II Peter 3
1 This second letter, agape-beloved, I write to you, in [both of] which I aroused your sincere minds in reminder 2 of the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and savior from your apostles, 3 knowing this first, that there will come in the last days mockers in mockery proceeding according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers slept, everything continues as [it was] from [the] beginning of creation. 5 For this willingly escapes their notice, that by the word of God were the heavens of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, 6 by which the world [that] then [was] destroyed having been deluged, 7 but the heavens and the earth [which] now are stored up by the same word, being kept for fire in the day of judgment and destruction of impious men. 8 But let1 this [thing] not be escaping your notice, agape-beloved, that one day with [the] Lord [is] as [a] thousand years and [a] thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow concerning [his] promise, as some consider slowness, but is long-suffering towards us, not intending any to perish, but all to reach repentance. 10 But [the] day of [the] Lord will come as [a] thief, in which the heavens will pass away with-a-roar2, and [the] elements will be destroyed, having been burnt up, and the earth and its works will be found. 11 [so], all these [things] being thus destroyed, what sort of [persons] must you be in holy manner of life and piety, 12 awaiting and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which [the] heavens being set on fire will be destroyed and the elements being burnt will be melted? 13 So we await [the] new heavens and [the] new earth according to his promise, in which justice dwells. 14 Therefore, agape-beloved, awaiting these [things], be earnest to be found spotless and blameless by him in peace, 15 and consider [that] the long-suffering of our Lord [is] salvation, just as our agape-beloved brother Paul has written to you according to the knowledge given to him, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these [things] in which are some [things] hard to understand, which the unlearned and unstable turn, as also the rest of the scriptures to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, agape-beloved, knowing [these things] beforehand, be being on guard lest having been carried away with the deception you fall away from your own steadfastness. 18 But be increasing in [the] grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and in the eternal day.1imperative
2or "with great suddenness"