Scoffers A Sign of the Times

by Bobby Ogden June 1, 2011 There has been a lot of attention on the subject of the "end times" lately. This is due in large part to the prediction of a false teacher named Harold Camping that the world would end around 6 PM on May 21, 2011. Obviously he failed to read (or believe) Matt. 25:13 which says, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Many people were led astray following this false teacher's teachings. Sadly, they would not have been led astray if they simply believed the clear truths of Scripture. Jesus could have come at the moment predicted, but if He did, it would have been the Father's decision, not Harold Camping's. No man (including Harold Camping) would have known ahead of time. No man knows the exact time when Jesus will return to call away His people! Rather, we are instructed to watch for His coming and take note of the signs. (Pastor Hopson is currently teaching on the "The Last Days" during our weekly Wednesday evening services at 7PM. If you're interested in learning more of what the Bible says on this subject, I invite you to come out and study with us.) In II Peter 3, the Holy Spirit gives us we one of the signs of the last days--scoffers. The apostle Peter tells us that in the last days scoffers would mock the truth of Jesus' coming. II Peter 3:1-10 says, "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this rst, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto re against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." In the last days, scoffers will mock the promise that Jesus gave that He would come again. Jesus said in John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Quite clearly, Jesus gave us His word that He will come again for us one day. But scoffers mock the promise of Christ that He will return for His own.

II Peter 3 brings to my my mind a personal experience I had with one who t the description in this passage. While living in Central Florida, there was a period of about a year that I took classical guitar lessons. My instructor was a young man who claimed to be an agnostic. I tried to witness to him multiple times, and one time in particular, I remember He brought up this very point. He said that Christians have been claiming that Jesus would come again for years and years and He never has. He snubbed his nose at the very idea that Christ would come to earth again. Scoffer. He was walking after his own lusts. Harold Camping's false teaching has given occasion for many scoffers to rise up and let their voice be heard. But the truth remains the same--CHRIST IS COMING. Take note of your world today. Do you notice people more and more anticipating and looking for the coming of Jesus Christ? Or do you see people more and more walking after their own lusts, not caring or believing in the coming of Jesus? Peter told us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that in the last days, scoffers would come. Do we know the day or the hour? Nope. But we can tell the season. And this is just one more sign that Christ's coming is getting close. This prediction of Scripture regarding scoffers in the last days is just another proof that God's Word is true, and that Christ is really coming for us. "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." - Matthew 24:42.