1Thissecondepistle, beloved, Inowwrite unto you; in both whichI stir upyourpureminds by way of remembrance:
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That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken beforeby the holyprophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the LordandSaviour:
3Knowingthisfirst, that there shall comein the lastdaysscoffers, walkingaftertheirownlusts,
4Andsaying, Whereis the promise of hiscoming?forsince the fathers fell asleep, all thingscontinue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5Forthistheywillingly are ignorant of, that by the wordofGod the heavenswereofold, and the earth standing outof the waterandin the water:
6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7But the heavensand the earth, which arenow, by the samewordare kept in store, reserved unto fireagainst the day of judgmentandperdition of ungodlymen.
8But, beloved, benotignorant of this onething, thatoneday is with the Lordas a thousandyears, and a thousandyearsasoneday.
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The Lordisnotslack concerning his promise, as some mencountslackness; butislongsufferingtous-ward, notwilling that any should perish, but that all should cometorepentance.
10But the day of the Lord will comeas a thiefin the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earthalsoand the works that are therein shall be burned up.
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Seeing then that all these things shall bedissolved, what manner of persons oughtye to beinallholyconversationandgodliness,
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Looking forandhasting 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?
13Neverthelesswe, according tohispromise, look fornewheavensand a newearth, whereindwellethrighteousness.
14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of himinpeace, without spot, andblameless.
15Andaccount that the longsuffering of ourLord is salvation; even asourbelovedbrotherPaulalso according to the wisdomgiven unto him hath written unto you;
16Asalsoinall his epistles, speakinginthemof these things; inwhichare some things hard to be understood, which they that areunlearnedandunstablewrest, as they do also the otherscriptures, untotheirowndestruction.
17Yetherefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, bewarelestyealso, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your ownstedfastness.
18Butgrowingrace, andin the knowledge of ourLordandSaviourJesusChrist. To him be glorybothnowandforever. Amen.