Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last
days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since
the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were
from the beginning of the creation.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word
of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing
out of the water and in the water:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with
water, perished:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same
word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the
day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one
day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand
years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish but that all should come
to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the
night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a
great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall
be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy
conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of
God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be
dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new
heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
