by Lane Rogers

Critique of Destruction of Jerusalem Interpretation of 2^nd Peter the 3^rd chapter

1. The "Novelty of "Jerusalem" interpretation.

A. Church History does not agree with the "Jerusalem" interpretation.

B. Modern Biblical scholarship does not agree.

C. The Heretics do agree: Those who reject a universal climax.

1. Gnostics

2. Jehovah's Witness.

3. Max King: Resurrection 70

(A.D.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_King) The Max King Heresy

D. Heretical Dangers

1. Exegesis.

2. Replaced with allegory.

E. Lacks the sincere search for truth.

II. Basic Errors -

A. Exegesis

1. Passage: no Jerusalem, Jews or Judaism or Temple

2. Context:

a. Asia Minor, not Jerusalem

b. People, Gentiles and Jews not just Jews

c. Religious assault: Gnostics and not Judaizers

B. Allegorically Misinterpretation.

1. No apocalyptic language before or after.

2. Jerusalem and Jews not named in context.

a. King of Babylon Isa. 14:4,12

b. Nation of Babylon Isa. 13:1, 13,17.

c. Samaria & Jerusalem Mic. 1:1, 4-5.

3. Illogical to switch from literal to figurative without contextual reason.

Literal Figurative?

3:5 "Heavens and Earth"

3:6 "World"

3:5 "Water"

3:6 "Water"

3:7 "Heavens and Earth

3:10 "Heavens ....Earth...Works"

3:7 "fire"

3:10 "burn"

The heavens and earth of verses 5 & 6 are the same heaven & earth of 3: 7,10. To switch from literal to figurative is unwarranted.

C. Illogical Argumentation to refute "Jerusalem" scoffers.

1. If the destruction of Jerusalem was being denied, Peter missed the best argument of all: Babylon Destruction in 586-587.

2. Why the flood argument? Would not work on God's own Temple and people if they argued that Jerusalem was never to be destroyed?

3. Why would false teachers used the absence of global calamities as an argument against a city?

4. Peter's argument, "1000 years as one day" does not fit the destruction of Jerusalem which had to occur in the 1^st Century. (Matt. 24: 34).

D. Inadequate "New Heavens and New Earth," following the destruction of Jerusalem.

1. Church did not become more righteous.

2. Church did not receive less suffering or persecution, but more.

3. Jerusalem did not become more righteous after 70 A.D.

4. Peter's hope was not Jerusalem's destruction but a heavenly abode. (New Heavens and New Earth). final salvation 3:13, 15; 1^st Peter 1:3-9,13.