“Divine Order in Creation and Scripture” – Part 4

‘One Day is With the Lord as a Thousand Years, and a Thousand Years as One Day’

[Study Aired August 20, 2026]

This 3rd chapter of Peter helps interpret for us the signified meaning (Rev 1:1) of these words that we will be looking at, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”, found in (2Pe 3:8).

Why are we told “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing…”. Why is there so much emphasis for God’s elect being placed on this verse, and what does this ratio of 1 day to a 1000 years and a 1000 years to 1 day have to do with God’s people?

In this study, we’ll look at the context in (2Pe 3:1-13) that points to the need for judgement in the lives of those who God is dragging to Christ in this age (1Pe 4:17, Jhn 6:44). We know that 1000 is a number that represents that process of judgement [three 10’s] that all flesh in time will need to experience (10x10x10=1000). Judgement however, first begins with the elect (1Pe 4:17), a judgement that is typified in (Psa 84:10). What the psalmist is telling us is the same thing that the Hebrews writer said about Moses in (Heb 11:26).

Psa 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Here are the first few verses in 2Pe 3:

2Pe 3:1  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2  That ye may be mindful of the words [1Co 4:6] which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:[1Co 4:16-17]
2Pe 3:3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,[no repentance and no adherence to that which has been proven already and held fast to (1Th 5:21, Rev 3:11)]
2Pe 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.[hardened hearts]
2Pe 3:5  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

[No fear, or faith in God’s word as they reject “the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour”(2Pe 3:2). Today it is as it was in the days of Noah, or in the time of Lot where very little typical faith was found then, just as there will be a small remnant of God’s elect who will have the faith of Christ when He returns being convinced of where we have learned what we have learned (1Co 14:37-40). It is God’s people who recognize the process that takes us from the sea to the earth as we are raised into heavenly places due to His mercy that makes it possible for us to go from glory to glory, learning obedience from the things that we suffer (2Co 3:18, Rom 2:4, Heb 5:8, 1Jn 4:17)]

2Pe 3:6  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:[(1Pe 3:20-21, Mat 24:37, Luk 17:28)]
2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (Luk 18:7-8)

And then right after being told that we are not to lose sight of the reality that the world is being “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men”, we come to the verse we’re focused on, (2Pe 3:8), that explains what God is doing in the lives of those who are being preserved spiritually or sealed in the Lord today, in the day of the Lord.

2Pe 3:8  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,(Php 3:13) that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.(1Jn 1:7)
2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,(Rom 2:3-4) not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[God will save all men, but the context here is to encourage His children to remember that He will not be slack in getting the job done of receiving His elect today through judgment (Heb 12:6, Rom 8:28, Rom 5:20)]

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.[2Th 2:5-8]
2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,(1Pe 5:6)
2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,(Heb 10:25) wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?[2Th 2:5-8]
2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

[We look for a new heaven and earth that is now in subjection unto Christ who has all power over heaven and earth (Mat 28:18) as the fit man of (Lev 16:21) who is able to judge us and give us the fiery trials in this life that we are not to think of as being strange (1Pe 4:12). It is that judgment that is upon the house of God that we give thanks and praise to our Father in heaven for. That judgement is the wonderful works unto the children of men that is preparing our hearts to be kings and priests in His service (Psa 107:31).]

Psa 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.(Rom 8:12, Rom 8:18, Rom 8:21)

Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The number one represents unity, and the unchangeable nature of God that, if we are granted to continue in, will purify us with that hope within us (1Jn 3:3, Col 1:27). Our hope of glory is that Christ will accomplish what must happen in the day of the Lord for God’s children, ‘today’, a day that is also symbolized by the number 1. Experiencing the day of the Lord is what is required in order for us to be partakers of that unity, or one body of Christ (1Co 12:12).

1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

God’s elect are judged in this life (1Pe 4:17) and that judgement is symbolized by the ratio of 1 to a 1000 and 1000 to 1. Another way of looking at these numbers is found in (Jhn 3:30). The increase in our life that God gives us is represented by the number 1 (1Co 3:6). The ability to hear the word of the Lord with spiritual eyes and ears comes as a result of that judgement, so when we say 10x10x10=1000 it could be expressed this way as well “O earth [10], earth [10], earth [10], hear the word of the LORD”, which can only happen as a result of the day of the Lord [1] that is working against the flesh via a process (three 10’s) of judgement against it [1000] (Jer 22:29). Clearly “a day in thy courts is better than a thousand” (Psa 84:10), because this house is a house of mourning where we are blessed to be dying daily, (1Co 15:31), decreasing daily so that He can increase (Ecc 7:2, Mic 6:8, Jer 18:4).

