1. False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction.
2. Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth.
3. In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!
4. God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell, where they are kept chained in darkness, waiting for the Day of Judgement.
5. God did not spare the ancient world, but brought the flood on the world of godless people; the only ones he saved were Noah, who preached righteousness, and seven other people.
6. God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying them with fire, and made them an example of what will happen to the godless.
7. He rescued Lot, a good man, who was distressed by the immoral conduct of lawless people.
8. That good man lived among them, and day after day he suffered agony as he saw and heard their evil actions.
9. And so the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials and how to keep the wicked under punishment for the Day of Judgement,