Scoffers, scoffing at the Second coming of the Lord Jesus

by Alan Yusko

This article is about those who dare to scoff and mock the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Some have devoted their time and energy in scoffing and mocking those who believe what the Bible says about the return of the Lord Jesus. I am not talking about atheists who mock and scoff at everything the Bible has to say. No, there are are people out there who are willingly ignorant to the simplicity of Bible prophecy and mock and attack that which they cannot and will not understand.

2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Look at verse 3 above. We are in the last days and there are many scoffers out there. They scoff at the pre-tribulation rapture and the 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus. The preach foolishness like Christians will go through the tribulation and suffer the wrath of God. The verse also says they are walking after their own lusts. This means they desire and love the things of this world rather than the things of God. Scoff, scoff, scoff, it is what they do.

Verse 5 says they are willingly ignorant and unteachable. They are willingly blind to the facts of the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

DEFINITIONS

The Lord Jesus will soon return to planet earth. The verse quoted above warns about these last day scoffers who mock the return of the Lord Jesus. Lets define some terms related to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus will return but it will be in two phases. Phase 1 is the rapture or harpazo. At this time the Lord Jesus does not return physically to earth. Instead He returns to the clouds and the living believers are "caught up" (harpazo) to meet Him in the air. The second phase the Lord Jesus returns physically to planet earth in Jerusalem. Shortly after will be the battle of Armageddon when Satan and his followers launch a massive attack against the Lord Jesus. After Armageddon, the Lord Jesus sets up His Kingdom on earth and reigns for 1000 years.

These facts are the source of much mockery by the scoffers. The purpose of this article is not to go into great detail about the above points. This has already been done. There are articles written proving the pre-tribulation rapture, the Millennium etc. There are many videos online that can be watched showing these prophetic events. There are great Bible scholars like, Chuck Missler, who go into extreme detail about Bible prophecy. All these facts just do not matter as the scoffers are willingly ignorant and willingly blind to what the Bible has to say about the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

No matter how much evidence is presented the scoffers will try to refute it as, in pride, they are mocking the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

Now here are some further word definitions. The word rapture is not found in the Bible and this is a source of confusion to some. However the word harpazo is in the Bible. So instead of calling it the rapture, I will begin to use the word harpazo. No one can say that harpazo is not in the Bible. Next, we have the concept of the tribulation period, or the tribulation. This term is not found in the Bible either and that is a source of confusion for some. Therefore I will use the term Daniel's 70th week which is also called the time of Jacob's trouble, or the day of the Lord. As you can see the words rapture and the tribulation period is not in the Bible, but the concept certainly is. Saying the tribulation is coming certainly is confusing to some as the Church has been in tribulation with death and persecution for almost 2000 years now. The Lord Jesus Himself refered to a time called the great tribulation. This happens after the abomination of desolation at the middle of the 7 year 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. The great tribulation is only 3 1/2 years as it happens in the middle of the 70th week. The 70th week of Danie's prophecy is for 7 years and not 3 1/2 years. During the 70th week of Daniel all the wrath of God is poured out in the world upon the wicked. Another stupid thing the scoffers say is that the Church will go through the tribulation period (70th week) and suffer the wrath of God. They accuse Christians of being 'escapists' who do not want to suffer the wrath of God. Guess what, the Church is not appointed to suffer the wrath of God. Yes we have suffered tribulation/persecution/death for almost 2000 years, but no wrath of God.

Finally, lets define what is going to happen in relation to Bible prophecy. First there is the harpazo/rapture of the Church. This removes the restraint as the Holy Spirit restrains in and through the Church. At this point the antichrist/beast is free to sign that 7 year treaty with Israel from his position of power. This starts the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy (the tribulation period). There are 7 seals which are opened which is the wrath of God to be poured out on the earth. The 7th seal has 7 trumpets and the 7th trumpet has 7 bowl judgments. In the middle of the 70th week the antichrist/beast enters the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and commits the abomination of desolation. He sits in the temple and claims to be God and demands all to worship him. It will be worship the devil or die. Failure to receive the mark of the beast and worship Satan will result in the death penalty. At the abomination of desolation the Jews are told to flee to the mountains to a place prepared for them to dwell safely until the end of the 70th week. This 3 1/2 year period is called the great tribulation. At the end of the 70th week the Lord Jesus will return to Israel at Jerusalem. Shortly after the battle of Armageddon will occur. After this short war, the Lord Jesus will setup His Kingdom and reign on earth for 1000 years. This is known as the Millennium. Sadly, these facts are denied by the scoffers who are willingly ignorant.

