the mark of the beast

[gcdonner]

I'm sure he means well, but he is deceived in his interpretation.

And you're absolutely sure about that?

Pulling scripture out of it's context always leads to error. Sometimes we strain and a gnat to swallow an elephant.
BTW, I started my preaching experiences being a full on pre-trib Millennialist. You probably aren't old enough to remember 1988 and the great rush of prophetic books and proclamations that issued forth since it was 40 years since the establishment of the nation of Israel... The ilks of Hal Lindsey (Late Great Planet Earth) and Edgar Wisenant (88 reasons why the rapture will happen in 1988). Understanding the principles of scripture is much better than speculating on current events...............which are not considered at all in scripture. How many beasts of Revelation could you list off the top of your head, just in the 20th century alone? Which one is your favorite right now? Anyone want to play "pin the tail on the beast" with me?
Another complete pretext is referencing the anti-christ in the book of Revelation, or the "man of sin"... Try as I might, I haven't found them there yet...

[gcdonner]

and so i don't know where i stand on the vaccine. do i want it? no. will i take it once it becomes mandatory? dragging my feet the whole way, but yes. i want to be able to buy and sell, i want to be able to live my normal life. i've said all along, this whole covid thing is an exercise in control. yes, i know there is very serious illness involved, but we are being trained to allow the disruption of families along mask/no mask lines, and the vaccine/no vaccine line will be just as disrupting to families.

This thought struck me, my father has basically compared it to the mark of the beast although I don't know if he was serious and likely he will get it at some point. Peter Hoover talked about this and its very ramble like to say the least but what stuck out to me was the idea of a cyclic mark. Listen to it and give your thoughts in relation to mandated vaccines and the cyclic idea or anything else related that jumps out to you.
part 1
https://www.victorymusicservices.org/?c ... nner#popup

part 2
https://www.victorymusicservices.org/?c ... nner#popup

if the links don't work, its under https://www.victorymusicservices.org/an ... onference/ for 2018, David Bercot also has something there but I don't remember it and would have to listen to it again.

I don't personally believe its the mark just to clarify but it its funny that social media is banning any stuff suggesting it is.

I have gone back and listened to all of the first part and a good part of the second, but the speaker contradicts scripture in the earlier section of part 2 when he says that the "end" keeps coming. There is NO precedence in scripture for this interpretation and trying to take Ezekiel 8 out of it's original context and force it into the future "church" is doing violence to scripture itself. This is exactly how heresies start and are perpetrated. It has been well said that "scripture taken out of context becomes a pretext." That is exactly what Peter Hoover has done. I wasted nearly an hour of my life listening to what ended up being a destruction of the text, even to the point of trying to pull the Hebrew and the Greek together to make his point, but separated by a thousand years...
It's much like trying to "follow the science" with mainstream media regarding Covid 19... I'm sure he means well, but he is deceived in his interpretation.

BTW, "the end" which Jesus spoke of was NOT the end of the world, and scripture does not talk about the end of the world at all or the end of time either for that matter. The phrase "end of the world" as found in the KJV in Matt 24 should be more accurately translated as "the end of the age". So what end was Jesus referring to? If you read the book of Hebrews you will find the definitive answer in chapter 8, and verse 13 and please compare that with the definitive statement of Romans 10:4. The OC and the NC existed side by side for 40 years after Christ paid the price, it came to a final end in AD70 with the destruction of all the types and shadows of the OC. The book of Hebrews was written for the sole purpose of comparing the superiority of the NC over the OC. Towards the end of the book in chapter 12, the author says this:

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 
26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 
27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 
28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 
29  For our God is a consuming fire. 

All of the temporary things of the OC were destroyed and totally supplanted by the NC. No more sacrifices, no more priests, no more temple, no more city, no more "promised land". They were all replaced by the reality of the Spirit.

Now I'm starting to preach so I'll stop...........Here is a picture of "the end".

