Who is Peter writing to in his epistles?

COMMENT:

It appears Peter was writing to the Christians in Gentile nations, not to the Israelites in Israel. Peter also preaches about the kingdom of heaven and not about the physical Israel. Have a look at these verses that attest to this: 2 Peter 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:1; 1 Peter 4:16.

REPLY:

Let's quickly start with a brief background of details for context.

Peter started in the Kingdom program under law. This was the time when Jesus was on earth. The Kingdom gospel concerning Jesus' identity was ministered to Jews ONLY.

Then we get the blinding of Israel, according in Rom 11:25. The Kingdom program for Jews ONLY was suspended and God converted Paul and sent him to preach the Grace gospel concerning Jesus’ cross work to all nations, both Jew and Gentile. This grace program ends with the Body of Christ being snatched up into heaven and this closes the period of grace through the cross work of Christ.

So, we have the end of two very different dispensations here. The Kingdom program and the Grace program. Once the Body of Christ is snatched up to heaven, this mystery program that God started with Paul ends. What remains is to resume the Kingdom program that was running before God called Paul. This Kingdom program still contains much prophecy that still needs to be fulfilled, which includes the 7-year Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom.

With this context in mind, let's get back to Peter's epistles.

Peter, in his 2-epistles, is writing about the time called the last days, the time of the tribulation and Millennial Kingdom. The people that Peter is addressing is NOT the Body of Christ, as they are no longer on earth. Peter is not writing to you and me today, but to people who are on earth after the Body of Christ has been snatched up. This event begins the Tribulation, and so Peter addresses his letters to these people who believe on Jesus Christ during this time.

All the scriptures you quote above in your question are part of the doctrine for those believers who are living in the tribulation and surviving as Kingdom believers under the persecution of the antichrist. This is a different time, a different dispensation, which is not concerning us today.

If you account for dispensational changes, the progression of time, and God’s revelations to men, this will help to interpret the Bible in the correct context and bring clarity to the verses that Peter writes. As a matter of fact, it is worth noting that the context of the epistles of Hebrews to Revelation are all written to believers who live and survive during the tribulation and into the Millennial Kingdom. It is at this time where the focus of God is back on Israel and on prophecy.