v. 3 – “in the last days” (cf. Acts 2:16-17 = then, the last days of the Old Covenant, ending with the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD)

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“elements” in 2 Ptr. 3:10, 12 = Greek, stoicheion, a word also in the NT only in Gal. 4:3, 9; Col. 2:8, 20; and Heb. 5:12 (variously translated in the NIV as "principles", "basic principles" and "elementary truths"). All of these passages refer to the structure of the Old Covenant world. For the Jews this involved their special relationship with God, through the OT Law, the sacrificial system and rabbinic traditions; for Gentiles this meant the basic principles of pagan worship.
 

Gal. 4:3, 9 – Paul is writing to Jewish Christians who are no longer under“the supervision of the law” (3:25), and Gentile Christians who were "slaves to those who by nature are not gods"; they are both warned against returning to “observing special days and months and seasons and years” instead of experiencing freedom in Christ (4:9-10,  5:1)
 

Col. 2:8, 20 – re: “hollow and deceptive philosophy… human tradition” … “therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” (2:16);  "why… do you submit to its rules: 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'?" (2:20-23)
 

Heb. 5:12 – “the elementary truths of God’s word” As in the other passages, believers (here particularly Jewish Christians) are being encouraged to resist the temptation to "fall away" from trusting in Jesus by returning to a life dominated by observing the Mosaic Law. 

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“the heavens and the earth”= This refers here to the covenantal structure of how all peoples of the world relate to God—first under the Old Covenant and then the changed relationship through Jesus in the New Covenant. 

 

“heavens” 
Jesus said that “heaven and earth” will pass away (Mt. 24:35/Mk. 13:31/Lk. 21:33; Mt. 5:18/Lk. 16:17); 2 Ptr.3 says that the 'heavens will disappear', and be destroyed by fire. How can heaven pass away, disappear, be destroyed by fire?! 

• The Tabernacle/Temple on earth was a copy or shadow of the heavenly reality (Heb. 8:5)

• The Tabernacle/Temple in heaven will be (has now been!?) replaced by “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb” (Rev. 11:19, 14:17-18, 15:5, BUT then 21:22)

• This change happened in connection with when “the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev. 21:1) and with the bride coming down out of heaven (21:2)

• This change involved the removal of the “created things” in Heb. 12:26-27, 8:13> 9:6-10, as also in 2 Peter 3)

 

“earth” = Greek ge, a word used elsewhere in the NT and also repeatedly in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament in common use in the 1st Century for “The Land”, as in the Promised Land of Israel and the Jews, centered on the Temple in Jerusalem

 

3:12– “day of God” = “Day of the LORD” elsewhere (repeatedly used in the Old Testament for the day of God’s judgment on various peoples, including Israel, usually by an invading army)

 

3:13– Similar “cosmic meltdown” language is used in Isaiah 34:4 and also in Rev. 6:13-14. Note that this passage in Rev. 6 is followed in vs. 15-17 by a quote from Hosea 10:8 which Jesus also quotes regarding the destruction of Jerusalem (Lk. 23:30).

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The OT promise of a new heaven and new earth in Isaiah 65:17, 66:22 is in the context of impending destruction of rebellious Israel (cf. Is. 65:12) and of God making a new people consisting of a remnant of Judah and others who “did not call on my name” (Is. 65:1, 9)

 

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