Christ Divides People

⁴⁹ “I ^[a]have come to cast fire upon the earth; and ^[b]how I wish it were already kindled!

²³ But each in his own order: Christ ^(A)the first fruits, after that ^(B)those who are Christ’s at ^(C)His coming, ²⁴ then comes the end, when He hands over ^(D)the kingdom to our ^(E)God and Father, when He has abolished ^(F)all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign ^(G)until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

²⁹ for ^(A)our God is a consuming fire.

⁷ But by His word ^(A)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for ^(B)fire, kept for ^(C)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

Final Admonition

4 “^[a]For behold, the day is coming, ^(A)burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be ^(B)chaff; and the day that is coming will ^(C)set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches.

³ And you will ^(A)crush the wicked underfoot, for they will be ^(B)ashes under the soles of your feet ^(C)on the day ^[a]that I am preparing,” says the Lord of armies.

^13 (A)each one’s work will become evident; for ^(B)the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test ^[a]the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will ^(C)receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only ^(D)so as through fire.

A New Heaven and Earth

¹⁰ But ^(A)the day of the Lord ^(B)will come like a thief, in which ^(C)the heavens ^(D)will pass away with a roar and the ^(E)elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and ^(F)the earth and ^[a]its works will be ^[b]discovered.

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 (G)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which ^(H)the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the ^(I)elements will melt with intense heat! ¹³ But according to His ^(J)promise we are looking for ^(K)new heavens and a new earth, ^(L)in which righteousness dwells.