Verse 20

For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first.

Referenced Verses

• Heb 10:26-27 : 26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, 27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies.
• Heb 6:4-8 : 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, 6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned.
• Phil 3:19 : 19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.
• Deut 32:29 : 29 I wish that they were wise and could understand this, and that they could comprehend what will happen to them.”
• 2 Pet 2:18 : 18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
• Luke 11:24-26 : 24 Response to Jesus’ Work“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says,‘I will return to the home I left.’ 25 When it returns, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
• 2 Pet 1:2 : 2 May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
• 2 Pet 1:4 : 4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.
• Matt 12:43-45 : 43 The Return of the Unclean Spirit“When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it. 44 Then it says,‘I will return to the home I left.’ When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!”
• Num 24:20 : 20 Balaam’s Final Prophecies Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle:“Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish.”