What does it mean that there will be scoffers in the last days?
The Bible warns that in the last days, there will be those who scoff at the truth and mock the promise of Christ’s return. This article will examine what the Bible says about scoffers in the end times and why their presence is a sign of the coming day of the Lord.
Definition of Scoffers
The word “scoffer” in 2 Peter 3:3 is translated from the Greek word “empaiktes” which means “a derider, i.e. (by implication) a false teacher.” A scoffer is someone who treats something with contempt, ridicule, and derision. Scoffers dismiss truths they deem inconvenient and laugh at those who hold them.
Bible Verses Describing Scoffers in the Last Days
2 Peter 3:3-4 – “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.””
Jude 17-19 – “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.”
These passages reveal key traits about the scoffers who will abound in the end times:
1. They follow their own sinful desires
2. They question and mock the promise of Christ’s return
3. They twist doctrine and cause division in the church
4. They lack the Holy Spirit and operate by worldly standards
Why Will There Be Scoffers in the Last Days?
1. Fulfillment of Bible prophecy
The existence of scoffers in the last days is a fulfillment of what Scripture foretold. Just as the prophets said false teachers would come, the apostles warned us to expect mockers in the end times who walk according to their own lusts (2 Peter 3:3). Their presence indicates we are living in the last days before Christ’s return.
2. Willful ignorance of God’s word
Peter says the reason scoffers deny Christ’s return and the coming judgment is they “deliberately overlook this fact” (2 Peter 3:5). They ignore the truth to follow their sinful desires. Their rejection of Scripture is not from lack of evidence, but hardness of heart.
3. Denial of creation and the flood
Scoffers try to undermine God’s word through historical revisionism. They deny the biblical accounts of creation and the global flood, arguing that “all things continue as they were from the beginning” (2 Peter 3:4). By denying God’s past supernatural interventions, they argue against His promised future interventions.
4. Desire to justify sinful lifestyles
Bible commentator Warren Wiersbe notes, “The real reason people become scoffers is that they want to continue in their sins; they do not want Christ to come and judge them.” If they pretend judgment will never come, they believe they can live however they please. Their mocking arises from a love of sin, not doubts about God’s faithfulness.
What Are Scoffers Saying in the Last Days?
1. Questioning the promise of Christ’s return
The primary scoffing will be doubting Jesus’ promise to come back. Scoffers will mock the idea that Christ will return to judge the world, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). This echoes the taunting Jesus faced during His life (Matthew 27:42-43).
2. Denying a future judgment
Because they disbelieve Christ’s return, scoffers also deny the coming judgment. If they can convince others the world will continue on indefinitely as it has, they can say, “peace and safety” without fear of being judged (1 Thessalonians 5:3). But Scripture is clear Jesus will return to judge all men.
3. Rejecting biblical morality
By rejecting the prospect of future judgment, scoffers also cast off biblical morality. Jude says they follow their “ungodly passions” and are “devoid of the Spirit” (Jude 18-19). Without the fear of God, scoffers feel emboldened to live in open rebellion to His commands.
4. Mocking God’s past judgment
Scoffers also mock historic judgments like Noah’s flood. Since they deny God’s right to judge sin, they must explain away any past supernatural interventions in history. By calling into question God’s past judgments, they undermine warnings of future judgment.
Why it is Foolish to Scoff at Christ’s Return
1. It demonstrates ignorance of Scripture
Scoffers display their lack of biblical understanding when they deny what the Bible so clearly teaches about the end times. Jesus and the apostles repeatedly warn to expect mockers in the last days who deny His return (Matthew 24:3-5, 2 Peter 3:2-7, Jude 17-19).
2. It fulfills prophecy
When scoffers arise, it actually fulfills what Scripture predicted about the end times. The very objection of scoffers is proof we are in the last days. Their presence should not shake our confidence in Christ’s return, but strengthen it.
3. It means ignoring history
When scoffers say “all things continue as they were from the beginning,” they are ignoring centuries of historical evidence of God supernaturally intervening in the world through miracles, judgments, and the resurrection of Christ. Only willful ignorance allows them to make such claims.
4. It is morally irresponsible
Scoffers who deny future judgment are leading others astray and implying they will not be held accountable for their actions. To deny coming wrath is dangerously irresponsible (2 Peter 3:7).
5. It demonstrates lack of wisdom
Proverbs 14:6 says, “A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none.” By refusing to heed God’s clear warnings in Scripture, scoffers demonstrate a lack of wisdom, discernment, and sense. Their folly should be plain to all who know the truth.
6. Destruction awaits them
Perhaps most tragically, scoffers ensure their own destruction by mocking eternally significant truths. Their judgment for denying God’s word will be severe when Christ returns (2 Peter 3:7). We should pray for their salvation.
How Should Believers Respond to Scoffers?
1. Expect their presence as a sign
Rather than being surprised by scoffers, we should recognize their presence indicates we are truly in the last days before Christ’s return. It should strengthen our confidence in the Bible’s accuracy.
2. Continue proclaiming biblical truth
We need not adjust our message to accommodate mockers. We should boldly proclaim the gospel and all of God’s word, including His plans for the end times.
3. Recognize their spiritual condition
Scoffers mock because they are devoid of the Holy Spirit but full of their own lusts. Only God’s grace can open their eyes. This should make us pray for their salvation.
4. Separate from divisive scoffers
While we should pray for scoffers, we must also separate from those who twist God’s word and spread lies that undermine Scriptural authority and divide the church (Romans 16:17-18).
