Peter speaks of the day when God will judge everyone as if it were a thief who will unexpectedly and take people by surprise. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])
This can be stated in active form. AT: "God will burn the elements with fire" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
# The elements
Possible meanings are 1) the heavenly bodies, such as the sun, moon, and stars or 2) the things that make up heaven and earth, such as soil, air, fire, and water.
God will see all the earth and all the deeds of everyone, and he will then judge everything. This can be stated in active terms. AT: "God will expose the earth and everything that people have done on it" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])