GOD REVEALED

The GospelsActs of the ApostlesPaul’s LettersOther LettersRevelation

A Walkthru’ of the New TestamentLesson 22: II Peter – Darkness before Dawning

Hebrews – The Real Deal James – All or nothing 1 Peter – Dimensions of Suffering 2 Peter – Darkness before

Dawning 1 John – Enjoy Fellowship 2 John – Love in Truth 3 John – Model the Gospel Jude – Keep your Position

Other Letters/ Epistles

EVENT TIMELINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Objectives Introduction Living in Light – Ch 1 Lying Leaders – Ch 2 Leaving no Lost – Ch 3 Last Days – Ch 3 Looking to the Lord – Ch 3 Discussion

Darkness before DawningPresentation Overview

To: Differentiate between spiritual light and darkness Identify people living in light and darkness by

their characteristics and their consequences Identify areas in our lives still in darkness, so that

we can bring them into the light Patiently strive to bring as many to the light as

we possibly can

Darkness before DawningObjectives

Peter’s last letter is addressed to all believers unlike the first addressed specifically to the Jews.

As he boldly anticipates death, he prepares us to live in the light and handle the “dark ages”.

He has read Paul’s letters and refers to them in this letter

Darkness before DawningIntroduction

19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Ch1

Darkness before DawningLiving in Light (Theme Verse)

Diligence in the bible dictionary is “Conscientious hard work and perseverance, particularly with regard to a relationship with God”.

Diligence needs to be coupled with divine power to be effective else can go in vain.

https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionary-of-bible-themes/5833-diligence

Living in LightDivine Power and Diligence - Definition

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith

Living in LightDivine Power and Diligence

Living in LightDivine Power and Diligence - Characteristics

• be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling ; ..for as long as you practice …, you will never stumble 1:10

Practice

• 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and,,…love. 1:5-7

Path to Love

• I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. 1:15

Pave the way

• be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men 3:17Protected

•be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 3:14Path to Purity

Living in LightDivine Power and Diligence - Practice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqNN9f4g6rYParable of the dirty well

Watch over your heart with all diligence,For from it flow the springs of life. Prov 4:23

Video clip - Diligence

Living in LightResult

Productivity

•8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ch 1

Eternity •11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. Ch 1

Read 2 Peter ch 2. What are the characteristics of the lying leaders? Discuss

What do we learn about Lot in this passage?

Lying LeadersCharacteristics - Discussion

Lying LeadersCharacteristics

• there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, 2:1

Secret Heresies• in their greed .. exploit you with false words

2:3, loved the wages of unrighteousness 2:14

Exploit for Greed• .. indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires

and despise authority. Daring, self-willed..2:10 a

Daring, self willed

• they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, 2:10 b

Revile angelic majesties

• They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. .., 14 having eyes full of adultery 2:13,14a

Indulgent, sensual

• never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed,.. ; 2:14

Enticing unstable souls

• 15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray 2:15

Forsake way, go astray

Lying LeadersCharacteristics – Bible verses

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 5..Ch 2

Lying LeadersResult – Doom and Destruction

their destruction is not asleep. V 3

born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, v 12

Face the fate of fallen angels, ungodly, Sodom and Gomorrah, etc. v 4-6

17 These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.  V 17

Lying LeadersResult- Doom and Destruction

9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, Ch 2

Lying LeadersAssurance

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Ch 3

Darkness before DawningLast Days

 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Ch 3

Darkness before DawningLast Days

There are many ‘day of the Lord’ s covered in the bible or is it that “day” refers to God’s judgement over time because a day for God can even be a thousand years for us..

These are prototypes or warnings of the final destruction

The one mentioned by Peter seems to be the culmination where heaven and earth the destroyed by fire ushering in the new heavens and earth.

Last DaysDay of the Lord

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 

Darkness before DawningLast Days

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Ch 3

Darkness before DawningLeaving no Lost

Will the earth become so corrupt that it will reach a stage where no more are left to be saved? That has been the trend in the past. It seems to be the trend in the future?

Do we carry the patience of God in seeking to save the lost?

Discuss on the verse above Ch 3:9.

Leaving no LostDiscussion

13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, Ch 3

Darkness before DawningLooking to the Lord

Living in Light – Ch 1 Lying Leaders – Ch 2 Leaving no Lost – Ch 3 Last Days – Ch 3 Looking to the Lord – Ch 3

Darkness before DawningRecap

How do we live in the light in the midst of darkness?

Share new insights you have gained from this book.

Discussion