Scoffers and Mockers and End Times, Oh My!
Every time situations like Syria arise, there is an equal and proportionate rise in discussions about the end times.
Look at this quote from the book, A Tale of Two Cities – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair…”
Also, look at this statement from Peter the Apostle;
“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles… “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.” (2 Peter 3:1-3) also see (Jude 18) (2 Peter 2:10)
I understand that there’s a bit confusion here concerning exactly when these “scoffers” or “mockers” will come. I also understand the possibility that Peter may be saying to his audience that they have already come. It’s as if he’s saying “You should have known, after all, that the arrival of mockers was prophesied for the last days.” They should have known through observation, inquiry, and information, that these “end-times” were upon them.
It’s not like there is a mocker index that we can check to see if there are more mockers or scoffers than any other time in history. In fact, most existing indexes such as “they are more earthquakes” now then ever before, more “wars and rumors of wars,” than ever before, and more “signals” of the end-times than ever before, are often based in something other than observation, biblical inquiry, and verifiable information.
There is much fanaticism concerning Syria and the possible initiation of the “last days,” but we must acknowledge that the New Testament writers emphasized that the last days had arrived in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (see esp. Acts 2:17; Heb 1:2) Finally, I am not questioning the return of the Lord or doubting the Lord’s words lest I be guilty like those who asked in Jeremiah “Where is the word of the Lord? Let it now be fulfilled!” (Jer 17:15). Likewise, I am not saying like those in Ezekiel, that “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing” (Ezekiel 12:22), but I do have a few questions:
What is a scoffer or mocker?
What was the command given by Jesus through the Apostles in 2 Peter 3:1-3?
Are there really any more of the “apocalyptic signals” now than any previous times?
(Visited 13 times, 13 visits today)
Related StoriesShould Christians Choose or Take Sides?A Couple of Quotes about The Church That You’re Going to Want to ReadIs There Anything Besides ‘The Works of the Law’ Written on People’s Hearts?
