Thess.5:21-22; Heb.3:12; 2 Thess.3:2; Matt.13:38).
It is important to remember that Jesus’ manner of teaching was through use of parables containing analogies, metaphors, and similes to describe spiritual things using elements of the natural world and experiences common to humans (Psalm 78:2-3; 49:4; Prov.1:2-6; Psalm 77:16; Ezek.17:2,12; 24:3-14; Matt.13:10,13,31-35,44-45,47). Why did Jesus teach in this way? Jesus told his disciples, "Because the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand’” (Luke 8:9-10; Matt.13:10-11,14-15; John 12:39-41; Isa.6:9-10). Mysteries of the Spirit will be revealed to those whom God has chosen to anoint with His Spirit, the Spirit He has poured in their hearts, hearts that have not hardened in rebellion from Jesus’ commandments (Luke 4:18; 1 John 2:20,27; John 12:49-50; 6:63; 4:24; 15:16,1,5,4,7-8,10; 1 Pet.2:5,9; Heb.13:15; Mal.2:7; 1 Cor.3:16; 6:19; Rom.5:5; 8:9; John 14:26; 1 Cor.2:6-7,10-16; Rom.16:25-26). By the Spirit, faithful Spirit-anointed will “see and hear,” have spiritual discernment and be stewards of the spiritual mysteries Jesus spoke through the apostles teachings and in the past by the holy prophets (John 1:1,14; 1 Pet.2:5,9; 1 John 2:27; John 4:24; 14:26; 15:1,4,16; Heb.13:15; Mal.2:7; Luke 8:10; 1 Cor.4:1-5; Rom.16:25-27; Eph.3:1,7-11; 1 Peter 4:10; Luke 12:42; 2 Pet.3:1-2).
So let’s look at your reference to 2 Peter 3:7.
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” [ESV]
In 1 Peter 4:17 we see that judgment begins first, with the “dwelling of God” (1 Pet.4:17; 1 Cor.12:20,27-28). The dwelling of God is a spiritual house, a dwelling place of God in Spirit in the hearts of anointed He has poured His Spirit (John 6:63; Matt.22:14; 1 Pet.2:5; Heb.3:6; 8:10; Rom.5:5; 1 Cor.3:16; 1 John 2:27). Each spiritual priest is a “living stone” that grows into a holy temple (1 Pet.2:5,9; Eph.2:19-22). Just as the Testimony was written on stone tablets for Jews manifest through physical circumcision, God’s commandments are written on living stones, the hearts of spiritual Jews by the Spirit who are entrusted with the very words of God (Exod.31:17-18; 32:15-16; Deut.5:22; 4:13; Prov.3:1-5; John 1:1,14; 14:1,15-17; 1 John 2:20,27; Rom.5:5; 1 Pet.2:5,9; 1 Cor.3:16; Psalm 40:8; 19:8; Prov.11:3; Rom.8:16; Gal.4:6; 6:15; Rom.2:28-29; 3:1-2). God’s commandments are upright, righteous, and pure, clean and they, spiritual priests, while physically alive in the flesh, are created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, speaking truthfully (Psalm 19:8; Eph.4:24-25; John 14:6,10,15-17,22-24; 17:17; 1:1,14). Putting faith in God and in Jesus, they do not lean upon their own understanding their own thoughts and ideas on what God’s words mean (Heb.11:1-3,6,10,13-16; John 14:11; Cor.2:10-16; Prov.2:1-15; 3:5-6). All Jesus spoke and taught was from the Father, and those in the “body of Christ,” Spirit-anointed priests, must be taught by the Holy Spirit the meaning of Jesus’ words (John 14:6,23-26; 1 John 2:27; 1 Cor.12:12,27; 1 Pet.2:5,9). They must speak the truth to each other, ridding themselves of falsehood (Psalm 19:8; 1 Pet.2:1; James 1:21; Eph.4:15,25; Col.3:8-10,12-15). Their duty as messengers of God is to instruct in the knowledge of God, a duty not to be treated lightly, as if they can say anything they want as long as they wear a suit and tie, keep their hair neat, have no facial hair, and wear modest physical clothing (1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:7; 1 Sam.16:7; John 7:24; 1 Pet.3:4; Jer.17:10; Luke 16:15; Isa.55:8-9). How silly to think God is interested in the outward appearance (John 7:24; 1 Pet.3:4; Jer.17:10; Luke 16:15; Isa.55:8-9). As members of the body of Christ, together the spiritual priesthood is to grow into a perfect man by unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, the fullness of Christ speaking the truth in love (Eph.4:3-6,11-16; John 17:2). If the spiritual priests (“living stones,” members of the body of Christ) come together and “build” the spiritual temple teaching the commandments of Jesus based on human wisdom and not according to the Spirit, the temple, of which they are, is not holy but defiled, impure (1 Pet.2:5,9; Eph.5:25-26; 4:11-16; Rev.21:22,27; 22:14-15). Defiled, they worship God in vain teaching commandments of men…building a temple made by human hands of which God does not dwell (Acts 7:48-51; Isa.66:1). “Not by human hands” means not by human construction, not of human handiwork, not of human ideas which is futility, but of the new creation, humans anointed by Spirit, taught by Spirit, and teaching according to Spirit (Acts 7:48; 17:24; Heb.9:11; 1 John 2:27; 1 Cor.2:10-16; Jer.14:14; Hab.2:18; Prov.28:26).
