Looking Forward to the End of the World?

In 2 Peter 3:11-13, Peter writes that Christians should "look for and hasten the coming of the day of God." It’s a striking thought: looking forward to the end of the world with great anticipation. Yet, that is exactly what followers of Christ are called to do.

Peter explains why: we are anticipating a New Heavens and a New Earth where righteousness dwells permanently. He describes the current cosmos—marred by evil and suffering—as being dissolved by fire. In its place, every wrong will be undone, and a new creation will emerge where only goodness remains. When you put it that way, I’m all in.

This isn't the only time we see this kind of anticipation. In Acts 1:6, the disciples asked Jesus, "Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" Their question suggests they were already looking for a specific work Jesus would accomplish. Perhaps they had recently heard a reading of Isaiah 65:17-25, the original promise of the New Heavens and New Earth that Peter later references.

Peter provides even more detail during his sermon at Solomon’s Portico (Acts 3:11-26). In verses 19-21, he calls for repentance so that "times of refreshing" may come, noting that Jesus remains in heaven until the "time for restoring all the things" promised by the prophets long ago.

Peter uses these two concepts to bridge the present and the future. He suggests that when we turn to the Lord, we experience a "refreshing" right here and now. Meanwhile, we wait for that final "restoration" of all things—the New Heavens and New Earth.

Are you refreshed? And are you looking forward with anticipation to being part of that total restoration?