The Coming Judgment (Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)
1 UDB This letter that I am now writing to you whom I love is the second letter that I have written to you. I have written both of these letters to you so that, by reminding you about the things you already know, I may stimulate you to think sincerely about those things. BSB BSB: Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking
2 UDB I want you to remember the words that were spoken by the holy prophets long ago and also to remember what our Lord and Savior commanded—things that we, your apostles, told you about. BSB BSB: by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 UDB It is important for you to understand that in the time immediately before Christ comes back, people will ridicule you for saying that Christ will come back. Those people will do whatever evil deeds they want to do. BSB BSB: Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 UDB They will say, "Although Christ promised that he would come back, he has not. Since the ancestors died, everything has remained the same. Things are as they always have been since God created the world!" BSB BSB: “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
5 UDB They will say this because they deliberately overlook the fact that God, by commanding long ago that it should be so, caused the heavens to exist, and he caused the earth to come up out of water and to be separate from the water. BSB BSB: But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 UDB And God, by commanding that it should be so, later destroyed the world that existed at that time by causing the earth to be flooded with water. BSB BSB: through which the world of that time perished in the flood.
7 UDB Furthermore, God, by commanding that it should be so, has set apart the heavens and the earth that exist now, and they are being kept until the time when he will judge ungodly people. And at that time he will destroy the heavens and the earth by burning them. BSB BSB: And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The Day of the Lord (Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)
10 UDB But the day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly. He will come like a thief comes—without warning. At that time there will be a great roaring sound. The heavens will cease to exist. The elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it that anyone has ever done will be revealed to God for him to judge. BSB BSB: But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
11 UDB Because God will certainly destroy all these things as I just said, you certainly know how you should behave. You should behave in a way that honors God BSB BSB: Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
12 UDB while you eagerly wait for Christ to return on the day that God has appointed, and you should try to make that day come soon. Because of what God will do on that day, the heavens will perish. The elements will melt and burn up. BSB BSB: as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 UDB Although all those events will happen, we rejoice because we are waiting for the new heavens and new earth that God has promised. The only people who will be in the new heavens and on this new earth will be people who are righteous. BSB BSB: But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Final Exhortations 14 UDB Therefore, dear friends, because you are waiting for these things to happen, do all that you can to conduct your lives in a way that honors God so that Christ may see that you do not sin and that you are living peacefully with each other. BSB BSB: Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
16 UDB In all his letters, what Paul writes about these things is difficult for people to understand. People who do not know what they are talking about and whose faith is weak interpret these things wrongly, as they also interpret the other parts of the scriptures wrongly. The result is that they will lead God to punish them. BSB BSB: He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 UDB Therefore, dear friends, since you already know about these false teachers, guard against them. Do not let these wicked people deceive you by telling you things that are wrong. Do not let them persuade you to doubt what you now firmly believe. BSB BSB: Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
18 UDB Instead, live in such a manner that you experience more and more our Savior Jesus Christ acting kindly toward you, and that you get to know him better and better. I pray that everyone will honor Jesus Christ both now and forever! May this truly be so! BSB BSB: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.