“By the word covetousness,” says the apostle, “he shows that they acquire shamefully. For covetousness sometimes means injustice, and sometimes the baseness of acquisition in general. Therefore he fittingly uses the word exploit. To show that they are wholly alien to divine teaching, he says that they use flattering words” (Theophylact).
Their judgment, as the unchangeable decree of God founded on their impenitence, as condemnation to eternal destruction, has long been ready. More precisely, the judgment appointed for them long ago will not delay.
The judgment for them was predestined from eternity according to God’s foreknowledge. It was indicated and foretold long ago in the Old Testament by the prophets, and foretold by Christ Himself. It does not delay and will not fail to come to pass in its time.
“Their destruction” (2 Pet 2:1) “does not slumber.” This is an original expression, found only in the Apostle Peter. Destruction is personified, as death sometimes is, as though slumbering and half asleep at times, and at other times acting in wakefulness.
When destruction is in a drowsy state, the ungodly, here the false teachers, behave lawlessly. They do not expect destruction to strike them and send them into outer darkness.
But let them know that destruction does not always slumber. When it does not slumber, it swiftly swallows up the ungodly and their false teachers in due time.
Thus the whole expression means that the false teachers who introduce destructive heresies will undergo eternal torment (2 Pet 2:9).
THEOSIS