2 Peter 3:1-10

2 Peter 3

The Destruction of the World Is Coming

¹ Dear friends, this is now the second letter that I have written to you. I wrote both of them to stir up your sincere mind with a reminder ² for you to remember the words spoken earlier by the holy prophets and the command of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.

³ First, know this: In the last days scoffers will come with their mocking, following their own lusts. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this promised coming of his? For from the time that our fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of the creation.” ⁵ You see, what they are intentionally forgetting is that the heavens came into existence long ago by the word of God and that the earth came together out of the water and between the waters. ^{[1] 6} Through these waters the former world perished, when it was flooded with water. ⁷ And now, by that same word, the heavens and earth have been stored up for fire, since they are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. ⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: For the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow to do what he promised, as some consider slowness. Instead, he is patient for your sakes, ^[2] not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.

Live a Holy Life

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. ^[3] On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be dissolved as they burn with great heat, and the earth and what was done on it will be burned up. ^[4]