Above all, you do well if you recognize<n id="1" /> this:<n id="2" /> No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet&#8217;s own imagination,<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for<n id="1" /> these things, strive to be found<n id="2" /> at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.<n id="3" />

For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that<n id="1" /> voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: &#8220;This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.&#8221;<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly<n id="1" /> of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have.

Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle,<n id="1" /> I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder,

Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.<n id="1" />p>

When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves<n id="1" /> heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">These men<n id="1" /> are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness<n id="2" /> have been reserved.

Although these false teachers promise<n id="1" /> such people<n id="2" /> freedom, they themselves are enslaved to<n id="3" /> immorality.<n id="4" /> For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.<n id="5" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written<n id="1" /> you, in which<n id="2" /> I am trying to stir up<n id="3" /> your pure mind by way of reminder:

Since all these things are to melt away<n id="1" /> in this manner,<n id="2" /> what sort of people must we<n id="3" /> be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,<n id="4" />

For this very reason,<n id="1" /> make every effort<n id="2" /> to add to your faith excellence,<n id="3" /> to excellence, knowledge;

For if<n id="1" /> these things are really yours<n id="2" /> and are continually increasing,<n id="3" /> they will keep you from becoming<n id="4" /> ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of<n id="5" /> knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.<n id="6" />

But<n id="1" /> concerning the one who lacks such things<n id="2" /> &#8211; he is blind. That is to say, he is<n id="3" /> nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.

Therefore, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> make every effort to be sure of your calling and election.<n id="2" /> For by doing this<n id="3" /> you will never<n id="4" /> stumble into sin.<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return<n id="1" /> of our Lord Jesus Christ;<n id="2" /> no,<n id="3" /> we were<n id="4" /> eyewitnesses of his<n id="5" /> grandeur.<n id="6" />

But<n id="1" /> these men,<n id="2" /> like irrational animals &#8211; creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed<n id="3" /> &#8211; do not understand whom<n id="4" /> they are insulting, and consequently<n id="5" /> in their destruction they will be destroyed,<n id="6" />

Above all, understand this:<n id="1" /> In the last days blatant scoffers<n id="2" /> will come, being propelled by their own evil urges<n id="3" />

For they deliberately suppress this fact,<n id="1" /> that by the word of God<n id="2" /> heavens existed long ago and an earth<n id="3" /> was formed out of water and by means of water.

<p class="bodytext">Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice,<n id="1" /> that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day.