When the Bible talks of the end times, it tells us of many signs that will appear. One of the signs of the last days is the increase of scoffers. In his epistle, the apostle Peter said, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires” (2 Peter 3:3). Scoffers are those who mock God, ridicule or make fun of the things of God, or just plain opposition to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. They not only oppose everything that concerns God, but actively encourage others to do the same. In America today, this is very evident. There are individuals, groups and organizations that scoff God. They do not believe in him. They are the people that King David referred to in his Psalm when he said, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good” (Psalm 14:1).’
Because of the sustained work of the scoffers and mockers, there is now growing wickedness that leads to apostasy. This was one of the signs of the last days that our Lord Jesus himself mentioned. He said, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). Many believers are now ensnared by the works of these scoffers as they go along, wanting to become politically correct. They would rather follow their humanistic thinking than stand firm in their faith in the Word of God. But to suit their desires and to still have an appearance of being Godly, these people “will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3).
The scoffers have gone to the extent of calling evil good and good evil. These are the ones that the Lord was referring to when he said, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isa. 5:20). Today, what our forefathers had considered good is now being decimated. For instance, prayers in schools are now stopped, as well as the public displays of Bible verses such as the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, lifestyles that are strictly forbidden in Scriptures are being flaunted publicly.
Even the Lord Jesus Christ was not spared by the scoffers. While he was hanging on the cross, the people said, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Matt. 27:40). The priests, and even the robbers that were crucified with him, did the same. If they did this to Jesus, we will also not be spared from it. No wonder even to this day, there is so much persecution that comes from these mockers. Therefore, in his Psalm, David encouraged believers to stay firm in the faith and stay blessed. He said, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers” (Psalm 1:1).
While scoffers and mockers go scot free for now, they will certainly be made to account for their words and actions. Therefore, it is best that we heed these warnings:
God cannot be mocked. In his epistle, the apostle Paul said, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7-8). If we sow unbelief, Jesus cannot be clearer when he said, “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).
Scoffers suffer alone. While it may feel good to be in the company of mockers and scoffers as there is strength in numbers, when suffering comes, however, they will suffer individually. The Book of Proverbs says, “If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (Prov. 9:12). No one will be able to share their suffering. They will even wish to die and say to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Rev. 6:16). There is no rest to the wicked.
Scoffers will be caught by surprise. As they go about scoffing and living in their unbelief, suddenly, their destruction will come. The prophet said, “Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you” (Acts 13:41). Indeed, there will be no warnings because their scoffing is a sign of the last days. The apostle Paul described their situation appropriately when he said, “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:3).
The last days are here. Heed these warnings and be saved. Amen.
