2 Peter 3:11,12

2 Peter 3:11-12 Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Expanded Translation

Realizing that these things [the earth, 2 Peter 3:10; and the skies, 2 Peter 3:12] are all to be broken apart, unfastened, and dissolved in the manner of which I speak, what kind of persons it is necessary and proper for you to be in all things which are manifestations of holy (pure, sanctified, dedicated) living and godliness (devotion, reverence toward God)? looking for (anticipating) and earnestly desiring (eagerly expecting) the coming (appearance, presence) of the day of God. On account of this manifestation of his presence, the heavens, being set on fire and burning shall be caused to disintegrate (break apart, dissolve) and the elements (basic) or primary components of matter, as in 2 Peter 3:10) burning intensely and with great heat, shall be liquefied and melted.

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Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved

See 2 Peter 3:10. Everything burnable and capable of being dissolved shall be dissolved on that day! How this ought to sober every thoughtful mind! The fine estates, the beautiful homes, the lovely gardens, the expensive clothes, the chrome-laden automobilesALL shall be dissolved at the command of God. How foolish it is, then, for us to make material things the object of primary interest and concern in life.

In view of the certainty of this world's doom, the apostle argues

what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness (?)

The word all is in the plural number in the Greek, as is shown in the Expanded Translation, See godliness (eusebeia) defined under 2 Peter 1:6.[80]

[80] The impersonal verb dei (ought) generally implies necessity, and is frequently rendered must. See, for example, Luke 2:49, John 3:7, Acts 4:12; Acts 5:29; Acts 9:6; Acts 16:30; Hebrews 11:6.

looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God

That is, the day I am now describing to you. The day of God and the day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:10) are synonymous in these verses.

The worldly man, after reading this account, has every right to fear and tremble! But the man who is living as he should, looks into the future with the hope that that day is not far distant. He is looking for it (prosdokao): to expect, wait for, anticipate. And he is earnestly desiring it (speudo): literally, to hasten; hence to be eager for, etc. (But some, preferring to hold to the more primary meaning, believe something like urge on or accelerate to be the proper definition here.)

by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Compare 2 Peter 3:10 and note the difference in wording. Whereas in that passage we are told the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, here we are also told they shall be on fire and dissolved (the latter word, luo, is discussed under 2 Peter 3:10). And whereas in that passage we are told the elements shall be dissolved, here we are told they shall melt (teko, to melt, melt down, liquefy; hence, to perish or be destroyed by meltingThayer).

The only possible picture one can draw from these words is that of a mighty, flaming, searing holocaust, enveloping the earth itself and all the atmosphere about it. A day of anticipation and expectation? Yes, indeed, for those who are ready to live with Christ! When the last trump shall sound, it shall strike terror into the heart of many. But to the righteous that day shall be a day of joy, and we may comfort one another with these words! (1 Thessalonians 4:18).