³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(A) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^{(B) 4} They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(C) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^{(D) 5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(E) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^{(F) 6} By these waters also the world of that time^(G) was deluged and destroyed.^{(H) 7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,^(I) being kept for the day of judgment^(J) and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.^{(K) 9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,^(L) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient^(M) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.^(N)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.^(O) The heavens will disappear with a roar;^(P) the elements will be destroyed by fire,^(Q) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.^[a](R)

¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward^(S) to the day of God and speed its coming.^[b](T) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.^{(U) 13} But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,^(V) where righteousness dwells.

¹⁷ “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens,^(I) following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs,^(J) rats^(K) and other unclean things—they will meet their end^(L) together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord.

¹⁸ “And I, because of what they have planned and done,^(M) am about to come^[a] and gather the people of all nations^(N) and languages, and they will come and see my glory.^(O)

¹⁹ “I will set a sign^(P) among them, and I will send some of those who survive^(Q) to the nations—to Tarshish,^(R) to the Libyans^[b] and Lydians^(S) (famous as archers), to Tubal^(T) and Greece,^(U) and to the distant islands^(V) that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory.^(W) They will proclaim my glory among the nations. ²⁰ And they will bring^(X) all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain^(Y) in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,”^(Z) says the Lord. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.^{(AA) 21} And I will select some of them also to be priests^(AB) and Levites,” says the Lord.

²² “As the new heavens and the new earth^(AC) that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure.^(AD)