God will deliver His elect from His wrath, but it will not be so for those He’s condemned. Eternal punishment is separation from God and His glory (2 Thess 1:9). It will include degrees of punishment (Mt 11:21-24; Lk 12:47-48), and is the final estate from which is no escape (Mt 25:46; Mk 9:44-48). Hell is as eternal as Heaven.
Earlier, Peter described the revolting reputations of the false teachers who bring into the church destructive heresies (2 Pet 2:1), deny the Fatherhood and goodness of God (2 Pet 2:1), and exploit God’s people for personal gain (2 Pet 2:3). Now he adds to that list.

I. A Reservation (2 Pet 2:9). While false teachers freely roam the world like Satan (1 Pet 5:8), God has reserved them all for the final judgment and Lake of Fire. False teachers are not harmless, misguided, mistaken, or even potential believers. They are under God’s eternal condemnation, reserved under punishment like a prisoner held until his sentencing (Rev 20:11-15). Their day of judgment isn’t because they choose to go to Hell; God sends them to Hell having eternally reserved it for them (Jn 17:12; Rom 9:22; 2 Thess 2:3; 2 Pet 2:12) in the same way God has eternally reserved Heaven for the elect, kept by the power of God (Eph 1:3-6; 2 Thess 2:13-14; 1 Pet 1:3-5; Jude 1; Rev 3:5; 17:8).

II. A Routine (2 Pet 2:10). Jesus said false prophets are known by their fruits (Mt 7:20). They appear as God’s sheep to us (Mt 7:15), they minister in Christ’s name with miraculous and good works (Mt 7:21-22), yet they don’t belong to Him (Mt 7:23). If they appear like sheep, we can’t discern them by their words, miracles, and good-deeds alone. We identify them by their fruit, comparing their character with that of Jesus (Gal 5:19-21). That consideration demands judging them, their beliefs, and their character by the Person of Jesus (Mt 7:1-5; Jn 7:24; Rom 2:1-3; 12:2; 1 Cor 2:15; 5:12-13; 6:5; 11:13; 14:29; Phil 1:10; 1 Jn 4:1-6).
Everyone has a walk (poreuomai), a routine, persistent pathway, a lifestyle. Believers walk by the Holy Spirit in agreement with the Bible (Gal 5:5, 13" class="scriptRef">13, 16-18, 22-24); false teachers follow their sinful flesh (sarx). Sarx describes the human nature which is in full opposition and rebellion to God. While the false teachers appear to be leaders, in reality they follow their sinful hearts instead of God (Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10-19; 8:5-9, 13). They are slaves to sin as in Noah’s day (2 Pet 2:5) and in Sodom (2 Pet 2:6-8).
Christians are to abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Pet 2:11) and live for the will of God (1 Pet 4:2). Though we sometimes walk in the flesh we don’t walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom 8:4). Sin always drags the believer in directions he doesn’t want to go, but false teachers willingly follow their depraved nature which screams, “Me first!” Like animals following instinctively, false teachers live to fulfill their lusts having no self-control, doing anything to promote, preserve, please, and protect self.
False teachers live by their lusts (epithumia) passionate cravings of nature; uncleanness (miasmos) an unpleasant spiritual or moral contaminating evil; and despise (kataphroneo) or look down authority (kuriotes).
Sin is rebellion and sin leads people against authority. God instituted human government to maintain civil order in society (Gen 9:5-6; Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-4; 1 Pet 2:11-17). Detest government, detest order. Believers pray for those in authority, submit to them, honor them, and not speak against them (Lk 20:25; Acts 23:1-5; Rom 13:1-7; 1 Tim 2:1-3; Tit 3:1-2; Heb 13:17; 1 Pet 2:13-17). This authority may refer to civil government or church government (Heb 13:17).
But false teachers are presumptuous (tolmetes), being bold, daring, reckless, and acting without concern for consequences to self or others. Courage does what is noble; presumption does what pleases self. Apostates are self-willed (authades) possessing an attitude that obsesses with fulfilling one’s own wishes. They have an arrogant self-interest, stubbornly committed to having their own way.

III. A Refusal (2 Pet 2:10-11). Holy angels respect authority of those greater in power and might and refuse to bring a reviling accusation (blasphemos krisis) against even Satan (Zech 3:1-2; Jude 9). False teachers are so proud they’ll speak evil (blasphemeo) of dignitaries (doxa) like angels (Jude 8-10) or pastors who rebuke them for their false teaching.