THE DAY OF THE LORD

2 Peter 3

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you.

I have written both of them as reminders

TO STIMULATE YOU TO WHOLESOME THINKING.

2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past

By the Holy Prophets and Command

Given by our Lord and Savior through your Apostles.

3 FIRST OF ALL, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND

THAT IN THE LAST DAYS SCOFFERS WILL COME,

SCOFFING AND FOLLOWING THEIR OWN EVIL DESIRES.

4 THEY WILL SAY, 'WHERE IS THIS COMING” HE PROMISED?

Ever since our fathers died,

Everything goes on as it has since the beginning of Creation.'

5 But they forget that long ago by God's Word

The Heavens existed

And the Earth was formed out of water and with water.

6 By water also the World of that time

Was Deluged and Destroyed.

7 BY THE SAME WORD THE PRESENT HEAVENS AND EARTH

ARE RESERVED FOR FIRE,

BEING KEPT FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

AND DESTRUCTION OF UNGODLY MEN.

8 BUT DO NOT FORGET THIS ONE THING, DEAR FRIENDS:

WITH THE LORD A DAY IS LIKE A THOUSAND YEARS,

AND A THOUSAND YEARS ARE LIKE A DAY.

9 THE LORD IS NOT SLOW IN KEEPING HIS PROMISE,

AS SOME UNDERSTAND SLOWNESS.

HE IS PATIENT WITH YOU,

NOT WANTING ANYONE TO PERISH,

BUT EVERYONE TO COME TO REPENTANCE.

10 BUT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF.

THE HEAVENS WILL DISAPPEAR WITH A ROAR;

THE ELEMENTS WILL BE DESTROYED BY FIRE,

AND THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING IN IT WILL BE LAID BARE.

11 SINCE EVERYTHING WILL BE DESTROYED IN THIS WAY,

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE OUGHT YOU TO BE?

YOU OUGHT TO LIVE HOLY AND GODLY LIVES

12 AS YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY OF GOD

AND SPEED ITS COMING.

THAT DAY WILL BRING ABOUT

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HEAVENS BY FIRE,

AND THE ELEMENTS WILL MELT IN THE HEAT.

13 BUT IN KEEPING WITH HIS PROMISE

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH,

THE HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

14 SO THEN, DEAR FRIENDS,

SINCE YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS,

MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE FOUND SPOTLESS, BLAMELESS

AND AT PEACE WITH HIM.

15 Bear in mind that our Lord's Patience means Salvation,

Just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you

With the Wisdom that God gave him.

16 He writes the same way in all his letters,

Speaking in them of these matters.

His letter contain some things that are hard to understand,

Which Ignorant and Unstable people Distort,

As they do the other Scriptures

TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION.

17 Therefore dear friends,

Since you already know this,

BE ON YOUR GUARD

SO THAT YOU MAY NOT BE CARRIED AWAY

BY THE ERROR OF LAWLESS MEN

AND FALL FROM YOUR SECURE POSITION.

18 BUT GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE

OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

To Him be Glory both now and Forever! Amen.

(2 Peter 3)