Study Desk

^(f)Know this first of all, that ^(g)in the last days ^(h)mockers will come with their mocking, ⁽ⁱ⁾following after their own lusts,

and saying, "^(j)Where is the promise of His ^(k)coming? For ever since the fathers ^(l)fell asleep, all continues just as it was ^(m)from the beginning of creation."

For ^[a]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that ⁽ⁿ⁾by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was ^(o)formed out of water and by water,

through which ^(p)the world at that time was ^(q)destroyed, being flooded with water.

But by His word ^(r)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for ^(s)fire, kept for ^(t)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.