5. Wait patiently for Christ’s return
Rather than letting scoffers shake our hope in Christ’s coming, we trust God’s timing while looking expectantly for the “blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
6. Warn of coming judgment
Jude says mercy mixed with fear is the best approach to scoffers, warning them that the Lord will return “to execute judgment on all” (Jude 23). We leave ultimate judgment to God.
7. Strengthen our own faith
Seeing signs being fulfilled should drive us closer to God in pursuing holiness and deepening our understanding of His word. We can be confident in the truth despite mockers.
Examples of Modern Day Scoffers
Unfortunately, scoffers are on the rise, just as Scripture predicted. Here are a just a few examples of high-profile modern day scoffers who mock biblical truth:
– Richard Dawkins – Evolutionary biologist and atheist who openly mocks belief in God and Scripture. Wrote popular book The God Delusion attacking faith.
– Bill Maher – Comedian and TV host who frequently disparages religion and Bible-believing Christians on his talk show. Openly questions and ridicules Christ’s divinity.
– Stephen Hawking – Famous physicist who declared belief in heaven and afterlife a “fairy story” and promoted naturalism in books like The Grand Design.
– Dan Brown – Author of popular fiction books like The Da Vinci Code that promote alternative histories of Christianity and deny Jesus’ deity. Questions core biblical truths.
– Bart Ehrman – Agnostic New Testament scholar and author of Misquoting Jesus who frequently appears on documentaries challenging Scriptural reliability and truth.
– Neil deGrasse Tyson – Influential astrophysicist and science communicator who dismisses biblical creation accounts and argues science disproves God.
These public figures represent only a handful of the many high-profile scoffers using their platform to mock and discredit the truth of God’s word. Their influence demonstrates how widespread and accepted scoffing at the Bible has become in society.
Yet despite loud voices of scoffers, God’s word stands forever true. Rather than letting them shake our faith, seeing such blatant mockery of God’s word should strengthen our confidence that the return of Christ is indeed drawing near.
How to Identify a Modern Day Scoffer
While only God knows the heart, here are some signs that may indicate someone has become a end times scoffer:
– Explicitly denies Christ’s return or future judgment
– Mocks those anticipating Christ’s return as foolish or crazy
– Claims supernatural events in the Bible never happened
– Asserts science has disproved biblical creation and history
– Lives in open, unrepentant sin and enables others to do so
– Publicly vilifies faithful Christians as ignorant, dangerous fanatics
– Reinterprets clear biblical truths to fit modern ideologies
– Creates division in the church by promoting departures from sound doctrine
– Leads others to abandon biblical morality by denying eternal consequences
As always, we must approach individuals with grace, humility, and discernment. But the characteristics and behavior of a scoffer may become evident over time to biblical scholars who know God’s word.
Our hope should be that God draws mockers to repentance so they come to embrace the truth they now deny and warn others of the coming judgment.
Signs Scoffing is Increasing in the World
Here are just a few cultural indicators that scoffing at biblical truth is on the rise:
– Public evangelism and street preaching increasingly banned as “hate speech”
– Politicians vowing to revoke tax exemptions for religious groups that do not affirm LGBTQ+ beliefs
– Declining biblical literacy rates among younger generations
– Christian ministries being labeled “hate groups” for upholding biblical sexuality
– Increasingly graphic and anti-biblical themes in mainstream entertainment
– Social ostracization of individuals for adhering to biblical morality on key issues
– Corporations actively suppressing voices that promote biblical truth, history and values
– Mainstream media routinely painting biblical beliefs as primitive, dangerous or unhealthy
– Laws enacted to punish those who discriminate against unbiblical behavior
– Public education discouraging students from sharing their faith with classmates
This open hostility toward biblical Christianity is a sobering indication that scoffers are on the rise just as Scripture said would occur in the last days. Yet it is not cause for fear, but vigilance in proclaiming truth all the more boldly and resting on the hope of Christ’s triumphant return.
Bible Characters Who Were Scoffers
Unfortunately, scoffers arose even among God’s own people in biblical times. Here are a few examples of prominent scoffers found in Scripture who mocked the word of the Lord:
– Pharaoh – Repeatedly ridiculed and disobeyed God’s word through Moses, leading to national judgment (Exodus 5:2).
– Haman – Mocked the report that people were disobeying the king by not bowing to him (Esther 3:8). Later hanged for seeking to destroy the Jews.
– Sanballat – Openly mocked the attempt to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, spreading rumors to hinder the work (Nehemiah 4:1-3).
– Israelites in the Wilderness – Repeatedly grumbled against God and desired to return to Egypt despite His proven faithfulness (Numbers 14:1-4).
– Edomites – Scoffed at and rejoiced over the destruction of Jerusalem rather than being grieved (Obadiah 1:12).
– Chief Priests – Mocked Jesus while He suffered on the cross, challenging Him to prove He was the Messiah (Matthew 27:41-43).
This handful of examples demonstrates that scoffers have always been present among God’s people and enemies alike. It also reveals the severity of their sin and dangerous hardness of heart apart from the grace of God.
Through Christ we can overcome doubt and instead joyfully anticipate His return, as Scripture exhorts:
“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace…count the patience of our Lord as salvation.” – 2 Peter 3:14, 15
Conclusion
Scoffers will always try to undermine God’s word, but the Bible could not be clearer – just as Christ came the first time, He is coming again. No amount of ridicule or willful ignorance will prevent Him keeping His promised return to judge the world in righteousness.
Rather than being shaken by those who mock this coming day of the Lord, Christians are called to strengthen their faith, boldly proclaim the truth, expose ungodliness, and diligently pursue holiness while eagerly awaiting their Savior. The presence of last days scoffers is a sobering sign of the urgency of the times.
May we heed the Apostle Peter’s warning:
“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:17-18