In chapter 2 of his second inspired letter, the Apostle Peter warns the followers of Jesus that false teachers will come among them just as false prophets had come in earlier times. But Peter also assures his readers that false teachers will be destroyed. In verse 3 he writes, “…their destruction will not slumber.” But how can we be assured that false teachers will be destroyed? Peter’s answer to this question is to remind his readers of what God has already done. In verses 4 through 10 he says: “For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus [that is, hell], and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment; but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority…”
In this passage Peter gives three examples of the destruction which comes upon those who embrace falsehood. The first example is that of some of the angels. The second example is that of the ‘ancient world’ which God destroyed with Noah’s flood. And the third example is that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
What was it that brought God’s punishment in these examples? The Bible gives us very little information about the angels which rebelled against God, but in the epistle of Jude it says that they, “…did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home…” (Jude 6 NIV) In the case of the ancient world Scripture says, “Yahweh [that is, the Lord] saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) The epistle of Jude tells us that, “…Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh…” (Jude 7) In addition it is written in the book of Ezekiel the prophet, “Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. They were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” (Ezekiel 16:49-50) When considering these passages it is extremely important to note that God’s punishment results not merely from wrong actions, but also from the thoughts and attitudes which produced the actions.
While giving the examples of the angels, the ancient world and Sodom and Gomorrah, Peter mentions five causes of destruction which summarize the passages we have just looked at. It is these same five things which will bring destruction upon false teachers. The first thing he mentions is sin. ‘Sin’ is a general word which is used in Scripture for anything which is contrary to God’s law. The fundamental cause of destruction is violation of God’s law. A second cause of destruction is ungodliness. The word which Peter uses indicates someone who does not have a proper respect for God. In other words, people bring destruction on themselves when they do not have a proper attitude about God. The third cause of destruction is unrighteousness. This refers to wrong actions. The word which Peter uses refers to those who act unjustly or who are deceitful. A fourth cause of destruction is following “lust of defilement” (NIV, corrupt desires). A godly person may occasionally be tempted by an evil thought or desire. But this refers to those who revel in or welcome corrupt desires and then act upon them. The fifth cause of destruction which Peter mentions is to “despise authority.” We have already seen how the angels which Peter mentioned rejected the positions of authority which God had given them. False teachers similarly reject the authority of God and of Jesus Christ. In verse 1 of chapter 2, Peter had already said that these people go so far as to deny “the Master who bought them”. These people want the benefits that the followers of Christ enjoy without submitting themselves to Christ’s authority. Anyone who rejects the authority of Jesus over their lives, will suffer destruction.
But when Peter writes that the destruction of false teachers “will not slumber” (verse 3) this raises a question. Often it seems to us that false teachers prosper instead of being destroyed. As it says in Psalm 73, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. … Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.” (Psalm 73:2-5, 12) Peter’s answer to this is, “…the Lord knows how… to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;” (2 Peter 2:9) From this we learn that though we may not be able to recognize it, the punishment of false teachers actually begins in this life. We also learn that God punishes in his own time. As Psalm 73 goes on to say, “When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me; Until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end. Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction. How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.” (Psalm 73:16-19)
There is another side to this. Peter has mentioned the ancient world and Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of the destruction that is coming upon false teachers. But he also mentions Noah and Lot who were rescued from that destruction. Peter assures us that just as God knows how to hold the unrighteous for punishment, so too He “knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation.” God is faithful to both destroy and to save. It is up to us to choose whether we will follow the truth or false teachers.