2 Peter 3

The Day of the Lord

3Dear friends, this is now the second letter ^dI have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine ^eunderstanding with a reminder, ²so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days ^fto scoff, living according to their own desires, ⁴saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? ^gEver since the fathers fell asleep, ^hall things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” ⁵They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water ⁱby the word of God. ^j6Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. ^k7But by the same word, ^lthe present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment ^mand destruction of ungodly men.

⁸Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁿ⁹The Lord does not delay His promise, ^oas some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any ^pto perish ^qbut all to come to repentance. ^r

¹⁰But the Day of the Lord ^swill come like a thief; ^tuon that day the heavens will pass away ^vwith a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, ^wand the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. ^x11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness ¹²as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming ^yof the day of God. ^zThe heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. ¹³But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, ^awhere righteousness will dwell. ^b

Conclusion

¹⁴Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish. ^c15Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. ^d16He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, ^eas they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, ^fso that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge ^gof our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. ^hiAmen. ^j