The Word Am I

The Second Epistle General of Peter

Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

 Back | Contents | Next 

- Chapter 3 -

(Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)
1
Now, I am writing to you, beloved, this second letter as a reminder 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? From when our fathers fell asleep, all things have stayed the same, since the beginning of creation.”
5
They willfully forget that the heavens and the earth came to exist out of water and through water, long ago, by God’s command,
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.

The Day of the Lord

(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)
8
It 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: The heavens will pass away with a loud noise. 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? You should live holy and godly lives.
12
You should expect and hasten the coming of the day of God. On that day, 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.

Final Exhortations

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 our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him.
16
Paul speaks of these things in all his letters, in which there are things that are difficult to understand. Ignorant and unstable men distort these things, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
17
Therefore, beloved, since you know these things, 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!
(Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)
1
This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you
2
that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3
knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts
4
and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
5
For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God,
6
by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.
7
But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The Day of the Lord

(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)
8
But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9
The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11
Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
12
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13
But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Final Exhortations

14
Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
15
Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
16
as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17
You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you 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 forever. Amen.