2 Peter 3:1–10

The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

³This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you ²that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. ³First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts^{* 4}and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died,^v all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”^{* 5}They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,^{* 6}through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.^{* 7}But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.^*

⁸But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.^{* 9}The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,^w not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.^{* 10}But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.^x*