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2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
(8,6,8,6)
Lo! in the last of days behold
a faithless race arise;
Their lawless lust their only rule;
and thus the scoffer cries;
Where is the promise, deemed so true,
that spoke the Saviour near?
E’er since our fathers slept in dust,
no change has reached our ear.
Years rolled on years successive glide,
since first the world began,
And on the tide of time still floats,
secure, the bark of man.
Thus speaks the scoffer; but his words
conceal the truth he knows,
That from the waters’ dark abyss
the earth at first arose.
But when the sons of men began
with one consent to stray,
At Heav’n’s command a deluge swept
the godless race away.
A diff’rent fate is now prepared
for Nature’s trembling frame;
Soon shall her orbs be all enwrapt
in one devouring flame.
Reserved are sinners for the hour
when to the gulf below,
Armed with the hand of sov’reign pow’r,
the judge consigns his foe.
Though now, ye just! the time appears
protracted, dark, unknown,
An hour, a day, a thousand years,
to heav’n’s great Lord are one.
Still all may share his sov’reign grace,
in ev’ry change secure;
The meek, the suppliant contrite race,
shall find his mercy sure.
The contrite race he counts his friends
forbids the suppliant’s fall;
Condemns reluctant, but extends
the hope of grace to all.
Yet as the night-wrapped thief who lurks
to seize th’ expected prize,
Thus steals the hour when Christ shall come,
and thunder rend the skies.
Then at the loud, the solemn peal,
the heav’ns shall burst away;
The elements shall melt in flame,
at Nature’s final day.
Since all this frame of things must end,
as Heav’n has so decreed,
How wise our inmost thoughts to guard,
and watch o’er ev’ry deed;
Expecting calm th’ appointed hour,
when, Nature’s conflict o’er,
A new and better world shall rise,
where sin is known no more.
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