2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:1 says, But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  Peter tells us that there were false prophets in the Old Testament and warns that there will be false teachers today who will teach heresies instead of the true gospel.  Some of this will come from individuals, and some from groups who profess to believe Christ while attempting to add other requirements to the gospel.  They will bring upon themselves swift judgment as false teachers when God's judgment comes.  Verse two adds, And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.   Peter tells us that many will follow these false teachers.  This is why it is so important that we know what the Bible really teaches.  God is never going to lead someone to teach anything inconsistent with the Bible.  Verse three continues, And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  These false teachers will appeal to people's coveteous nature.  They will attempt to make the gospel about merchandise, or material things.  Verse four declares, For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;  The angels were in heaven created to serve God, but some began to covet being as powerful as God.  Their evil desires resulted in them being cast out of heaven.  Verse five adds, And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;  In the days of Noah, even as he proclaimed God's coming judgment, people refused to listen, and all but eight people were destroyed by the flood.  Verse six continues, And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;  We are reminded of what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their depravity.  These two cities should serve as an example of what happens when people totally refuse to listen to God's word.  People often want to claim that natural disasters are God's judgment on a group of people or a particular place, but I believe that if it is God's judgment, there will be no doubt.  If God's people are suffering as much as those who deny God, I believe that we can rule out a natural disaster being God's judgment.  Verse seven states, And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  God spared Lot and his family, though they lived in the wickedness of those that were destroyed.  In order to be spared, they had to respond in obedience to God's call, and Lot's wife is an example of what happens when we refuse to follow God in obedience to His word.  We cannot look back on the things of this world that we are told to leave behind.  Verse eight adds, (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)  I believe this tells us that Lot was vexed by the unrighteousness of those that he lived around.  We today should likewise be vexed by those that we live around who are unrighteous.  If we are to live with them, we must make sure that we bring the gospel to them instead of allowing them to pull us away from the truth of the gospel.  Verse nine continues, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  God will deliver us from temptation if we rely on the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  God also reserves the day of punishment for those who refuse to accept His salvation provided by Christ.  It may not be in this lifetime, but it is certain.  Verse ten says, But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.   God especially reserves judgment for those who live for the lusts of the flesh and even refuse to obey and even despise the government.  They are presumptuous, self willed and unafraid to speak evil of God's word.  Though we may never see it, their day of judgment is coming.  Verse eleven adds, Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.  The angels are greater in power than human beings, but even they cannot defy God and go unpunished.