The Coming Judgment
1Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking+ 2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.+ 3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.+ 4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”+ 5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,+ 6through which the world of that time perished in the flood.+ 7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for 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
8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.+ 9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.+ 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.+ 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness+ 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.+ 13But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.+