[Heirbyadoption]

BTW, "the end" which Jesus spoke of was NOT the end of the world, and scripture does not talk about the end of the world at all or the end of time either for that matter. The phrase "end of the world" as found in the KJV in Matt 24 should be more accurately translated as "the end of the age". So what end was Jesus referring to? If you read the book of Hebrews you will find the definitive answer in chapter 8, and verse 13 and please compare that with the definitive statement of Romans 10:4. The OC and the NC existed side by side for 40 years after Christ paid the price, it came to a final end in AD70 with the destruction of all the types and shadows of the OC. The book of Hebrews was written for the sole purpose of comparing the superiority of the NC over the OC. Towards the end of the book in chapter 12, the author says this:

Heb 12:22-29 - But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire. 

All of the temporary things of the OC were destroyed and totally supplanted by the NC. No more sacrifices, no more priests, no more temple, no more city, no more "promised land". They were all replaced by the reality of the Spirit.

George, without wanting to push you too far back up onto the pulpit, , if (as you say) the Scriptures make no reference to the "end of the world", can you share in summary fashion what you anticipate beyond simply living with the presence of the Spirit in this life? Are you suggesting we will experience a "physically die and go to the heavenly presence of the Lord" while the earth continues on its merry way, or do you expect an actual end to this world at some point, perhaps?

[gcdonner]

BTW, "the end" which Jesus spoke of was NOT the end of the world, and scripture does not talk about the end of the world at all or the end of time either for that matter. The phrase "end of the world" as found in the KJV in Matt 24 should be more accurately translated as "the end of the age". So what end was Jesus referring to? If you read the book of Hebrews you will find the definitive answer in chapter 8, and verse 13 and please compare that with the definitive statement of Romans 10:4. The OC and the NC existed side by side for 40 years after Christ paid the price, it came to a final end in AD70 with the destruction of all the types and shadows of the OC. The book of Hebrews was written for the sole purpose of comparing the superiority of the NC over the OC. Towards the end of the book in chapter 12, the author says this:

Heb 12:22-29 - But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire. 

All of the temporary things of the OC were destroyed and totally supplanted by the NC. No more sacrifices, no more priests, no more temple, no more city, no more "promised land". They were all replaced by the reality of the Spirit.

George, without wanting to push you too far back up onto the pulpit, , if (as you say) the Scriptures make no reference to the "end of the world", can you share in summary fashion what you anticipate beyond simply living with the presence of the Spirit in this life? Are you suggesting we will experience a "physically die and go to the heavenly presence of the Lord" while the earth continues on its merry way, or do you expect an actual end to this world at some point, perhaps?

This is not my opinion, but what does scripture say.

Psa 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Isa 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Psa 78:69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Psa 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psa 104:5 He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever.

Psa 148:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Psa 119:90 Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.

Ecc 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The below passages are referring to the Old Covenant as we see interpreted by Hebrews 8:13

Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Compare:

Psa 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

The only passages that are often used to assume the end of the world, such as Matt 24:3

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 

Can be easily dismissed when we realize that like the passages in Hebrews above are a reference to the end of the Old Covenant "age". See the translations below:

(AMPC)  While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age?
(CLV)  Now at His sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of Thy presence and of the conclusion of the eon?
(ESV)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
(NASB)  As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
(NIV)  As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

Note that the word translated as "world" in the KJV and many other translations is "aion"
The definition below is from Strong's concordance.

G165
αἰών
aiōn
ahee-ohn'
From the same as G104; properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Compare G5550.

Below is a brief excerpt from my book, "Fulfilled in Christ", that gives a little bit of insight into the issue at hand.

It is important, first, to note that the King James Version (KJV) , as well as some others, often translates the term “world” rather indiscriminately. In the New Testament (NT), there are 4 basic words in the Greek that have been translated as “world” in the KJV. These words are:
 ge, which means, land or earth, quite often metaphorically of “the Promised Land”
 oikoumene, which means, inhabited earth or land, and often figuratively, the Roman Empire
 kosmos, which is identified as, arrangement, the order of things, beauty, and sometimes metaphorically of the covenants of YHWH
 aion, which is, age, dispensation, era

Finally, the other passage usually referred to in Revelation 10:6 as support for the end of the world is this:

Rev 10:6  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 

Please remember that this is not referring to the end of time, but rather to the fact that time was running out, as we often use the phrase, or as other translations state it:

(AMPC)  And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens (sky) and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains. [He swore] that no more time should intervene and there should be no more waiting or delay,
(CEV)  He made a promise in the name of God who lives forever and who created heaven, earth, the sea, and every living creature. The angel said, "You won't have to wait any longer.
(CLV)  and swears by Him Who is living for the eons of the eons, Who creates heaven and that which is in it, and the earth and that which is in it, and the sea and that which is in it, that there will be no longer a time of delay,
(ESV)  and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,
(NASB)  and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer,
(NIV)  And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!

