⁴ and saying, “^(A)Where is the promise of His ^(B)coming? For ever since the fathers ^(C)fell asleep, all continues just as it was ^(D)from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For ^[a]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that ^(E)by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was ^(F)formed out of water and by water, ⁶ through which ^(G)the world at that time was ^(H)destroyed, being flooded with water.