Scoffers in the Last Days
by Terry Wane Benton
"Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts" (II Peter 3:3).
Scoffers are those who would laugh off the pure word of God. For example, they would scoff at the idea of a worldwide flood, Noah, and the animals being saved on an ark. Scoffing because they think it is impossible. They dismiss all testimony from God and belittle it, thinking they have such superior knowledge. But remember, they have things you could easily scoff at, too.
They believe life can start on its own, can evolve all the varieties of animals and man, all by sheer accident and time. They think time can create life and intelligence from random chemicals. But they have problems with God sealing animals safely in an ark? At least with God, we can see a power and wisdom capable of far more than we think possible when looking solely at the nature of the material universe. But when they start without God and try to explain everything, they give time and material all credit and glory. That is absurd to us!
Scoffers take the easy road to dismiss what God has testified to without good reason. In our text, the scoffers dismiss the idea that Jesus is coming. We will explore their topic later. Right now, we want to stir our minds with scriptures so that we know what is true and what is not true. Is the scoffer misusing scripture, ignoring scripture, or simply trying to cast doubt on scripture topics? We know that scoffers would come in the last days.
“The last days” is an interesting phrase. Many times, it refers to the last days of a political entity or a dominant power. Judaism was in its last days from the time of John the Baptist. The Lord announced His “coming” in the clouds of judgment against Jerusalem, but there is also His literal coming that would be visible like He left in His ascension (Acts 1:9-11).
Jesus spoke about the “age of resurrection” (Luke 20:30-35). In that age, there will be no marrying, giving in marriage, and no dying, for we will be raised immortal. So, there is a last age before that happens. It certainly didn’t happen in AD 70. So, the last days can refer to the days leading to the destruction of Jerusalem, the center of Judaism, or to the days of Jesus’ kingdom in this mortal age. The context will have to help determine the phrase's usage: “the last days.” But get this! The Spirit was to be poured out in the “last days” (Joel 2:28f with Acts 2:16f). Peter said this was happening right then. The result of this would be that “whoever calls on the Lord will be saved,” and this salvation was to be preached “for ages to come” (Ephesians 2:7). Therefore, the last days include the gospel being preached for “ages to come.”
The last days of Judaism would certainly end in AD 70 with their temple and priesthood destroyed, but the last days of earth-time of preaching salvation would go on for ages to come. Thus, Jesus “has spoken to us in these last days” (Hebrews 1:1-2), which includes the last days of Judaism and the ages to come of gospel-preaching grace. When Paul wrote Ephesians, it was AD 62. Thus, in AD 62, there were “ages to come” in God’s program.
There won’t be another time on earth after these “ages to come.” But we do know what will happen in the age of resurrection. We will cease to marry, cease to die, and will be immortal like the angels. That didn’t happen in AD 70. It is the ultimate age of resurrection that comes at the last day (John 6:39,40,54; 11:24; I Corinthians 15:23).
Scoffers walk “after their own lusts” or desires. They don’t limit their desires to the will and word of God. When do they come? In the last days! Just the last days of Judaism? No! They will be in the last ages to come, the last of the mortal ages. The days before the “age of resurrection” and “Immortality” (I Corinthians 15:23ff). We are in the last of mortal time, the age of mortality and grace. Use it wisely in this short life. Tomorrow may be too late!