Jhn 3:30  He must increase [1], but I must decrease[1000].

Ecc 7:2  It is better to go to the house of mourning,[Isa 53:3, Mat 10:22, 1Jn 4:17] than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart [those who are ‘alive in Christ and dead to sin’ will lay this to their hearts today and the rest will consider this in the lake of fire, great white throne judgement].

Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

When something is typical of something else it will often be spoken of as being as, [eg: as in the days of Noah, or, it was the same [as] in the days of Lot] and so when we look at this verse in question “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2Pe 3:8), we’re being shown that both numbers represent a judgement of sorts.

So simply put, those who are being judged today, God’s elect, are being conformed to the image of Christ via that judgement that is represented by the number [1] as opposed to those during the 1000-year reign of the saints who will be judged with a rod of iron, fleshly judgement that is represented by the number 1000. The judgement symbolized by [1000] is as, or typical of the judgement that will come upon all the world in the lake of fire, judgement that will be upon all the world at that time represented by the number [1]. This is why 1 is as a 1000 and a 1000 is as 1. True lasting spiritual change can only come via fiery trials for God’s elect ‘today’, and the lake of fire for the rest of the world in the second resurrection.

If we examine or judge ourselves today (2Co 13:5), we will not need to be judged tomorrow and be saved yet so as by fire (1Co 3:13-15).

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day [1] shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14  If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.[1st resurrection]
1Co 3:15  If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.[2nd resurrection]

Another point to remember about the ratio of 1 to a 1000 and a 1000 to 1 found in (2Pe 3:8) is that God is showing us that all that He is accomplishing in all of humanity is outside of time. God is not bound by time as we are in this life. The illusion for flesh is that we have free will, because of our fleshly composition, however as fast as we may think we are in our flesh and minds that control that flesh, God is infinitely faster, and I put it that way to illustrate that flesh does appear to be able to control its own destiny, but God declares, NO, there is one will, and it is His will that is working all things according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). It is God’s will to quicken his people via that judgement today, changing us as we go from glory to glory learning obedience by the thing that we suffer, as opposed to having hearts repeatedly hardened despite the judgement upon us as was the case with Pharoah and the nation of Israel who are types of us. This of course is connected to the warning that we mentioned last week, that we must hear his voice who speaks to us from heaven (Heb 12:25) and not despise His goodness that is leading us unto repentance (Rom 2:3). Lord willing or permitting (Heb 6:3) that is what we will experience in this age (Eph 1:11, Isa 45:7).

Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Is God that fast and omniscient that He can take this corrupt flesh and in due time make us profitable servants? Of course, the answer is yes (Jhn 6:63, Jhn 3:5, Jer 18:4, 2Ti 3:17).

Jhn 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth;[1] the flesh profiteth nothing:[1000] the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water [1000] and of the Spirit [1], he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The ratio of 1 to 1000 and 1000 to 1 is very intriguing (2Pe 3:8), as it reminds us that from God’s perspective our life is a mist, but that does not mean that He cannot control that mist perfectly (Jas 4:14, Psa 103:15), as scripture declares He does (Psa 139:16). As an example, when accidents happen in this life there are a myriad of moving parts that unfold very quickly from the perspective of our clay vessels. We can be assured that God is ever present, and in complete control of every single detail of any accident because He is outside of time and causing the events (Eph 1:11). So, it’s profitable to know God’s perspective of our corrupt, transient, and weak flesh, especially when we consider how merciful He is (Luk 17:10, Psa 103:8-13).

Jas 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Psa 103:15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Psa 103:8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Psa 103:9  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
Psa 103:10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Psa 103:11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

We can commit our ways unto Him as unto a faithful Creator who can deliver us through judgment (1Pe 4:19), through the physical circumstances of our lives (Pro 3:5-8) that He has ordain in mercy and love toward us, regardless of what those circumstances are (Rom 8:28, Php 4:13, 1Co 13:7). The very first time the phrase “all things” is used is found in (Gen 9:3) where God tells us what He has given us. What we don’t understand at first is that the “all things” have never left the control of the One who created and gave them to us.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.(Rom 5:5)

Gen 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you;[all things] even as the green herb have I given you all things.[all things 2Co 4:15]

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes,[all things Isa 45:7] that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Next week, God willing, we will continue to look at the use of number combinations in scripture, not just the meaning of any single number that is critical to know, but also how some of the real time applications of those numbers or combination of the numbers, can reveal hidden treasures of God’s word for us (Pro 25:2).

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.