Questions and Answers

Q: Does 2 Peter 3:8 teach that “God’s day” is a thousand years long? A: No. The passage should be considered in the light of its context. The material heavens and earth are to suffer destruction by fire, despite the mockers who scoff at such predictions and who allege, the fact of the earth’s earlier destruction by water, that all things must continue as they are from the beginning (2 Peter 3:1-7). All such are “willingly ignorant,” and refuse to accept the clear and obvious lessons of history. Faithful followers of the Lord are not to be influenced by these skeptics, but to remember “that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” By this the apostle meant that the passing of time does not, in any way, affect the performance of God’s promises or threats. He is not influenced by the passing of the centuries; and the lapse of time between the promises or threat and the performance is no factor at all. With man it definitely is. That which we promise to do tomorrow, we are much more likely to do than that which we promise next year, or in the next century, since we may not be here to fulfill the promise. But this limitation, so characteristic of man, does not influence Deity. The passing of a thousand years to God does not alter his plans and purposes any more than a day, and he will carry them out as he has planned, regardless of the amount of time which is involved. This is affirmed in verses 9 and 10: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”