Storm (2978) (lailaps) refers to a whirlwind, a tempestuous wind, a squall or a violent wind. Thayer explains "It is never a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however violent, but a storm breaking forth from black thunder-clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy. According to Aristotle, it is `a whirlwind revolving from below upward." The 2 other uses of lailaps are in the gospels describing the disciples in the boat with Jesus as the tempestuous wind whipped up a great a storm, Mark and Luke recording the same event... And there arose a fierce gale of wind (violent storms often occurred because the valleys descending to the lake which was 700 ft below sea level, the valleys thus acting as wind tunnels), and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. (Mark 4:37) But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended upon the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. (Luke 8:23) Vincent adds that lailaps is Distinctively a furious storm or hurricane. Compare Septuagint, Job 38:1, of the whirlwind out of which God answered Job. See, also, Job 21:18... Mr. Macgregor (“Rob Roy on the Jordan”) says that “on the sea of Galilee the wind has a singular force and suddenness; and this is no doubt because that sea is so deep in the world that the sun rarefies the air in it enormously, and the wind, speeding swiftly above a long and level plateau, gathers much force as it sweeps through flat deserts, until suddenly it meets this huge gap in the way, and it tumbles down here irresistible.” These false teachers were like these violent "storms" producing theatrics, noise, motion, and something to watch, but nothing profitable happens. In fact, their "storms" ultimately brought destruction to their adherents. The farmer sees the clouds and prays they will empty rain on his parched fields but clouds are not much good at watering dry fields! The false teachers have nothing to give spiritually because they are spiritually dead and thus empty. What a sad, tragic picture Peter is painting of "mists" (or clouds) that portend the promise of precious rain to placate a prolonged drought on the land...then suddenly a windstorm sweeps in and drives the promising clouds away. Hopes are dashed and parched tongues are left unsatisfied. And so it is with the lot of those who follow these spiritual charlatans who make promises of health and wealth and worldly success and are in no way able to deliver. And the lives of their followers lie fallow, barren and unfruitful. Surely these false teachers are "earning" their just recompense! Woe! This chapter is characterized by a dramatic use of word pictures (and metaphors) building in momentum to reach its dramatic climax in the last description in 2 Peter 2:22 - Notes). Wycliffe Bible Commentary has an interesting note... "The basic condemnation of false doctrine is its utter spiritual barrenness. It is this feature of the movement known as ‘religious liberalism’ that has caused great numbers of spiritually hungry people to desert coldly formal churches. It has also finally given rise to defection from ‘liberalism,’ even by intellectuals and scholars. This defection, known as “neo-orthodoxy,” is a reactionary movement which, sadly enough, is still unwilling to own the full authority of Scripture." (Wycliffe Commentary) J. Vernon McGee as always has a salty but relevant comment writing that... "As a boy I lived in West Texas. We left there in the third year of a three-year drought. I can remember when we would go into the fields and chop cotton—believe me, in those days cotton didn’t grow well in that country even if there was rain. But sometimes late in the afternoon big thunderheads, big clouds, would gather overhead, and there would be lightning. We’d think, My, we are going to have rain —but we didn’t have rain. How dry it was! Many people are following false teachers who are like that. They are “wells without water.” They are like clouds, beautiful clouds. Oh, how tremendous it is to see and hear these folks. They are very impressive, but there is no water in the well, and there is no rain in the clouds. People are thirsting today for the Word of God, and yet it is not being given to them." (Thru the Bible With J. Vernon McGee ) FOR WHOM THE BLACK DARKNESS HAS BEEN RESERVED: ois o zophos tou skotous teteretai (3SRPI): (Torrey's topic "Darkness" ISBE has an excellent short article on "Darkness" as described in Scripture.) (2Pet 2:4; Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30;Jude 1:6 Jude 1:13) This chapter begins with a message for believers to beware of false teachers, but in this section the emphasis is for false teachers to beware for they are doomed unless God grants them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_212-22.htm#storm