<p>3:15 <i>And consider, that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. Even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you</i>-&nbsp; 2 Pet. 3:12,15 reminds us that by our prayers and spiritual development, the days before the second coming will be shortened. If they were not, even the elect would lose their faith (Mt. 24:22)- showing how those of us who are alive at Christ's coming will <i>barely</i> survive the spiritual traumas of the last days. The virgins were sleeping when they should have been watching; and Peter says that the righteous in the last generation (see context) will <i>scarcely</i> be saved (1 Pet. 4:18).</p><p>It sounds as if Peter had in mind a particular passage of Paul, the tenor of which is repeated in all his letters. It may well be that he is referring to the idea of there being a delay in the second coming to allow repentance; however, if &quot;these things&quot; is the repeated warning against the false teachers of the last days, and advice on how to live in those times, then this is quite easily discernible. Moreover, there is a connection back to :2,3 where Peter reminds us how warnings against false teachers were a major theme of all the inspired writings of the New Testament. However, Peter writes as if he is referring to a particular passage in Paul's writings. A likely candidate is Rom. 2:3-5, which addresses the weak (Jewish) members of the Rome ecclesia, warning them that there will be a day of judgment, and that they should not despise God's love in delaying that day so that they could repent. &quot;Thinkest thou... that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering (cp. 2 Pet. 3:15): not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9)? But after thy... impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself (cp. &ldquo;kept in store&quot;, 2 Pet. 3:7) wrath against the day of wrath (cp. fire) and... righteous judgment of God&quot; (cp. 2 Pet. 3:7).</p><p>Another possibility is Eph. 5:15,16: &quot;Walk circumspectly... redeeming the time, because the days are evil&quot;. By 'buying up' the opportunities for spiritual development in the daily round of life, we are effectively &quot;redeeming the time&quot; in the sense of hastening the Lord's return. Paul pleads with us to see the urgency of this principle: &quot;Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is&quot; (:17). <i>Seeing that</i> they could redeem the time to the second coming in this way, the exhortation is driven home: &quot;Awake Thou that sleepest... and Christ shall give thee light&quot; by His early return.</p>