The Day of the Lord1My beloved friends, this is the second letter I have written to you. Both are intended to stir you to sound thinking by reminding you of the truth.2Remember the words spoken by the prophets of old and the commandment our Lord and Saviour gave through the apostles.3First, understand that in the last days those who ridicule the truth will follow their own evil desires instead.4They will say such things as, "What has happened to His promised second coming? For since the time of our forefathers everything has continued as it was before, since creation began."5They deliberately ignore the fact that the heavens existed long ago by God's Word and the earth was formed out of water and through water.6It was also by water that the world was flooded and destroyed.7But by the same Word, fire awaits the present heavens and the earth, for the Day of Judgment will see the destruction of ungodly people.8So do not ignore the truth, my friends, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.9The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to be destroyed but desiring that all men turn to Him in repentance.10For the Day of the Lord will steal up on people like a thief and then the heavens will vanish with a roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire. The earth and all its works will be exposed.11-12Because everything will be destroyed in this way, what holy and godly lives you should live as you await God's Day and hasten its coming, when the heavens will be destroyed and the elements will melt in the fire.13But according to His promise we await the new heaven and the new earth where only righteousness will exist.14Therefore, my dear friends, as you long for these things to be fulfilled, do all you can so that He will find you spotless and without blemish when He comes, for then you will be at peace.15-16And consider our Lord's patience with us as the consequence of the salvation He has given us. Our brother Paul wrote to you in the wisdom God gave him, speaking of these things in all his letters, even though some of what he says is difficult to understand. Ignorant and unreliable people twist what he says, as they do other scriptures, but only to their own destruction.17Therefore, dear friends, because you have been forewarned, make sure that none of you are deceived by the errors of unsubmitted men and so lose your security.18Rather, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him all the glory belongs, both now and forever. Amen. It shall be so!
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)