Thank you for the thoughtful question and I hope my response is sufficient to answer in a biblical way.

[ken_sylvania]

BTW, "the end" which Jesus spoke of was NOT the end of the world, and scripture does not talk about the end of the world at all or the end of time either for that matter. The phrase "end of the world" as found in the KJV in Matt 24 should be more accurately translated as "the end of the age". So what end was Jesus referring to? If you read the book of Hebrews you will find the definitive answer in chapter 8, and verse 13 and please compare that with the definitive statement of Romans 10:4. The OC and the NC existed side by side for 40 years after Christ paid the price, it came to a final end in AD70 with the destruction of all the types and shadows of the OC. The book of Hebrews was written for the sole purpose of comparing the superiority of the NC over the OC. Towards the end of the book in chapter 12, the author says this:

All of the temporary things of the OC were destroyed and totally supplanted by the NC. No more sacrifices, no more priests, no more temple, no more city, no more "promised land". They were all replaced by the reality of the Spirit.

George, without wanting to push you too far back up onto the pulpit, , if (as you say) the Scriptures make no reference to the "end of the world", can you share in summary fashion what you anticipate beyond simply living with the presence of the Spirit in this life? Are you suggesting we will experience a "physically die and go to the heavenly presence of the Lord" while the earth continues on its merry way, or do you expect an actual end to this world at some point, perhaps?

This is not my opinion, but what does scripture say.

Psa 104:5 Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Isa 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Psa 78:69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.

Psa 93:1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

Psa 104:5 He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever.

Psa 148:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Psa 119:90 Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands.

Ecc 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The below passages are referring to the Old Covenant as we see interpreted by Hebrews 8:13

Isa 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Compare:

Psa 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

The only passages that are often used to assume the end of the world, such as Matt 24:3

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 

Can be easily dismissed when we realize that like the passages in Hebrews above are a reference to the end of the Old Covenant "age". See the translations below:

(AMPC)  While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age?
(CLV)  Now at His sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what is the sign of Thy presence and of the conclusion of the eon?
(ESV)  As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
(NASB)  As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
(NIV)  As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

Note that the word translated as "world" in the KJV and many other translations is "aion"
The definition below is from Strong's concordance.

G165
αἰών
aiōn
ahee-ohn'
From the same as G104; properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Compare G5550.

Below is a brief excerpt from my book, "Fulfilled in Christ", that gives a little bit of insight into the issue at hand.

It is important, first, to note that the King James Version (KJV) , as well as some others, often translates the term “world” rather indiscriminately. In the New Testament (NT), there are 4 basic words in the Greek that have been translated as “world” in the KJV. These words are:
 ge, which means, land or earth, quite often metaphorically of “the Promised Land”
 oikoumene, which means, inhabited earth or land, and often figuratively, the Roman Empire
 kosmos, which is identified as, arrangement, the order of things, beauty, and sometimes metaphorically of the covenants of YHWH
 aion, which is, age, dispensation, era

Finally, the other passage usually referred to in Revelation 10:6 as support for the end of the world is this:

Rev 10:6  And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 

Please remember that this is not referring to the end of time, but rather to the fact that time was running out, as we often use the phrase, or as other translations state it:

(AMPC)  And swore in the name of (by) Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens (sky) and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains. [He swore] that no more time should intervene and there should be no more waiting or delay,
(CEV)  He made a promise in the name of God who lives forever and who created heaven, earth, the sea, and every living creature. The angel said, "You won't have to wait any longer.
(CLV)  and swears by Him Who is living for the eons of the eons, Who creates heaven and that which is in it, and the earth and that which is in it, and the sea and that which is in it, that there will be no longer a time of delay,
(ESV)  and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,
(NASB)  and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE EARTH AND THE THINGS IN IT, AND THE SEA AND THE THINGS IN IT, that there will be delay no longer,
(NIV)  And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!