THE FOUNDATION OF THE MOCKERS

The mockers all have one thing in common. They all do not understand or refuse to understand the plan of God for the nation of Israel and the plan of God for the Church. The Church is not Israel and Israel has not been forsaken due to failure or sin. As a result of this misunderstanding all kinds of foolish beliefs follow. The 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus is denied. The harpazo is denied. The Church is believed to be the Israel of God. Foolishly, it is said the Church will go through the 70th week (the tribulation) and face the wrath of God. The fact that Israel now exists in direct fulfillment of Ezekiel 36 and 37 is just a fluke to the scoffers as they march down the road of false doctrine and mocking the Lord Jesus and His second coming along the way. We are also falsely told that going through the tribulation period and suffering the wrath of God will cleanse the Church. Somehow the Church is "dirty" and needs a cleansing. This is a direct denial of the cleansing power of the blood of the Lord Jesus.

THE PLAN OF GOD FOR ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH

Lets look at the plan of God for Israel and for the Church. We start with Daniel's 70 week prophecy for the nation of Israel.

Daniel 9
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

The weeks described is 1 week equals 7 years. It is a week of 7 years for a total of 70 weeks. This is to happen upon "thy people" (Israel) and thy holy city, Jerusalem. There are 5 things which will happen at the end of this 70 weeks prophecy: 1) make an end of sins, 2) make reconciliation for iniquity, 3) bring in everlasting righteousness, 4) seal up the vision and prophecy, 5) to anoint the most Holy (the Lord Jesus).

Guess what, this has not yet been completed! The 70 week prophecy is not yet finished. In fact the 70th week has not yet started. Here is more:

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

These verses describe that after the 69th week of this 70 week prophecy, Messiah would be cut off. This happened when the Lord Jesus died and paid for our sins on the cross. After that, years later, the city (Jerusalem) was destroyed. All this happened almost 2000 years ago. It is past historical facts to us.

This also means that if the Lord Jesus died at the end of the 69 weeks then when will the 70th week start? There has been a time gap between the 69th and 70th week for almost 2000 year now. During that time at Pentecost, the Church was born and has been on earth for almost 2000 years. To fulfill this prophecy the 70th week must happen. Keep in mind that the Church had no part in the first 69 weeks of this prophecy. The Church also has no part in the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. That 70th week is for the nation of Israel.

This lack of understanding is the foundation stone for the mockers and scoffers against the Lord Jesus and His return. They do not understand the 70 weeks are for Israel and the time between the 69th week and the start of the 70th week is the Church age. The Church is gone before the 70th week as it has no part in those prophetic 70 weeks of years. Sadly, with all the training that pastors receive in Bible school, the simple plan for Israel and the Church is avoided in classes. Therefore we see many pastors today who refuse to teach Bible prophecy due to their extreme lack of understanding. The world is now falling apart and the Lord Jesus will return in the harpazo. Soon after the 70th week will begin. Sadly, this is not being taught in most churches. It is time to stop being ignorant and start teaching the Bible. Wake up pastors!

The next question is when will the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy begin? Look at this verse:

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The 'he' mentioned is the beast or the coming antichrist. This evil man will confirm a covenant with Israel for 1 week or 7 years. This is when the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy begins. Has this happened yet? The answer is no. It will happen but not yet. The harpazp must first occur before the beast/antichrist can come to a position to be able to sign a 7 year covenant with Israel.

What I have covered here is not complex. However, not understanding these simple truths blinds a person to Bible prophecy.

THE DOCTRINE OF IMMINENCE

The mockers consistently deny the doctrine of imminence. This means the second coming of the Lord Jesus cannot happen today as they deny His imminent return. The scoffers are not looking for the return of the Lord Jesus but rather the rise of the antichrist/beast. Contrary to the mockers, the Bible says the Lord Jesus will return at the harpazo at any moment. It could happen today! It could have happened 100 years ago. No prophecy needs to be fulfilled before the harpazo/rapture occurs. Lets look first at what the Bible says about the unknown, imminent coming of the Lord Jesus:

Matt 24
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matt 24
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Matt 25
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Mark 13
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Nothing more needs to be said. The Lord Jesus is coming at an unknown time and we are commanded to watch and be ready.

Titus 2 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

This waiting and expecting the any-moment return of the Lord Jesus is called our blessed hope. A person who has the blessed hope wants to live in such a way to please the Lord. He does not know when the Lord will return at the harpazo so he wants to be found faithful when the Lord comes. The blessed hope has a purifying effect in the life of a Christian as he seeks to live faithfully for the Lord. The mockers/scoffers deny the blessed hope of the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. They are guilty of living any way they want as there is no need to get ready or watch until the antichrist/beast rises to power. They are literally waiting for the antichrist/beast and not the Lord Jesus Christ.

In contrast to the harpazo, the second coming of the Lord Jesus physically to earth occurs after definite prophecies occur. First the beast/antichrist must rise to power after the harpazo. The 70th week of Daniel must start with that signed 7 year covenant. Right in the middle of the 70th week the antichrist/beast commits the abomination of desolation. When these things occur a date can be circled on the calendar to the exact day the Lord Jesus will return. We actually have an unknown day (harpazo) and a known day of the return of the Lord Jesus.

