The Day of the Lord

1Dear friends, this is now the second lettera I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuineb understanding 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 daysc to scoff, living according to their own desires, 4saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?d Ever since the fathers fell •asleep,e all 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 waterf by the word of God.g 6Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded.h 7But by the same word,i the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgmentj and 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.k 9The Lord does not delay His promise,l as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting anym to perishn but all to come to repentance.o

10But the Day of the Lordp will come like a thief;q, r on that day the heavens will pass aways with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved,t and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.u 11Since 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 comingv of the day of God.w The 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,x where righteousness will dwell.y

Conclusion

14Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish.z 15Also, 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.aa 16He 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,ab as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

17Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard,ac so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. 18But grow in the grace and knowledgead of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.ae, af •Amen.ag