2 Peter 2:4-6
Peter Is Warning Us
Peter starts with three examples showing us how God deals with evil:
"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; 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; 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 lives thereafter;"
(1) Peter points out then even angels, if they disobey God, will be cast into hell and eternal punishment. Evil is defined as disobeying God. Anyone who does not obey God perfectly is facing judgment and eternity in the lake of fire.
(2) Next Peter points out that the entire world (and that means everyone) is subject to God's judgment. Majority rule does not determine what is right and wrong, no matter how large the majority, even if it is the entire world. God alone determines what is right and what is evil. And His criteria never changes. At the time of the global flood everyone perished, because everyone was exceedingly wicked, except Noah and His family.
(3) The third example is that of Sodom and Gomorrah. These cities had reached a point of being totally wicked, as illustrated in Genesis 19:5 & 9-10:
The men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people from every quarter [so we're talking about the entire population] "called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them.” Lot refused to send out the two men (who were actually angels). But the crowd outside Lot's house did not give up, "But they said, 'Stand aside.' Furthermore, they said, 'This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.' So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door. But the men (the angels) reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door."
Then God explains why He totally destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah... He is using them as an example for everyone in the future, including us today. There is no doubt they were wicked. The entire population, except for Lot and his family, were engaged in homosexuality, to the point of using violence to satisfy their sexual desires. But what is surprising is the God is patient, not bringing judgment. The world today deserves the punishment Sodom and Gomorrah received. Yet God is being patient. Withholding His judgment until the full number of those whom He has chosen are saved. However, in this case, so that we would know judgment is certain, He gives us Sodom and Gomorrah as an example.
That's the point Peter is making. Judgment is certain. Disobeying God WILL have consequences. There will be justice. Angels who disobey God cannot escape God's justice. Even if it's the entire world disobeying God, judgment is coming. And the punishment is sure, complete, and appropriate as we see in Sodom and Gomorrah.
The message is clear. There will be judgment. Punishment for breaking God's laws is guaranteed.
