2 Peter 3:3–13

³above all knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, following according to their own desires ⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since^a the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued just as they have been from the beginning of creation.” ⁵For when^* they maintain this, it escapes their notice that the heavens existed long ago and the earth held together out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶by means of which things the world that existed at that time was destroyed by^* being inundated with water. ⁷But by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

⁸Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. ⁹The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he^* does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will disappear with a rushing noise, and the celestial bodies will be destroyed by^* being burned up, and the earth and the deeds done on it will be disclosed. ¹¹Because^* all these things are being destroyed in this way, what sort of people must you be in holy behavior and godliness, ¹²while^* waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by^* being burned up and the celestial bodies will melt as they^* are consumed by heat! ¹³But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.