The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends, this is now the second letter^(A) I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine^(B) understanding with a reminder, ² so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³ First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days^(C) to scoff, living according to their own desires, ⁴ saying, “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.” ⁵ They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water^(F) by the word of God.^{(G) 6} Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded.^{(H) 7} But by the same word,^(I) the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment^(J) and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ Dear 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) 9} The Lord does not delay His promise,^(L) as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any^(M) to perish^(N) but all to come to repentance.^(O)

¹⁰ But the Day of the Lord^(P) will come like a thief;^[a](Q) on that day the heavens will pass away^(R) with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved,^(S) and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.^{[b] 11} Since 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 ¹² as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming^[c] of the day of God.^(T) The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. ¹³ But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth,^(U) where righteousness will dwell.^(V)

Conclusion

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish.^{(W) 15} Also, 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.^{(X) 16} He 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,^(Y) as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard,^(Z) so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge^(AA) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.^[d](AB) Amen.^[e]