Peter Describes the Path of the Wicked

 

 

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“For if GOD did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the LORD knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.”- 2 Peter 2: 4- 10

“These are waterless springs and mists drive by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaved of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” 2 Peter 2: 17-19

We learn in the letters of Peter that he is able to tell us about the judgment that is reserved for those that are sinful, wicked, and forsake GOD Almighty. We learn that in the Scriptures there are two specific paths that individuals can take. There is the path of the righteous and the path of the wicked. The path of the righteous leads to protection, joy, peace, happiness, contentment, strength, mighty, wisdom, understand, and eternal salvation. We learn that for the path of the wicked there is pain, suffering, shame, guilt, condemnation, wrath, weeping, destruction, and eternal condemnation.

Peter is able to tell us in detail what happened to those that rebelled against GOD Almighty at the beginning of time. We learn that GOD Almighty is able to judge wicked individuals and cause them to be reserved for destruction and eternal condemnation. We see the examples of the wicked being destroyed by the snares of false beliefs and lies. We learn that GOD Almighty is a GOD of Justice that is able to provide justice to the meek, weak, needy, outcast, and the vulnerable. We know that GOD Almighty is able to pronounce judgment against those that are corrupted, wicked, and envious.

Peter tells us about the manner in which GOD Almighty has already pronounced judgment against specific wicked individuals. We learn that the rebellious angels were cast out of Heaven and reserved for judgment. We learn that the ancient world was destroyed with a flood when GOD Almighty decided to flood the world and only save the righteous Noah and his family through the ark of creation. We know that GOD Almighty was able to destroy the wicked cities through fire and sulfur and was able to make the cities a desolation. No individual has inhabited those lands since the wicked cities were destroyed. We learn that Lot was spared and guided to safety.

Peter reminds us that even if there are times of difficulty for the righteous, GOD Almighty is able to rescue us from those difficulties. It is through faith that we are able to be saved by GOD Almighty. It is through faith that we acknowledge King Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, and we obtain eternal salvation. GOD Almighty is able to rescue those that are righteous and separate them from those that are wicked and destined for destruction.

We learn that the unrighteous do not have this same protection and eternal salvation. This only happens through our faith and belief in GOD Almighty, King Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of Truth. We learn that there is a distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The wicked decide to stray from the path of righteousness and not worship GOD Almighty. They forsake GOD Almighty through their wickedness and are destroyed by their own actions. We learn through Scripture that this is the judgment that is reserved for the wicked, their own destruction through their own evil. Peter reminds us that GOD Almighty is a GOD of Righteousness and Justice. We learn that this is consistent with what Paul states in his letters and what John states in the Revelation, and what Jude states in the writings of Jude.