The judgment begins with the household of God, the spiritual priesthood and what they teach because they are entrusted with God’s words and they must speak truth because God does not lie and no lie comes from truth (1 Pet.4:17; 2:5,9; 1 Cor.3:16; Eph.2:20-22; John 14:6; 1 John 2:20-21; Heb.6:18). They are judged by the words they speak, whether their words, their teachings are true or false (Matt.12:36-37; Rev.20:11-15).
The word of God is alive and active, profitable for teaching (1 Tim.3:16). On the day of judgment, every inactive, unprofitable words spoken by men will be reckoned - their reward will be according to their deeds (1 Tim.3:16; Matt.12:36-37; 16:27; Rev.22:10-16; 1 Cor.3:5-17). The rewards for deeds - life or death - and that is in the power of the tongue (Prov.18:21; Matt.25:31-34,41-46). Words are powerful because they enter the heart, shape your innermost being (Prov.4:23-24; Luke 6:43-45). From what is in the heart the mouth speaks, and so the anointed who are to be entrusted with God’s word, give a testimony of what is in their heart by what they instruct (Prov.4:20-24; Matt.12:33-37; Luke 6:43-45; 1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:7). If they sow to the Spirit, they will testify to truth and declare righteousness, produce fruitful speech that offers life to those that choose to eat the fruit of the their lips (1 Pet.2:5,9; Mal.2:7; Heb.13:15; John 15:1-5; Prov.18:21; 14:25; 12:17-22; John 6:63,27; 11:26; 3:11; 5:24). Faithful Spirit-anointed who live according to the Spirit, obeying Jesus’ commands, are a dwelling place of Spirit and now, have crossed over from death to life - the law of the Spirit of life, grace and peace, has set them free from the law of sin and death (John 15:1-6; 5:24; Rom.8:1-5; 2 Cor.3:14,16-18; Rom.6:14; Eph.2:4-10,14-18). They live and walk according to the Spirit, setting their minds not on flesh, human thinking, but conform to Jesus’ image and are slaves of righteousness - they are sons of God, children of God (Rom.6:18; 8:5-6,10-11,14-15). While in the flesh, faithful Spirit-anointed priests engage in a spiritual warfare destroying lies with spiritual weapons that have divine power by the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of the Father speaking through them (2 Cor.10:3-5; Eph.6:10-17; 2 Cor.6:7; John 1:1,14; 2 Cor.13:3-4; 2:17; 1 Thess.2:13,3; 2 Cor.7:1; Matt.10:20; 1 Cor.5:7-8).
