31 This is now , beloved , the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder , 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles .
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking , following after their own lusts , 4 and saying , " Where is the promise of His coming ? For ever since e the fathers fell asleep , all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation ." 5 For when they maintain this , it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water , 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed , being flooded with water . 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire , kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men .
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice , beloved , that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years , and a thousand years like one day .
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise , as some count slowness , but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance . 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief , in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat , and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way , what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness , 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God , because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning , and the elements will melt with intense heat ! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth , in which righteousness dwells . 14 Therefore , beloved , since you look for these things , be diligent to be found by Him in peace , spotless and blameless , 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation ; just as also our beloved brother Paul , according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters , speaking in them of these things , in which are some things hard to understand , which the untaught and unstable distort , as they do also the rest of the Scriptures , to their own destruction . 17 You therefore , beloved , knowing this beforehand , be on your guard so e that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness , 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . To Him be the glory , both now and to the day of eternity . Amen .
