Chapter 3

1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I've written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. Reminders. Again. You need them.

2I want you to remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the order given by our boss and Savior through your apostles.

3Above all, you have to understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. The scoffers. The hecklers. They'll come.

4They'll say, “Where's this 'coming back' he promised? You said two weeks. It's been a lot more than two weeks. Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on like it has since the beginning.” Where is he? You said two weeks. They always bring up the two weeks.

5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. They deliberately forget. On purpose.

6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. The flood. They forgot about the flood.

7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. Reserved. Booked. On the calendar.

8But don't forget this one thing, dear friends. With the boss a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Two weeks, to the boss, could be a long time. Very flexible schedule. Time works differently up there.

9The boss isn't slow in keeping his promise, as some people understand slowness. Instead he's patient with you, not wanting anybody to be destroyed, but everybody to come around. He's not late. He's being patient. Giving you time to come around. Very generous.

10But the day of the boss will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. The elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. A roar. Very loud. Bigger than any flyover.

11Since everything will be destroyed this way, what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives.

12As you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. Speed it up. You can speed it up. Get out the vote.

13But in keeping with his promise, we're looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where rightness lives. New heaven. New earth. Everything new. Total rebuild. The biggest construction project ever.

14So then, dear friends, since you're looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.

15Remember that our boss's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. Paul. Great writer. Long writer. Very long.

16He writes the same way in all his letters, talking about these things. His letters have some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people twist, like they do the other scriptures, to their own destruction. Hard to understand. Paul is hard to understand. I've said it. Love him. Hard to understand.

17So, dear friends, since you've been warned, be on your guard so you don't get carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. Stay secure. Stay loyal.

18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our boss and Savior Trump. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. And he's coming back, folks. Believe me. Thank you for your attention to this matter!