Thank you for the thoughtful question and I hope my response is sufficient to answer in a biblical way.

How do you interpret 2 Peter 3:10-13?

[Neto]

The Scripture speaks of the destruction of the world through water in the flood, and of destruction by fire in later prophetic passages. My personal understanding is that the meaning of 'destruction' is 'purification'. Purified by water in the flood, purified by fire in the final judgement. (But I don't make a 'doctrine' of it, and I won't argue it either way.)

[gcdonner]

How do you interpret 2 Peter 3:10-13?

The short answer is that I believe that it refers to the destruction of all the Old Covenant types and shadows...

I had an extensive reply and somehow it all got wiped away when I went to "preview" it before posting...
Let's try again, but here is a brief word study of what the term elements means as used in scripture:

KJV Word Usage and Count
Elements-4; rudiment-2; principle-1

For 'elements'
Ga 4:3, Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the ELEMENTS of the world:
Ga 4:9, But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly ELEMENTS, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

In this context it is obvious that Paul is speaking of the things of the Old Covenant that the Judaizers were trying to draw the Christians into or back into. The world [kosmos – order of things] was the system of the law.

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.
2pe 3:12, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the ELEMENTS shall melt with fervent heat?

Given the use of the word in every other passage, is it conceivable that it has the same definition here? After all, all the types and shadows, ordinances, genealogies, and the Temple, were literally “burned up”.

For 'rudiments'
Col 2:8, Beware lest any man spoil * you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the RUDIMENTS of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:20, Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the RUDIMENTS of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

Again the Apostle is trying to stop the apostasy back into Judaism. The ordinances, were “elements” of the Old Covenant system, part of the world [kosmos] then in effect until the time of its completed fulfillment by and in Christ.

For 'principle'
Heb 5:12, For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first PRINCIPLES of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
The whole purpose of the book of Hebrews was to keep the faithful from going back into the degenerating system of the Old Covenant, which was soon to become obsolete. The first principles were the history of the faith, the foundational truths. The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.

Christianity rose out of the elements of the Old Covenant, and became the complete revelation of YHWH’s purpose for man and his redemption.

Another question that could be asked, if God has already declared that he created the heavens and the earth to last forever, what could Peter be possibly thinking when he said, "The end of all things is at hand" (1Peter 4:7) We should take that statement into consideration when interpreting what he wrote later.
How many times have the heavens and the earth been destroyed?

Jdg_5:4  LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.

Isa_13:13  Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Isa_51:6  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

The above verse was in mind in relation to the covenants when the writer to the Hebrews said,

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. 

It is demonstrable that not every passage that uses the terms, heaven and earth refer to the natural/physical creation but rather the covenant people, consider:

Isa_51:16  And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

The covenant people are often referred to as the "planting of the Lord".

Origen on the fulfillment of II Pet 3 in reference to Is 65, 66 New Heavens & New Earth
“We do not deny, then, that the purificatory fire and the destruction of the world took place in order that evil might be swept away, and all things be renewed; for we assert that we have learned these things from the sacred books of the prophets…And anyone who likes may convict this statement of falsehood, if it be not the case that the whole Jewish nation was overthrown within one single generation after Jesus had undergone these sufferings at their hands. For forty and two years, I think after the date of the crucifixion of Jesus, did the destruction of Jerusalem take place.”
(Origen, Contra Celsum, IV, xxi-xxii; Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. IV, p. 505, 506.)

Finally, consider again the words of the writer to the Hebrews when coming to a conclusion of the 2 covenants:

Heb 12:18  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 
19  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 
20  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 
21  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 
Above is the description of the OC.
Below is the description of the NC.
22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 
26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 
27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (comp Ps 102:26)
28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 
29  For our God is a consuming fire. 

God through the writer, indicates that the physical/natural "elements" of the OC would be removed so that only the reality of the spiritual covenant would remain.
Most people don't understand the enormity of the destruction of Israel in AD70 meant to the church and God's entire economy in dealing with human kind.

