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1 Beloved, this is now the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them are reminders to stir up your sincere mind,
2 so that you will recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.
3 Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires.
4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his return? For from when our fathers fell asleep, all things have stayed the same, since the beginning of creation.”
5 For they willfully forget this, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
6 and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But now the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire by that same command. They are reserved for the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly people.
8 But this one thing should not escape your notice, beloved, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
9 The Lord does not move slowly concerning his promises, as some consider slowness to be. Instead, he is patient toward you. He does not desire for any of you to perish, but for everyone to make room for repentance.
10 However, the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a loud noise. But the elements will be burned with fire, and the earth and the deeds in it will be revealed.
11 Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? In holy conduct and godliness,
12 expect and hasten the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and the elements will be melted in great heat.
13 But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.
15 Also, consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom that was given to him,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them about these things. Among them are some things that are difficult to understand, which ignorant and unstable men distort, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, beloved, since you know about these things beforehand, guard yourselves so that you are not led astray by the deceit of lawless people and you lose your own faithfulness.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the glory be to him both now and forever. Amen!
The Second Letter of Peter