THOUGHTS IN 2 PETER – NUMBER 8 – FOUR OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF WICKEDNESS THROUGH WICKED ANGELS AND WICKED MEN (From Genesis) – 2 Peter 2:3-8
Peter has been earnest in informing – and warning – his readers about the false teachers who will arise among them to turn the flock away. Last time we examined the opening part of chapter 2 of 2 Peter to see the type of person who belongs to the false teachers. They are evil, sensuous, deniers, destructive and exploitive.
This time I want to examine examples Peter is giving for these false teachers and the destruction that comes upon wickedness. If you have not done so I think it is good to read the closing remarks in the first message.
[1]. THE WORST OF FALLEN ANGELS
{{2 Peter 2:4 “If God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to PITS OF DARKNESS, RESERVED FOR JUDGEMENT.”}}
There are two broad classes of angels, the good and the bad. We don’t know a great deal about angels, (I think it is Billy Graham who has a book on the subject) but one thing we do know is this. The good angels serve the Lord and serve us. They are ministering angels (spirits), (Hebrews 1:14) and I do believe in the concept of guardian angels as in ministering angels of protection and comfort ({{Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and BEGAN TO MINISTER TO HIM.”}}) though I can’t say how this works.
Do you remember this story - {{2 Kings 6:16-17 so he answered, “Do not fear, for THOSE WHO ARE WITH US ARE MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE WITH THEM.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see,” and the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”}}. These were angels there for protection. I believe angels protect us in physical ways, AND very possibly in spiritual ways because the forces of evil are very great.
Angels are very powerful. Just two of them destroyed the cities of the plains we look at later on. One, just one, will preach the everlasting gospel to the whole world in the Tribulation – {{Revelation 14:6-7 I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach TO THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE EARTH, AND TO EVERY NATION AND TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE, and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.”}}
Evil angels are also very powerful, and some are just SO evil they are not permitted to exist openly as the demons do (the demons normal habitat is the atmosphere) – Ephesians 2:2. These have wickedness so great they can’t be allowed to be “free” else they will kill mankind. Peter says they are in pits of darkness and we can assume the pits are sealed over so these wicked killers are kept out of the world UNTIL . . . .
The judgements of the Tribulation will be beyond our full appreciation and I can not spent time on that right now but note this passage, the sixth one of the 7 Trumpet Judgements – {{Revelation 9:14-16 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are BOUND AT THE GREAT RIVER EUPHRATES,” and the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released so that they might KILL A THIRD OF MANKIND, and the number of the armies of the horsemen was TWO HUNDRED MILLION. I heard the number of them.”}} AND {{Revelation 9:11 “They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.”}}
Apollyon means Destroyer. I can’t let this go without correcting a terrible error that even recognised bible teachers keep perpetrating. They say these 200 million are soldiers from the east, that is, from around China. This connects with the Kings of the East - Revelation 16:12. That is 100% false. By the end of the Tribulation over 60% of the world’s population has perished and armies are so much smaller. Also the description of these 200 million in Revelation 9 is fully demonic, satanic agents. They are these most evil of the fallen angels who will kill one-third of the world’s population.
200 million of the most malevolent of the angels will be released among mankind from the pits of darkness. I am convinced that these are the same as what Peter describes in his verse, the angels of the confined pits, reserved for judgement. It will be so horrible. I contend greatly with those who say the Church goes through the Tribulation; how would God ever put His own people through that horrible evil of judgement? The Lord Jesus bore the judgement for us.
WHO ARE THESE ANGELS?
Though we are not told specifically, I think these angels are those of the original creation and fall from heaven when these legions followed Satan in his fall. The worst of them are locked away.
There is another train of thought that these most wicked angels operated in the world at the time of Noah, which brings us to a most complex problem that arises from this verse – {{Genesis 6:1-2 “Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that THE SONS OF GOD saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.”}}
Some say that the “sons of God” are fallen angels. You will see that opinion everywhere. Yet again, some think the “sons of God” are of the righteous line of Seth and the daughters of men are the descendants of Cain.
Here we have a monstrous problem. How many were righteous in Noah’s time? Well, just 8 individuals, so that discounts any notion of “a righteous line”. So also does the verse – {{Genesis 6:5 “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that EVERY INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY”}}.
Let’s get back to the idea of the sons of God being fallen angels who married and produced giants as some claim. Well these “sons of God” married in Genesis 6:2, but we know that angels are sexless and do not marry! End of argument! {{Matthew 22:29-30 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God, for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, BUT ARE LIKE ANGELS IN HEAVEN –“}}
Jude in his parallel passage says this – {{Jude 1:6 “Angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”}}. That verse also has difficulties in interpretation especially regarding “their own domain” and “their proper abode”.
When I don’t know an answer I say so. It is wrong to pretend you know. I do not know who the sons of God are in Genesis 6 so the matter rests with God. We will move on . . . .
[2]. JUDGEMENT AND PRESERVATION
{{2 Peter 2:5 “and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others when He brought a flood upon the world of THE UNGODLY;”}}
We know that 2 Peter 2 and Jude are parallel in their writing, already covered in the first message. Peter mentions the ungodly, at the end of the verse and here is the Jude parallel - When it comes to the word “ungodly” it is Jude who really launches out on this in speaking of judgement – {{Jude 1:15 “to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the UNGODLY of all their UNGODLY deeds which they have done in an UNGODLY way, and of all the harsh things which UNGODLY sinners have spoken against Him.”}}
This word “ungodly” means impious, ungodly, wicked, irreverent, i.e. impious or wicked. It represents all that God is not.
Remember this chapter in Peter is speaking of false teachers and their evil, so how does that fit into Noah’s story? Well in both Peter and Jude, false teaching and wickedness is married to judgement. All ungodliness will deserve judgement EITHER in current situations like it was in Noah’s time, or reserved for the future in the Tribulation and at the great white throne and in the lake of fire.
WHAT WAS WRONG WITH NOAH’S WORLD? Let us look again at the verse previously quoted – {{Genesis 6:5 “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was GREAT on the earth and that EVERY INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY”}}. Just for one moment, can you imagine a situation where EVERY SINGLE thought of a man’s heart/mind was evil, and worse than that, was evil CONTINUALLY? Also every intent, every plan, every motive was the same way. Our world is wicked and some men are like that, but not the entire world as it was in Noah’s time.
HOW DID IT GET THAT WAY? Paul gives us the answer in Romans – {{Romans 1:20-22 “for since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. Even though they knew God, THEY DID NOT HONOUR HIM AS GOD or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, THEY BECAME FOOLS.”}}. As a result of that, God gave them over and that is said three times. God abandoned them to their own increasing stupidity and wickedness.
No doubt that wickedness was spearheaded by their own brand of false teachers, that is, by those sent and inspired by Satan. A depraved society is one where God is ejected/expelled and humanism and rationalism take over. Jesus said there are only two positions in the sight of God – Matthew 12:30. The ante-diluvial world was so badly infected that the wickedness was probably greater than at any time in human history.
Wickedness will always meet expulsion head on. God expelled people from the earth in the flood. The means of expulsion/judgement are God’s choice and he laid waste in Noah’s time when water covered the earth. It is interesting that in Genesis we encounter these verses –
(a). {{Genesis 1:2 “and the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving OVER THE SURFACE OF THE WATERS.”}}. Apparently the earth was covered by water maybe suggestive of judgement.
(b). {{Genesis 1:6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters.”}}. The separation of the water on earth from the atmospheric water.
(c). {{Genesis 1:9 Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place and let the dry land appear”, and it was so.}}. That is the gathering up of the waters that were flooding the earth.
I am inclined to think there had been a judgement on the earth (as like Noah) but this is an area where Creation Ministries really objects to. It is NOT my purpose to open that can of worms today.
As judgement hit Noah’s world, so too will it do again in the Tribulation. All the false teachers, both in “christian areas” and in the world’s programme and philosophy, will be condemned and go into judgement. Let us leave this one and move on.
[3]. MAN NEVER LEARNS FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNGODLY
In our third big consideration, again we have the word “ungodly”.
{{2 Peter 2:6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, HAVING MADE THEM AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE WHO WOULD LIVE UNGODLY THEREAFTER”}}
Do you know what? The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain was to be an example for THOSE WHO LIVE IN UNGODLINESS, but especially the ungodliness of homosexuality. Has it made any difference? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Our world is returning to Sodom very quickly. Any thinking Christian who is aware of what is happening in the western world in particular, knows the huge leaps homosexuality has taken; how it has established itself; and how it now protects itself under Government protection. In Australia, a Christian is condemned for hate speech if he/she speaks against this perversion. My message here will be published on an American site where in America, people have freedom of speech in their Constitution.
It is sickening to see how Governments are protecting what Paul calls “indecent acts” and “degrading passions” (Romans 1:26-27). In Leviticus God calls it “a detestable act” (Leviticus 20:13). Jude writes of “gross immorality and went after strange flesh.” That is why these new hate laws in Britain and Australia and in parts of Europe are so savage on Christians. We face the raging teeth of Satan. Disagreement of Government rules and practices and immoral laws of these days in many places, is being called “hate speech” but it is ironic that it is always applied to Christians who disagree or raises an issue, not Moslems or the Government officials.
A Christian in Britain burnt a Koran and a Moslem rushed from a mosque and slashed him nastily with a knife. The Moslem has been let off on good behaviour, while the Christian man is facing multiple charges under the hate speech laws. Interestingly President Trump spoke of possibly offering the man refugee status in the USA. (February 2026). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBeckSYDJ5w
{{Jude 1:7 “In the same way as these, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since THEY INDULGED IN GROSS IMMORALITY and went after STRANGE FLESH, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”}}. Jude looks at punishment, the just pronouncements of God in the judgements, and that destruction being an example (that is ignored).
Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly destroyed because of their wickedness, having continued their depravity from false men teaching them the errors of Satan. However we have this – {{Matthew 10:15 “Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.”}} where the Lord promised that Sodom would fare better than the cities the disciples went to, and those places rejected the message spoken to them about the Lord.
False teachers, evil men and imposters and wolves lead people into further sin and depravity. That ultimately produces the judgements we have seen.
[4]. THE LAST ONE FOR TODAY - LOT
{{2 Peter 2:7 and if He rescued RIGHTEOUS LOT, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
2 Peter 2:8 for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul TORMENTED day after day with their lawless deeds }}
Lot has always been a problem for me. By reading Genesis, there is not one commendable thing about him, not one thing that leads us to think he belonged to God. We can find so much that is negative suggesting Lot was not saved at all. He seemed to go along with the Sodomites while sitting in their gate as a ruler among them. To sit in the gate at entrance to a city meant a person of some status. Genesis 19:1. He offered his daughters to be gang raped. Genesis 19:8. He did not want to leave Sodom and the angels had to drag him out. Genesis 19:16. I am sorry, but I find Lot to be a detestable man . . .
BUT, BUT we come to this verse in 2 Peter about Lot, and Peter calls him a righteous man. I don’t know how Peter can do that, but I must bow to the inspiration of scripture by the Holy Spirit. I don’t think God would have had such tolerance with Lot unless he was Abraham’s nephew. This is all of grace and intercession from the great man. Lot was a lot of trouble for himself and a lot of trouble for God.
In regards to verses 7 and 8 I have selected these brief comments from Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges – [[ “More accurately, (Lot was) vexed with the mode of life or conduct of the lawless ones in lasciviousness. It would have seemed scarcely necessary to point out that the words refer to the pain suffered by a man of sensitive moral nature at the sight and report of flagrant evil.” ]]
In verse 8 the NASB chose “tormented” as the translation of what the word means, and translated elsewhere, as - “vexed, tortured, tormented, buffeted as of waves.” Of course we could ask why Lot stayed in Sodom day after day after he chose originally to go there. When he separated from Abraham he went to the fertile plains but the attraction of Sodom was too much for him and he went to live there from his agrarian life. Genesis 13:10-13. By the time of Genesis 14:12 Lot was already in Sodom.
This is a lesson for us. We can not snuggle up to evil without it affecting us. Be careful of what we see and think and do. It caused trouble for Lot and it will do so for us as well. More and more in these last days terrible things are happening that trouble our souls because of the horrible things of this world and (the sodomites such as at the Sydney Mardi Gras). We need grace, and more grace.
The Lord help us to resist error and stand firm.
