2 Peter 3:1-9 ▼

1 Beloved, I am now writing you this second letter. In this [as in the first one], I am stirring up your untainted mind to remind you,

2 that you should remember the words spoken in the past [about the future] by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior given by your apostles [His personally chosen representatives].

3 First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires

4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming [what has become of it]? For ever since the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things have continued [exactly] as they did from the beginning of creation.”

5 For they willingly forget [the fact] that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God, and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.

7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.

8 Nevertheless, 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 is like one day.

9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.