The ungodly one are, all together, deceitful workers, posing as ministers of righteousness but have no light and walk in darkness, their words are empty, worthless, a false doctrine - they have no regard for what is sacred and mock God by saying “all things continue the same,” thinking God will do nothing about their unfruitful works of darkness (Jude 1:17-19; 2 Pet.3:3-4; Rom.2:28; 9:6; 2 Cor.11:13-15; Acts 13:10; 2 Pet.2:1-3,12-15,17; Eph.5:6-14; John 8:12; 14:6; 1 John 2:21; John 15:5; 5:38-40; 3:19-21; 2 Cor.6:14-18; Jer.10:8). They are fruitless trees, clouds without water, they are a perverse and crooked generation (Jude 1:17-19,12; Matt.15:13; Prov.25:14; Deut.32:1-9; Psalm 1:1-6). Mockers/scoffers are “worldly” - natural, animalistic, unspiritual, earthly, ungodly, and without the Spirit (Jude 1:17-19; James 3:15; 1 Cor.2:14; 15:44,46; James 3:15; John 6:63; 2 Pet.2:5). Without Spirit, they wage war according to the flesh, they use the word of God but teach human rules, the weapons they fight with are weapons of the world (deceptive teaching, malice, wickedness) that are unable to destroy the knowledge of God (2 Cor.10:3-5; Jude 1:10,17-19; 1 Cor.2:12-16; Prov.28:5; Matt.16:6; Mark 8:15; Matt.16:11-12; Mark 7:5-8; Mark 7:13).
Scripture tells us that hate is murder and a lying tongue hates its victims, those who eat of their fruit of lies (Prov.18:21; 26:28; 1 John 3:15; John 5:24). Eternal life does not reside in a murderer, a lying tongue (1 John 3:15; John 5:24). A false witness speaks lies and a false witness and those who love to eat of the fruit of lies share the same reward, they are not in the Book of Life (Prov.18:21; 14:5; 19:9; Psalm 101:7; John 8:44; Hos.10:13; Rev.21:22-27).
You think deceptive teachings will be easy to detect? They will not and many will be deceived, even the elect (Matt.24:11,24). How can that be? Won’t it be immediately evident they are evil? It will not because they will appear as messengers of light, as sheep (2 Cor.11:13-15; Acts 20:30; Matt.7:15; 1 Pet.4:1). Teaching as doctrine commandments of men is unacceptable to God, vain worship, because such teachings are not of the mind of Christ, not of Spirit, but human regulations (Matt.15:7-9; Titus 1:16; Col.2:18-22). The ungodly are not a dwelling of God in Spirit because they teach lies and they themselves are dead, without Spirit - it is the Spirit that gives life and their teachings are not of Spirit because the Spirit is not in their hearts (Matt.15:7-9; Eph.5:8-14,17; 1 Cor.2.12-16; John 4:24; 14:6; 6:63-64; 1 John 4:8; Rom.5:5). Evil is in their hearts and from their heart they bring forth evil, their words have the power of death yet they speak words smooth as butter, softer than oil, yet are drawn swords (Prov.18:21; Psalm 28:3; 57:4; Psalm 55:21,23; Luke 6:43-45; Psalm 50:15-23).
Life is not defined by our physical existence as if cessation of breathing physical air is the line between being alive and being dead - the Spirit gives life and if we walk in the way of the ungodly, teachings of men who are without Spirit, we are dead in trespasses, transgression - perverting Jesus’ words is transgression, sin (Psalm 1:1,6; 2 Tim.4:3-4; Rev.3:1; Eph.2:1-2; John 6:63-64; 14:6). Their minds and hearts are closed, hardened, they are not qualified ministers but blinded spiritually and refuse to attach themselves to Jesus, the vine, the only one who can give life, spiritual perception - destruction is when he withholds spiritual perception and keeps them in spiritual darkness - it is the Spirit that gives life (John 15:1-5; Matt.7:21-23; Mark 8:17-18; 6:52; 2 Cor.3:1-6,14-18; Isa.55:6-11; Deut.29:14-29; 2 Pet.3:3-10; Eph.4:17-18; Amos 5:18; 8:11-14; Matt.12:36-37; 2 Thess.2:2-3,8-11; 2 Pet.3:12-17; John 6:63-65; Psalm 143:1-3; Prov.1:22-33; 10:7-8).
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24).
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:11-13; John 14:6).
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).
Please let me know if this has been of help to understand the meaning of destruction. There is much more to say, even on the chapter of 2 Peter 3, but the understanding of judgment and destruction is foundational for additional teachings. ❤️ Rachel