The Apostle Peter, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesied that “scoffers will come in the Last Days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3:3-4).
This prophecy finds a chilling fulfillment today, as voices from across the intellectual and religious spectrum dismiss the return of Christ with cynicism and contempt. Whether it comes from the so-called “new atheists,” progressive theologians, liberal Christians, or even complacent churchgoers, the essential question remains: “Where is He?” The question is asked in countless classrooms, podcasts, radio shows, TV shows, and more – often with sarcasm.
The late atheist, Christopher Hitchens, never one to shy away from confrontation, openly scoffed at the idea of Christ’s imminent return. He often cited the Second Coming to illustrate what he saw as the irrationality, and even dangers, of religious faith.
Richard Dawkins, in his book The God Delusion, argues that all religion is delusional, and he considers biblical prophecies remnants of ancient mythology. His worldview presupposes the uninterrupted continuity of natural laws and precludes the possibility of divine intervention, such as the Second Coming. This is known as “uniformitarianism” – the view that the natural order is unbroken and self-sustaining, and therefore divine intervention, such as the Second Coming, is implausible. To put it in the language of 2 Peter 3:4, if there has been no divine interruption since the patriarchs “fell asleep,” then there is no reason to expect one now. In a particularly theatrical jab, Dawkins declared that “even if there were this booming voice or the Second Coming in clouds of glory, the more probable explanation is hallucination or a conjuring trick by David Copperfield.” Dripping with disbelief and sarcasm, Dawkins then mocked, “Didn’t Jesus Himself say He would come again soon? Well, two thousand years later, He still hasn’t.”
What Peter foresaw is no longer theoretical – it’s unfolding before our very eyes, in sync with so many other prophecies that are converging in our day. The mockery is real, and so is the spiritual erosion it signals. Yet, amid this chorus of disbelief, the Word of God stands unshaken. His promise remains, undiminished by scoffing and untouched by sarcasm.
Faithful followers of Christ who read the Bible for themselves have always lived “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13) – the Rapture and the subsequent Second Coming.
I would like to make several observations regarding Peter’s prophecy about scoffers. Right at the outset, I want to draw your attention to the prophetic nature of Peter’s words. The rise of scoffers was not a surprise – it was foretold. Their mocking is not a sign that prophecy has failed; it is proof that prophecy is being fulfilled.
In a striking twist of irony, the very ones who seek to discredit biblical prophecy end up validating it. Their scoffing becomes unintentional evidence that God’s prophetic Word is true. Such scoffers may pride themselves on their clever arguments, unaware that on the grand chessboard of truth, God is always ten moves ahead. While they believe they’re dismantling faith with logic, they are, in reality, playing right into the Hands of divine wisdom.
Notice also that Peter says, “scoffers will come in the Last Days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires” (2 Peter 3:3). A denial of Christ’s Second Coming serves as a pretext for moral license. If there is no Second Coming, then there will be no judgment that follows it. And if there is no judgment, then we are free to live as we want, pursuing our selfish desires without fear of accountability. This means that scoffers have a strong motivation to deny the Second Coming and subsequent judgment; it makes them feel more comfortable in their immoral lifestyle. They seek to silence the voice of conscience. By rejecting divine intervention in the future, they attempt to erase divine authority in the present.
No comments:
Post a Comment