³ knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come ^(A)in the last days with scoffing, ^(B)following their own sinful desires. ^4 (C)They will say, “Where is the promise of ^(D)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth ^(E)was formed out of water and through water ^(F)by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed ^(G)was deluged with water and ^(H)perished. ⁷ But by the same word ^(I)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and ^(J)destruction of the ungodly.