¹² Therefore, ^(A)I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in ^(B)the truth which is present with you. ¹³ I consider it ^(C)right, as long as I am in ^(D)this earthly dwelling, to ^(E)stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ knowing that ^(F)the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, ^(G)as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me. ¹⁵ And I will also be diligent that at any time after my ^[a](H)departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

Eyewitnesses of Jesus

¹⁶ For we did not make known to you the ^(I)power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised ^(J)myths, but being ^(K)eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an ^[b](L)utterance as this was ^[c]made to Him by the ^(M)Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— ¹⁸ and we ourselves heard this ^[d]utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the ^(N)holy mountain.

^19 [e]And we have as more ^(O)sure ^(P)the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to ^(Q)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the ^(R)day dawns and the ^(S)morning star arises ^(T)in your hearts. ^20 (U)Know this first of all, that ^(V)no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation. ²¹ For ^(W)no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being ^(X)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The Day of the Lord Will Come

3 This is now, ^(A)beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am ^(B)stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ² that you should ^(C)remember the words spoken beforehand by ^(D)the holy prophets and ^(E)the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles, ^3 (F)knowing this first of all, that ^(G)in the last days ^(H)mockers will come with their mocking, ^(I)following after their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “^(J)Where is the promise of His ^(K)coming? For since the fathers ^(L)fell asleep, all continues just as it was ^(M)from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For ^[a]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that ^(N)by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was ^(O)formed out of water and by water, ⁶ through which ^(P)the world at that time was ^(Q)destroyed, being deluged with water. ⁷ But by His word ^(R)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for ^(S)fire, being kept for ^(T)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, ^(U)beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and ^(V)a thousand years like one day. ^9 (W)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but ^(X)is patient toward you, ^(Y)not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. ¹⁰ But ^(Z)the day of the Lord ^(AA)will come like a thief, in which ^(AB)the heavens ^(AC)will pass away with a roar and the ^(AD)elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and ^(AE)the earth and ^[b]its works will be ^[c]found out.

¹¹ Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ^12 (AF)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which ^(AG)the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the ^(AH)elements will melt with intense heat! ¹³ But according to His ^(AI)promise we are looking for ^(AJ)new heavens and a new earth, ^(AK)in which righteousness dwells.

Be on Your Guard

^14 (AL)Therefore, ^(AM)beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be ^(AN)found by Him in peace, ^(AO)spotless and blameless, ¹⁵ and consider the ^(AP)patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also ^(AQ)our beloved brother Paul, ^(AR)according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his letters, speaking in them of ^(AS)these things, ^(AT)in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and ^(AU)unstable distort, as they do also ^(AV)the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. ¹⁷ You therefore, ^(AW)beloved, knowing this beforehand, ^(AX)be on your guard lest you, having been carried away by ^(AY)the error of ^(AZ)unprincipled men, ^(BA)fall from your own steadfastness, ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and ^(BB)knowledge of our ^(BC)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ^(BD)To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.