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   For since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they   
   were since the beginning of the creation."   
   5 (Ge 1:6; 1:9) For they willingly ignore that, by the word of God   
   the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed standing   
   out of the water and in the water,   
   6 (2Pe 2:5) by which the world that then existed was flooded with water   
   and perished.   
   7 (2Pe 3:10; 3:12; Mt 10:15) But by the same word, the heavens and the earth   
   that now exist are being reserved for fire,   
   kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of the ungodly.   
   8 (Ps 90:4) But, beloved, do not be ignorant of this one thing, that with   
   the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.   
   9 (1Ti 2:4; Hab 2:3; Heb 10:37) The Lord is not slow concerning His promise,   
   as some count slowness. But He is patient with us,   
   because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.   
   10 (Mt 24:35; Rev 21:1; 2Pe 3:7) But the day of the Lord will come like   
   a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with   
   a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat.   
   The earth also and the works that are in it will be burned up.   
   11 (1Pe 1:15) Seeing then that all these things are to be destroyed,   
   what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,   
   12 (2Pe 3:10; Ps 50:3; Isa 34:4) while you are waiting for and desiring   
   the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens will be destroyed   
   by fire and the elements will be consumed by intense heat?   
   13 (Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21:1) But, according to His promise, we are waiting   
   for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.   
   14 (1Co 15:58; 1Th 3:13) Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these   
   things, be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, spotless   
   and blameless.   
   15 (Ac 15:25; 2Pe 3:9) Keep in mind that the patience of our Lord means   
   salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul has also written to you according   
   to the wisdom given to him.   
   16 (Heb 5:11; 2Pe 2:14) As in all his letters, he writes about these things,   
   in which some things are hard to understand, which the unlearned   
   and unstable distort, as they also do the other Scriptures,   
   to their own destruction.   
   17 (1Co 10:12) You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand,   
   beware lest you also fall from your own firm footing,   
   being led away by the deception of the wicked.   
   18 (Col 1:10; Eph 4:15) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord   
   and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, both now and forever. Amen.   
      
   [1] This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir   
   up your pure minds by way of remembrance:   
   [2] That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy   
   prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:   
   [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.   
   [15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as   
   our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath   
   written unto you;   
   [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which   
   are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and   
   unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own   
   destruction.   
   [17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest   
   ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own   
   stedfastness.   
   [18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus   
   Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.   
      
   Jude   
      
   The general epistle of Jude was written by Jude, a half-brother   
   of Jesus Christ, in the mid AD 60s. The place of authorship is unknown.   
   The purpose for this epistle is to exhort believers to stand firm for   
   the faith. Jude is filled with apocalyptic nuances and imagery.   
   A reading of the Old Testament is a prerequisite before delving   
   into this lofty letter. There are some very encouraging exhortations   
   as well as some sobering ones. Read this epistle with reverence   
   and a humble heart. Refer back to the Old Testament Scriptures   
   that are enveloped within its confines.   
      
   Salutation   
      
   1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,   
   To those who are sanctified and called by God the Father   
   and preserved in Jesus Christ:   
      
   2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.   
      
   [1] Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that   
   are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:   
   [2] Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.   
      
   Judgment on False Teachers   
      
   2Pe 2:1-17   
      
   3 Beloved, while I diligently tried to write to you of the salvation   
   we have in common, I found it necessary to write and appeal   
   to you to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints.   
   4 For there are some men who secretly crept in, who were marked long ago   
   for this condemnation. They are ungodly men, who pervert the grace of our God   
   into immorality and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.   
   5 Now I want to remind you, though you already know, that the Lord saved   
   the people out of the land of Egypt and afterward destroyed those   
   who did not believe.   
   6 Likewise, the angels who did not keep to their first domain, but forsook   
   their own dwelling, He has kept in everlasting chains under darkness   
   for the judgment of the great day.   
   7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities in like manner,   
   gave themselves to immorality and went after different flesh, they serve   
   as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.   
   8 Likewise, these ungodly dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority,   
   and slander celestial beings.   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)