Menu
John Gill

2 Peter 3:12

We should look for and hasten the Day of God with faith, patience, and cheerfulness, knowing that it will bring judgment and mercy to all people.
John Gill emphasizes the significance of eagerly anticipating the day of God, which refers to Christ's second coming and final judgment. He explains that this day will reveal God's true nature and fulfill His promises, distinguishing it from human judgment. Believers are encouraged to look forward to this day with faith and love, actively praying for its hastening while remaining prepared and vigilant in their spiritual lives. Gill highlights the dual nature of this day, bringing both grace to the faithful and judgment to the wicked, ultimately culminating in God's eternal reign. The sermon calls for a readiness and eagerness among the saints as they await this glorious event.

Text

Ver. 12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,....

The same with the day of the Lord, 2Pe 3:10, and so the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read; and it intends the day of Christ's second coming to judgment, and so is a proof of the deity of Christ; and is called "the day of God", in distinction from man's day, or human judgment, 1Co 4:3, which is often fallacious; whereas the judgment of God is according to truth; and because in that day Christ will appear most clearly to be truly and properly God, by the manifest display of his omniscience, omnipotence, and other glorious perfections of his; and because it will be, as the day of God is, a thousand years; and also the day in which God will finish all his works, as on the seventh day the works of creation, on this the works of Providence; when all his purposes, promises, and

threatenings, relating to the final state of all persons and things, will be fulfilled, and every work be brought to light, and into judgment, and everything will stand in a clear light; for the day will declare it, either respecting God, or men; and there will be a display, as of his grace and mercy, to his church and people; for it will be the day of his open espousals to them, and of the gladness of his heart; so of his wrath and anger towards the wicked: for this great and dreadful day of the Lord shall burn like an oven, and destroy the wicked, root and branch: and it will be the day of Christ's glorious appearing, and of his kingdom, in which he will reign, before his ancients, gloriously; and when it is ended, God, Father, Son and Spirit, will be all in all: now "the coming" of

this day saints should be "looking for" by faith; believing that it certainly will come, since the patriarchs, prophets, Christ himself, the angels of heaven, and the apostles of the Lamb, have all declared and asserted the coming of this day; and they should look for it, and love it, as with the strongest affection for it, and most vehement desire of it, since they will then appear with Christ in glory; and they should look out, and keep looking out for it, as what will be quickly; and though it is not as soon as they desire and expect, yet should still look wistly for it, and with patience and cheerfulness wait for it: yea, they should be "hasting unto" it, or "hastening" it; for though the day is fixed for the coming of Christ, nor can it be altered, as his coming will not be longer,

it cannot be sooner, yet it becomes the saints to pray earnestly for it, that it may be quickly, and for the accomplishment of all things that go before it, prepare for it, and lead unto it; such as the conversion of the Jews, and the bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles; and by putting him in mind of, and pleading with him, his promises concerning these things, and giving him no rest till they are accomplished; there seems to be some reference to the prayers of the Jews for the Messiah's coming, which they desire may be hryhmb, "in haste"; which will show that they are in haste for the coming of this day; and all which things God will hasten, though it will be in his own time: and moreover, saints should be hasting to it by their readiness for it, having their loins girt, and their

lights burning, and their lamps trimmed, and they waiting for their Lord's coming, and going forth in acts of faith and love, and in the duties of religion, to meet him, and not slumber and sleep:

wherein; in which day, as in 2Pe 3:10; or by which; by which coming of Christ, or of the day of God,

the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; at whose coming and presence, and from whose face the heavens and earth shall flee away, just as the earth shook, and the heavens dropped, and Sinai itself moved, when God appeared upon it; see Re 20:11. This is a repetition of what is said in 2Pe 3:10, exciting attention to the exhortation given.

Sermon Outline

  1. I. The Day of God
  2. A. A day of judgment and revelation of Christ's deity
  3. B. A thousand years and the culmination of God's works
  4. C. A day of wrath and mercy
  5. II. Looking for the Day
  6. A. By faith, believing in its certainty
  7. B. With strong affection and desire
  8. C. With patience and cheerfulness
  9. III. Hastening the Day
  10. A. Through prayer and pleading God's promises
  11. B. By readiness and preparation
  12. C. Through acts of faith and love

Key Quotes

“The day will declare it, either respecting God, or men; and there will be a display, as of his grace and mercy, to his church and people; for it will be the day of his open espousals to them, and of the gladness of his heart.” — John Gill
“The coming of this day saints should be looking for by faith; believing that it certainly will come, since the patriarchs, prophets, Christ himself, the angels of heaven, and the apostles of the Lamb, have all declared and asserted the coming of this day.” — John Gill
“The heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; at whose coming and presence, and from whose face the heavens and earth shall flee away, just as the earth shook, and the heavens dropped, and Sinai itself moved, when God appeared upon it.” — John Gill

Application Points

  • We should pray earnestly for the Day of God to come quickly, and prepare for it by living a life of faith and love.
  • We should be ready and prepared for the Day of God by having our loins girt, our lights burning, and our lamps trimmed.
  • We should hasten the Day of God by living a life of faith, love, and obedience to God's commands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Day of God?
The Day of God is a day of judgment and revelation of Christ's deity, a thousand years and the culmination of God's works, and a day of wrath and mercy.
Why should we look for the Day?
We should look for the Day by faith, believing in its certainty, with strong affection and desire, and with patience and cheerfulness.
How can we hasten the Day?
We can hasten the Day through prayer and pleading God's promises, by readiness and preparation, and through acts of faith and love.
What will happen on the Day?
On the Day, the heavens will be dissolved, the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the earth will flee away from God's face.
What is the significance of the Day of God?
The Day of God is significant because it will reveal Christ's deity, fulfill God's works, and bring judgment and mercy to all people.

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate