2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2 Peter 2:3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
There were false prophets in the OT. They were prophets who told falsehoods in the name of the Lord. They were not sent by God, nor did He commanded them to speak, nor did God speak to them. They prophesied falsehoods, false visions, and the deceptive things that came out of their own mind. ( See Jeremiah 14:4 )
And, there will be false prophets in the NT days, in Peter's day, and in our day as well. Peter calls them "false teachers" Here's what they do, and here's what happens to them, and what will happen to them. Here are 7 things said about them, just from the first 3 verses of Chapter two.
They secretly bring in destructive heresies.
They even deny the Lord who bought them.
They bring upon themselves swift destruction.
They have many followers.
They cause the truth to be blasphemed
They by covetousness exploit with deceptive words.
They have judgement and destruction coming upon them.
What is a destructive heresy? They are Teachings held by a factional religious party which deny some aspect of established doctrine. NT writers give no toleration to heresies in the church.
And, in the case of 2nd Peter, they were denying the fact of the coming again of Jesus Christ, and the judgement of God that was also coming upon the world one day.
Thus, this 2nd letter by Peter deals with explaining many things about the 2nd coming of Christ, and exposes in great detail, many other truths and characteristics of these false prophets and false teachers.
Peter and two of the other apostles had been eyewitnesse's of the power and coming of Jesus Christ, when they were on the Mountain, known as the Mt of Transfiguration. They also heard God the Father's voice from the excellent glory, when He spoke of His Majesty. See 2nd Peter 1:17
And, we were also told by Peter, that "You do well to take heed as a light that shines in a dark place" In other words, it's to our benefit to pay attention to the Word of God, and those things that have to do with prophecy, that is the Bible's teaching about future things.
So, in simple application, rather then rejecting the teaching of future events as taught in the Bible, we ought to pay attention to them. Because, they are from God, and not from men. They have their origin in God, through men. Not from men, purporting to talk for God as the false prophets actually did, but from God as He guided and guarded these Old and New Testament writers, bearing them along, ensuring that they said, was indeed the very Word of God.
More will be said about all this in the remaining chapters of this short three chapter letter, or epistle as it's called.
But, for now, just to know that false teachers exist, and that they are destructive, and to understand some of the ways in which you can identify them, is good and helpful for any christian
May the Lord keep you and protect You. May He build You up in Christ, and may He make you to abound in the knowledge of God, multiplying His grace and His peace in your life.
May the Lord remind you of the things you know, and may even be established in, and in that reminding, may you be stirred up in your walk with Jesus Christ.
And, may You look forward to the coming of the Lord, and live your life in the meantime being set apart to God, and walking in the fear of the Lord.
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