THE WRATH OF GOD

During the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy the wrath of God is poured out upon the wicked. In Revelation 6 there are the 7 seals which are the wrath of God. The good news for the Church is that they will not be here to suffer and go through the wrath of God. See below:

1 Thess 1
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Romans 5
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Luke 21
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The Church has been delivered from the wrath of God to come. We are not appointed to wrath. The mockers/scoffers seem to delight in their foolish belief that the Church will go through the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. They seem to delight in the concept of dying during the 70th week. They accuse Christians of being escapists in relation to the coming wrath of God. Little do they realize that the Church is going to escape the wrath of God as we are in no way appointed to the wrath of God.

FLOW OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Revelation is a unique book of the Bible. By reading and studying it we are promised a blessing. We will take a brief look at the historical flow of the book of Revelation.

Revelation 1
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The book of Revelation has a historical flow to it. The things seen is in Chapter 1 in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Chapter 2, 3 is the current time we are now living called the Church age. Next there is chapter 4. Lets have a brief look at this:

Revelation 4
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Verse 1 is a description of the coming harpazo/rapture of the Church. The command 'Come up hither' is given. At this command the Church is caught up to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Lets look a bit further in the next verses:

Revelation 4 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

As you can see that around the throne of God there are 24 elders. This is representative of the Church. Notice that they have white raiment and have crowns of gold on their heads. Focus in on the crowns of gold. Do angels receive crowns? No, they do not. Only the redeemed Church receives crowns of gold. They receive their crowns at a one time event called the Bema judgment seat. This is a rewards judgment and crowns are given out. The fact that the elders have crowns on their heads is proof that the Bema judgment has already occurred by Revelation 4:4. So it all makes sense. The rapture/harpazo in verse 1, then the Bema judgment of rewards, then in verse 4 the Church (24 elders) sit around the throne of God with crowns on their heads. Everyone but the scoffers can see this.

So if you think about it the mockers/scoffers really have no ground whatsoever to stand on. Remember this warning given in the Bible:

2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

The mockers are here and they have very loud and unreasonable mouths. They are willingly blind to the simplicity of Bible prophecy and cannot be taught. Sadly, they are not open to sound doctrine and teaching as there is much teaching available with easy access to it.

CONCLUSION

In this article we looked at the existence of the scoffers and briefly what they are busy scoffing at in relation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Here is a warning aimed right at the scoffers:

Acts 13
40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

Let me say that although God does not approve of all the scoffing going on the issue of salvation stands apart. The plan of salvation depends on one repenting of their sin and accepting the Lord Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Salvation does not depend on ones belief in the rapture/harpazo or Bible prophecy. It is possible to be saved and still be a scoffer at the second coming of the Lord Jesus and Bible prophecy. However, scoffing is bad fruit. For any scoffer that has read this far, take this article as a warning and a wake up call. You are not pleasing the Lord with your scoffing. You will be called to account.

Finally here are a few additional things for any who wants to do some additional study on the harpazo and the physical return of the Lord Jesus:

The rapture/harpazo
------------------
Matt 24:42
Mark 13:32-37
Luke 12:40
John 14:1-3
1 Cor 1:7,8
1 Cor 15:51-53
Phil 3:20-21
Phil 4:5
Col 3:4
1 Thess 1:10
1 Thess 2:1,19
1 Thess 4:13-18
1 Thess 5:23
Titus 2:13
Heb 9:28
Rev 22:12,20
- translation of believers
- translated saints go to heaven
- earth not judged yet
- imminent, at any moment, signless
- believers only
- before the day of wrath
- no reference to Satan
- the Lord comes for His own
- the Lord comes in the air/clouds
- the Lord comes and claims His bride
- only His own sees Him when He comes
- the 70th week begins

The second coming of the Lord Jesus to earth at Jerusalem
--------------------------------------------------------
Daniel 2:44
Daniel 7:9-14
Daniel 12:1-3
Zech 12:10
Zech 14:1-11
Matt 24:15-31
Matt 26:64
Mark 13:14-27
Mark 14:62
Luke 21:25-28
Acts 1:9-11
Jude 1:14
Rev 1:7
- no translation involved
- previously translated saints return to earth
- earth is judged
- follows definite predicted signs which will occur
- affects all men on the earth
- concludes the day of wrath
- Satan is bound during the 1000 year reign of the Lord Jesus
- the Lord comes with His own
- the Lord comes back physically to Jerusalem
- the Lord returns with His bride
- every eye shall see Him
- the 70th week ends and the Millennium begins

Finally, The harpazo (rapture) is a totally imminent event. Nothing has to happen before the harpazo occurs. The important thing is to be ready to meet the Lord Jesus today. Time is running out and the Lord could very well come quickly and before most expect. It is time to accept the Lord Jesus right now! Here is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner. I realize that sin has a penalty of separation from God and an eternity in the lake of fire. Right now I turn from my sins and receive the Lord Jesus as my only Saviour. Lord Jesus come into my heart and life and save me. I trust in you alone for salvation and to be my Lord and my Saviour. Amen

John 1
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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