2 Peter 3

The Day of the Lord Will Come

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

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and t a thousand years as one day. 9 u The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise v as some count slowness, but w is patient toward you, 1 x not wishing that any should perish, but y that all should reach repentance. 10 But z the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then a the heavens will pass away with a roar, and b the heavenly bodies 2 will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 3

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

Final Words

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

  1. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:13
    I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder.
  2. Cross References
    Jude 1:17
    But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. Cross References
    Luke 1:70
    As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
    Acts 3:21
    Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
  4. Cross References
    Jude 1:18
    They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.
  5. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:10
    And especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones.
  6. Cross References
    Isaiah 5:19
    Who say: "Let him be quick, let him speed his w...
    Jeremiah 17:15
    Behold, they say to me, "Where is the word of t...
    Ezekiel 11:3
    Who say, 'The time is not near to build houses....
    Ezekiel 12:22
    Son of man, what is this proverb that you have ...
    Ezekiel 12:27
    "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israe...
    Malachi 2:17
    You have wearied the Lord with your words. But ...
  7. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:19
    For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
  8. Cross References
    Psalms 24:2
    For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
    Psalms 136:6
    To him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever.
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 1:6
    And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.
    Genesis 1:9
    And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.
    Psalms 33:6
    By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
    Hebrews 11:3
    By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
  10. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:5
    If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 7:11
    In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.
    Genesis 7:21
    And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.
  12. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:10
    But 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.
    2 Peter 3:12
    Waiting 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!
  13. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 1:9
    They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 90:4
    For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
  15. Cross References
    Habakkuk 2:3
    For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
    Hebrews 10:37
    For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay.
  16. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 8:11
    Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
    Revelation 2:21
    I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
  17. Cross References
    Isaiah 30:18
    Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
    Luke 18:7
    And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
  18. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:23
    Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
    Ezekiel 18:32
    For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God ; so turn, and live.
    Ezekiel 33:11
    Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
  19. Cross References
    1 Timothy 2:4
    Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  20. Cross References
    Matthew 24:43
    But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
  21. Cross References
    Revelation 6:14
    The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
    Revelation 20:11
    Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
    Revelation 21:1
    Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
    Matthew 24:35
    Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 34:4
    All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.
    Isaiah 24:19
    The earth is utterly broken, the earth is split apart, the earth is violently shaken.
    Micah 1:4
    And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
    Nahum 1:5
    The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.
  23. Cross References
    1 Peter 1:15
    But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
  24. Cross References
    Luke 12:36
    And be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
    1 Corinthians 1:7
    So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 1:10
    And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
    Titus 2:13
    Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
    Jude 1:21
    Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
  25. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:10
    But 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.
  26. Cross References
    Isaiah 65:17
    For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
    Isaiah 66:22
    For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain.
    Revelation 21:1
    Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
  27. Cross References
    Isaiah 60:21
    Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
    Revelation 21:27
    But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
  28. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:58
    Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
  29. Cross References
    James 1:27
    Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
  30. Cross References
    Philippians 2:15
    That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
    Philippians 1:10
    So that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 3:13
    So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
  31. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:23
    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  32. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:9
    The 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.
  33. Cross References
    Acts 15:25
    It has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul.
  34. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:10
    According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
  35. Cross References
    Hebrews 5:11
    About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
  36. Cross References
    Isaiah 28:13
    And the word of the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little, that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
  37. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:12
    Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
    Mark 13:23
    But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
  38. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:10
    Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
    1 Corinthians 10:12
    Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
  39. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:5
    For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge.
    Ephesians 4:15
    Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
    Colossians 1:10
    So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
    Colossians 2:19
    And not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
    1 Peter 2:2
    Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation -
  40. Cross References
    Romans 11:36
    For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
  41. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:8
    But 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.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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