1 THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

1This second Epistle (beloued) I now write vnto you, in both which I stir vp your pure mindes by way of remembrance:

2That yee may be mindfull of the wordes which were spoken before by the holy Prophets, and of the Commandement of vs the Apostles of the Lord and Sauiour:

3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers, walking after their owne lusts,

4And saying, Where is the promise of his comming? For since the fathers fell asleepe, all things continue as they were frō the beginning of the creation.

5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heauens were of olde, and the earth standing out of the water, and in the water,

6Whereby the world that then was, being ouerflowed with water, perished.

7But the heauens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserued vnto fire against the day of Iudgement, and perdition of vngodly men.

8But (beloued) bee not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeeres, and a thousand yeeres as one day.

9The Lord is not slacke cōcerning his promise (as some men count slacknesse) but is long-suffring to vs-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord wil come as a thiefe in the night, in the which the heauens shall passe away with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with feruent heate, the earth also and the works that are therin shalbe burnt vp.

11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolued, What maner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conuersation, and godlinesse,

12Looking for and hasting vnto the comming of the day of God, wherein the heauens being on fire shalbe dissolued, and the Elements shall melt with feruent heat.

13Neuerthelesse wee, according to his promise, looke for new heauens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousnesse.

14Wherefore (beloued) seeing that ye looke for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blamelesse.

15And account that the long suffering of the Lord is saluation, euen as our beloued brother Paul also, according to the wisedome giuen vnto him, hath written vnto you.

16As also in all his Epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be vnderstood, which they that are vnlearned and vnstable wrest, as they doe also the other Scriptures, vnto their owne destruction.

17Ye therefore, beloued, seeing yee know these things before, beware lest yee also being led away with the errour of the wicked, fall from your owne stedfastnesse.

18But growe in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ: to him be glory both now and for euer. Amen.

 

1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; through them by way of reminder I am trying to stir up your sincere disposition, 2 to recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and savior through your apostles. 3 Know this first of all, that in the last days scoffers will come (to) scoff, living according to their own desires 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? From the time when our ancestors fell asleep, everything has remained as it was from the beginning of creation."5 They deliberately ignore the fact that the heavens existed of old and earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God; 6 through these the world that then existed was destroyed, deluged with water. 7 The present heavens and earth have been reserved by the same word for fire, kept for the day of judgment and of destruction of the godless. 8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard "delay," but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a mighty roar and the elements will be dissolved by fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be found out. 11 Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought (you) to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. 13 But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. 15 And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, 16 speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures. 17 Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. 18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. (Amen.)

v 1. In both letters Peter wants to stir up these dear believers to remember certain things. We need revival meetings and such to stir us up from time to  time.
v 2. We need to search all the scriptures, but the following verses place emphasis  on watching for the coming of Christ.
v 3. It is not that because of the Lord’s delay scoffers can’t believe. It is that they refuse to believe, wanting life to always continue as it is.
v 4. The fact that Christ has not returned after nearly 2000 years only means to the believer that each day is one day closer.
v 5,6. God had available at creation all the water that was needed for the flood in Noah’s day, but scoffers refuse to admit all the fossil evidence points to that instead of evolution. (Those in Gap Theory attribute v 6 to Gen. 1:2 instead of Noah’s flood, but Gen. 6:13 considers man and the earth destroyed in the flood.)
v 7. As the Lord stored conditions for a flood, He has stored conditions for a literal fire of judgment on the earth in future days.
v 8. This does not mean a literal one day on earth is 1000 years in heaven.  God is not bound by time. Over 1000 years of prophecy were fulfilled the day Christ died.
v 9. The Lord’s delaying judgment is not because of indecision,. but His patient concern to give mankind opportunity to repent and turn to Him.
v 10. Many events are spelled out prophetically and to a degree predictably, but this great destructive force of something akin to nuclear fission will come suddenly.
v 11. God’s prophecy is as sound as if the destruction were already beginning, so we should live Godly lives and endeavor to reach others before the time really comes.
v 12,13. This destruction was prophesied in Isa. 34:4 and it will come, but so will His promise of a new heaven and new earth, and we are confident in that.
v 14. Believers are not preparing for that judgment but for the judgment seat of Christ, and we that have that hope must purify ourselves, 1 Jn. 3:3.
v 15. The days of God’s long suffering are days of opportunities for believers. He is probably referring to Paul’s words in Rom. 2:3,4; 1 Cor. 1:7,8; 1 Thess. 3:12,13.
v 16. Peter does not dispute Paul, but admits some of his writings were deep and difficult to understand. Paul admitted the same, Rom. 11:33, “Unsearchable”. Those who don’t know the Lord twist Paul’s writings, as they do other Scripture, in ways that only bring harm to themselves.
v 17. Even believers need to be on guard that they do not succumb to the false teachings that can so easily creep in. Peter could speak from experience regarding steadfastness, Gal. 2:7-13, when he withdrew from eating with Gentiles as well as his earlier experience in denying the Lord.
v 18. We need to keep moving ahead or we slip back spiritually. That kind of growth can only be in the Lord.