Analysis of 2 Peter 3:10 The Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that Day, the heavens will disappear with a great rushing sound, the elements will be dissolved in flames and the earth with all that is in it will be brought to judgement.
Is this verse about the Return of Jesus? No, for the following reasons:
1/ Day of the Lord – His Return is not called that in Revelation 19 or Matthew 24.
2/ Like a thief – After the ‘abomination of desolation is placed into the 3rd Temple, we are given 3 specific time periods – 3½ years, or 42 months, or 1260 days. This will allow an exact calculation of His Return, at that time.
3/ The Heavens disappear and the elements dissolve - As He will Return ‘on the clouds”, it is rather difficult to imagine this happening at that time.
4/ All the earth judged - Jesus will destroy the armies of the Anti Christ and He will divide the remaining nations. [the sheep and goat judgement] But the final judgement of all people, alive and dead, is at the end of the Millennium.
Is it the Great white Throne judgement? To happen at the end of the Millennium period.
1/ Day of the Lord – not described as such in Revelation 20-21 or Daniel 7:9-10.
2/Like a thief– Jesus will have reigned on earth for 1000 years.
3/ The heavens will disappear with a great rushing sound – The earth and heavens flee.
4/ The elements will be dissolved in flames – Only the Lake of fire is mentioned in Rev., not a fire judgement of all mankind.
5/ The earth and all that is in it, judged – All those that are alive at that time, not the dead, as in Revelation 20:12. Note – the KJV says; the earth and all its works.
What this verse does fit, is the next prophesied event – the Day of the Lord's vengeance and wrath. Isaiah 34:5, Hebrews 10:27, Malachi 4:1, Isaiah 29:5-6, Deuteronomy 32:41-43, Revelation 6:12-17
1/ The Day of the Lord – This is mentioned many times, always in conjunction with a terrible judgement against His enemies, by fire and sword.
2/ Like a thief – Yes, this will certainly be an unexpected event.
3/ The heavens will disappear with a great rushing sound - Paralleled by Revelation 6:14 and Isaiah 34:4 ‘the sky rolled up like a scroll’. Description of what will happen to the sky when a huge coronal mass ejection hits the earth.
4/ The elements dissolved in flames - Many prophecies say how the earth will be devastated: the land burnt clean, whole cities just heaps of white ash, etc.
5/ The earth and all those in it, judged - This Day will be a worldwide event. Isaiah 66: 15-17 The Lord is coming in fire, like a whirlwind, He will judge with fire. His sword will test mankind, many will be slain by Him.
Haggai 2:6-7 & 21-22 The Lord says: In a little while from now, I shall shake the heavens and the earth, I will shake all the nations, their treasure will come to Jerusalem.
Hebrews 12:26-29 [In ancient times]His voice shook the earth and now He has promised ‘Once again, I shall shake the earth and the heavens’. The words ‘once again’ point to the removal of created things, of all that is shaken, so that what cannot be shaken, may remain. The Kingdom we are given is unshakeable, let us, therefore give thanks to God for it and worship Him with reverence and awe – for our God is a devouring fire.
2 Peter 3:11-13, THEN goes on to tell about the Day of God, when the new heavens and earth will come.
Note carefully that 2 Peter 3:10 refers to the Day of the Lord and 2 Peter 3:12 refers to the Day of God.