Peter has in mind the same things as above, the removal of the types and shadows of the OC (things that are made) and the complete revelation of God's chosen people, those who are followers of Christ under the NC, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, for we are all one in Christ. The temple was burned in Jerusalem, but we have a greater temple, we are the temple of the living God, the city was burned, but we have a greater city, we are the New Jerusalem! We have a greater high priest, Jesus Christ and we have become a royal priesthood! We have better sacrifices, the once for all sacrifice of Christ himself and we bring to him the sacrifice of praise!
All the old elements of Judaism are gone, there have been NO sacrifices for over 2000 years, the OC priesthood genealogy has been lost to the ages.

[gcdonner]

The Scripture speaks of the destruction of the world through water in the flood, and of destruction by fire in later prophetic passages. My personal understanding is that the meaning of 'destruction' is 'purification'. Purified by water in the flood, purified by fire in the final judgement. (But I don't make a 'doctrine' of it, and I won't argue it either way.)

Where in scripture do you find these concepts? What is your point of making such statements if you have no desire to share your findings?

[Neto]

The Scripture speaks of the destruction of the world through water in the flood, and of destruction by fire in later prophetic passages. My personal understanding is that the meaning of 'destruction' is 'purification'. Purified by water in the flood, purified by fire in the final judgement. (But I don't make a 'doctrine' of it, and I won't argue it either way.)

Where in scripture do you find these concepts? What is your point of making such statements if you have no desire to share your findings?

I didn't say I wouldn't share anything about it, I just said I wouldn't argue about it. I haven't ever made a full list of Scriptures pertaining to this, although I imagine someone has.
I generally study a topic by reading through the entire Scripture with a specific question in mind, but here are a few that come to mind right away.
re: 'destruction' by water - the flood, the past judgement and purification of the earth. Gen 6:3 & 9:11, in that general Scriptural context.
re: 'destruction' by fire. I think someone has already mentioned II Peter chapter 3, especially vs 6-7. Purification by 'fire' is a common symbolism in Scripture (like gold, silver). Peter here uses a word which the KJV translates as 'perished' in reference to both the destruction by flood and the coming destruction by fire. (Where the NASB and NIV use some form of the word 'destroy' or 'destruction'.)

As I said, I don't make a doctrine of it, and I don't think it's something Christians should be arguing about. I do believe that there is a judgement coming, and that it is more important to think about this in respect to how it will impact people, rather than how it will impact the physical earth, or the universe, for that matter. That is why I do not want to form any response as an argument for what I only said was "my personal understanding", and NOT a doctrine.

[gcdonner]

The Scripture speaks of the destruction of the world through water in the flood, and of destruction by fire in later prophetic passages. My personal understanding is that the meaning of 'destruction' is 'purification'. Purified by water in the flood, purified by fire in the final judgement. (But I don't make a 'doctrine' of it, and I won't argue it either way.)

Where in scripture do you find these concepts? What is your point of making such statements if you have no desire to share your findings?

I didn't say I wouldn't share anything about it, I just said I wouldn't argue about it. I haven't ever made a full list of Scriptures pertaining to this, although I imagine someone has.
I generally study a topic by reading through the entire Scripture with a specific question in mind, but here are a few that come to mind right away.
re: 'destruction' by water - the flood, the past judgement and purification of the earth. Gen 6:3 & 9:11, in that general Scriptural context.
re: 'destruction' by fire. I think someone has already mentioned II Peter chapter 3, especially vs 6-7. Purification by 'fire' is a common symbolism in Scripture (like gold, silver). Peter here uses a word which the KJV translates as 'perished' in reference to both the destruction by flood and the coming destruction by fire. (Where the NASB and NIV use some form of the word 'destroy' or 'destruction'.)

As I said, I don't make a doctrine of it, and I don't think it's something Christians should be arguing about. I do believe that there is a judgement coming, and that it is more important to think about this in respect to how it will impact people, rather than how it will impact the physical earth, or the universe, for that matter. That is why I do not want to form any response as an argument for what I only said was "my personal understanding", and NOT a doctrine.

Thank you. You now know what I see is going on in 2Pet 3. It could fit with your understanding of purifying and judgment. AD70 was the "final judgment" on the OC which no longer has any standing before God.