In 2 Peter the last verse of the book has been translated exhorting us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
According to the footnote in Marshall’s Greek interlinear page 931, the phrase “now and forever” is more appropriately rendered “in this age and “the eternal day“.
The “eternal day” is the mystery here as it always is, it is eternity, the other age that is not in the realm of time and matter with days on 24 hour cycles. The eternal age being the eternal day where there is no night, and it has no sun for the lamb of God is it’s light. “Its gates shall not be shut at all by day and there shall be no night. This takes place in the eternal city. These all are eternal realities all finished before the foundations of the world because they are not created by Gods word, they are descriptions of His anatomy.
If anything needs to be added or taken away, if any pillars, windows or doors need to be added to this place, any construction of any sort, then it is not eternal. It would be changing but you cannot add to or take away from the eternal nature of God.
The eternal day being a different make up and composition can only accommodate eternal things. That is why scripture says our inheritance is reserved for us in heaven undefileable . It too is unchangeable and pre-existent. There is nothing in the eternal day that is not forever. When all creation is recalled and expired the only thing left is that which was. You will see that which was and is and is to come. This is the inheritance and the realization for the believer.
And from Hebrews 11.14-16 Those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland, and truly if they had called to mind the land where they had come out, they would have opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly one. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has a place prepared for them.
You get that? He has a city prepared for us. This city cannot be on earth made up of time and matter for all such things are temporary and have an end and God doesn’t do things over and over. What He does He does once. That is His trade mark.
Here is the place faith applies. For without which God is not pleased. Faith being the evidence of things not seen. The very proof. Everything He has for us is eternal and this can only be actualized by faith. Faith of a mustard seed moves mountains and so Sanai and all it’s mandates from the covenant of death are cast away into the sea being accomplished “In Christ”. We are called to recon all dead and all new. It’s like this;
2 Corinthians 5.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus (have changed our thinking) that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, (this is why) from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh (Adamic nature). Even though we have known Christ (in human form) according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer (ever again).17 Therefore, (this is why) if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;( a new kind of man) old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Â Now all things are of God, (eternal replacements) who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (this message)
This ministry is the business of taking people to Gods Kingdom. The place that was before the word was spoke or the Spirit ever hoovered. Before time and matter this place still exists and always will in its eternal unchanging, never getting old glory. All things (new) are of God and in God. This is what it means to be “In Christ”. To not be “in Adam” or “in the world” And the all things are hidden “in Christ”. The old things have passed away in His word and this must be received by faith. The transition, or transformation takes place in the invisible, un-noticeable to the human eye. As it were in the blink of an eye, or a twinkling. The place where flesh cannot see but a working of the spirit. That which is flesh is flesh but this is spirit. For the time now is that we can worship the Father in spirit and truth and truth is only what remains after time and matter cease. That which was and is and is to come is already here and always has been. It is not to say; who will go up to heaven to bring it down, or who will go into the deep to bring it up? But what does the word say? It is near to you and even in your heart, the word of faith. The just lives by faith alone and the Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of faith. There is no other way to access it.
His Kingdom is truth and His Kingdom is truly at hand.
