The Apostle Peter wrote a letter that has some verses that may seem enigmatic. Peter was making a comment regarding God's inescapable judgment. It is one that needs some in depth analysis. We will develop a comprehensive explanation of this verse. Note Peter's words.
2 Peter 2:4 NKJV 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
This verse is a problem for the traditional view of hell. Why? This verse demonstrates that hell is used as punishment for demons. Dante's Infernal has demons joyfully torturing sinners in hell. How can it be a punishment for them? What is the real meaning of the Apostle's words? We all need to realize that those who approach the Bible on a emotional religious basis can unfortunately lead themselves into error. The Bible can be easily misunderstood says Peter in this very letter.
2 Peter 3:15-17 NKJV 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Those that do not really understand the Bible can easily lead themselves astray. This is especially true when it comes to an emotional subject like the ever burning hellfire.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
The Apostles is warning all of us to beware of being influenced by the unlearned and unstable ideas regarding the truth of God.
THE OVERALL CONTEXTUAL WARNING OF PETER
Many find a verse and misunderstand it because people use TUNNEL VISION. They need to study the overall context of what the writer was inspired by the Spirit of God to write. Remember all scripture is correct therefore this verse cannot contradict others parts of the Bible. When one verse seems to contradict others parts of holy scripture then we must be in error somewhere in our understanding. Peter's warning is that NO ONE ESCAPES GOD'S PUNISHMENT OR JUDGEMENT. The Apostles gives three examples to encourage the brethren with regard to evil doers around them. Neither mortal or immortal beings can defy God. The first group mentioned are the angels that joined Satan's rebellion. These demons are imprisoned in hell or the abyss. This is the subject of II Peter 2:4. Note what Revelation reveals:
Revelation 20:1-3 NKJV 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 He laid hold
of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.
The Demons get a short reprieve from being locked away but it does not last. Satan and his demons are forcibly locked away for all eternity and they are not in hell enjoying torturing sinners sadistically. This would be rewarding the rebellious spirits. They are being punished. The second example of evil being punished is the per-flood rebels before the ark.
2 Peter 2:5-6 NKJV 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
Peter is referring to three God defiant groups to make a point. Those deceiving or persecuting will not go unpunished. These verses also undermine the common theme of hell as demons' play ground for torturing sinners. Hell actually in this instance, is the mental torture of fallen spirits. Some are even locked away early.
Matthew 8:28-29 NKJV 28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, "What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"
Why did these two fierce demons protest Jesus? Could be that some demons had been locked up ahead of time for defying God too much now? They clearly fear the abyss or dark bottomless pit, it is no picnic for them. But it is not the fate of men. Evil, defiant men, after God gives them a chance to really understand and repent,will be burned to ashes. Note Mal 4:3. Peter later in this letter addresses that event as well. The Apostle is writing to us believers so that we can take the dangers of evil and deception seriously.
Don't ever minimize the dangers. Never foolishly think the certainty of God's judgment is canceled on those that defiantly rebel against God. This is the message of Peter to us believers.
2 Peter 2:9 NKJV 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
Peter is encouraging the believers. He will delivered us from trials as needed. The evil deceivers have no respect for authority and are headed for disaster. Peter warns us to avoid being turned back into the God defying world.
2 Peter 2:20-22 NKJV 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."
Peter's warning is powerful and ripe with meaning. Peter also has specific warnings for us end of age believers.
END TIME WARNINGS FOR ALL BELIEVERS
Needless to say all the Bible is for all mankind all the time. However some warnings are really specific to all us at the end of this age of Satan.
2 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
Our age will be filled with those that scoff at the Bible. They will scoff at the idea of a literal second coming of the Messiah. Probably many will go to state worship and humanism. They will worship the state 'leader' and not God. Peter is encouraging us to resist the deceptions and to grow spiritually into being and acting more spiritual than carnal.
2 Peter 3:14-18 NKJV 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;...17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ... Amen.
Peter elaborates in the very first chapter of this epistle is that his goal is to inspire believers into growing spiritually.
2 Peter 1:5-8 NKJV 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dante's sadistic hell is obviously false- but the judgment of God is real. Therefore love and obey God and let the grace provided by Jesus lead us into God's family. Never be a defiant sinner.
