Study Desk

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends,^(a) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders^(b) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets^(c) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.^(d)

Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(e) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^(f)

They will say, "Where is this ‘coming' he promised?^(g) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."^(h)

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word⁽ⁱ⁾ the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^(j)

By these waters also the world of that time^(k) was deluged and destroyed.^(l)

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(m) being kept for the day of judgment⁽ⁿ⁾ and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^(o)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^(p) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^(q) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^(r)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^(s) The heavens will disappear with a roar;^(t) the elements will be destroyed by fire,^(u) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a](v)

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

as you look forward^(w) to the day of God and speed its coming.^[b](x) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.^(y)

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,^(z) where righteousness dwells.

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(aa) and at peace with him.

Bear in mind that our Lord's patience^(ab) means salvation,^(ac) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^(ad)

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable^(ae) people distort,^(af) as they do the other Scriptures,^(ag) to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(ah) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(ai) of the lawless^(aj) and fall from your secure position.^(ak)

But grow in the grace^(al) and knowledge^(am) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(an) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(ao)