Get the free app for more features and content.
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

The Day of the Lord Will Come

1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Final Words

14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ©2001 Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version, ESV, and the ESV logo are registered trademarks of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. Click here to review ESV Full Copyright Notice and Permissions Information.

Featured Resources

Day of the Lord

Day of the Lord

Does God care about all of the evil humans perpetrate in our world, and if so...

BibleProject

N. T. Wright on Justification and Sanctification

N. T. Wright on Justification and Sanctification

https://seedbed.com Seedbed's mission is to gather, connect, and resource ...

Seedbed

John Piper and Tim Keller Wrestle with Sanctification

John Piper and Tim Keller Wrestle with Sanctifi...

John Piper and Tim Keller sat down to discuss the biblical vision of sanctifi...

Desiring God

What Is the Bible's Definition of Sanctification?

What Is the Bible's Definition of Sanctification?

Learn more: https://www.crossway.org/books/sanctification-tpb/

Crossway

Top 3 common mistakes when studying the Bible?

Top 3 common mistakes when studying the Bible?

Watch more episodes of Honest Answers here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?...

Southern Seminary

Introduction to 1 and 2 Peter

Introduction to 1 and 2 Peter

Sebastian Kim introduces 1 and 2 Peter from a Korean Christian perspective, l...

Fuller Studio

Book of 2 Peter Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

Book of 2 Peter Summary: A Complete Animated Ov...

Watch our overview video on 2 Peter, which breaks down the literary design of...

BibleProject

New Testament Letters: Literary Context

New Testament Letters: Literary Context

In the New Testament, there are 21 letters written by early Christian leaders...

BibleProject

New Testament Letters: Historical Context

New Testament Letters: Historical Context

In the New Testament, there are 21 letters or epistles written by early Chris...

BibleProject

New Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Overview

New Testament Summary: A Complete Animated Over...

Watch our overview video on the New Testament. This video breaks down the lit...

BibleProject

Explore 2 Peter 3