II Pet. 2:3b,c

Peter gives further description of the destruction of these false teachers: "whose judgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." Peter has already mentioned that these certain men will bring upon themselves swift destruction. This is more looking at God's role in their certain destruction. The next verse starts "for if God spared not...", and Jude goes on to say "likewise these filthy dreamers". Peter says they "shall receive the reward of unrighteousness", and only God can dish out that reward. Paul spoke of this coming judgment on all sinners to Felix (Acts 24:25), and Jesus himself said he came for judgment (John 9:39). What Peter is saying is that God is marking the unrighteous works of the wicked. Even when it seems that they can prosper (Job 21; Eccl. 8:10-9:5), God is watching every work that they do and their judgment is not lingering, but is coming. Their damnation is not slumbering, but God is alert and seeing what goes on. As Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees, the fakes of his day, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Mat. 23:33).