3 First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days, with scoffing, following their own lusts

4 and saying, »Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.«

5 They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and by means of water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being deluged with water.

7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.