Chapter 3

  This second epistle, beloved, I now write to you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  

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  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 Savior:  

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  Knowing this first, that there will come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  

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  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.  

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  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:  

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  By which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  

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  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  

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  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.  

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  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  

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  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein will be burned up.  

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  Seeing then that all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy deportment and godliness,  

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  Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?  

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  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwelleth righteousness.  

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  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found by him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  

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  And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, hath written to you;  

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  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, to their own destruction.  

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  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 steadfastness.  

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  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.  

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