2 Peter 3
The Promise of the
Lord's Coming |
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This second epistle, beloved, I now write
unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of
remembrance:
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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:
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3 |
knowing this first, that there shall come
in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, Jude
18.1--0.1
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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.
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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: Gen. 1.6-8
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whereby the world that then was, being
overflowed with water, perished: Gen. 7.11
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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.
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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. Ps. 90.4
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9 |
The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance.
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10 |
But the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night; Mt. 24.43 · Lk. 12.39 · 1 Thes. 5.2 · Rev. 16.15 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.
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11 |
Seeing then that all
these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
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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?
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13 |
Nevertheless we, according to his
promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness. Is. 65.17 ; 66.22 · Rev. 21.1
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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.
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15 |
And account that the
long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved
brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto 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, unto 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 Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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