There is so much unfolding in our world that we do not fully understand. One thing is becoming clear to discerning minds, we are alive at the beginning of a series of changes that will reset everything in our world including how we will be allowed to live and conduct business in a global society. What is happening is not yet realized by the majority of the population, and sadly for too many within the Church who no longer believe an end of all things is coming.

Peter instructed his readers how to live as a global convergence toward the end of time is taking place. As he concludes his second letter, Peter writes “I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles” (II Peter 3:2). 

We are living in a time when the clear and unambiguous words of Scripture have been reinterpreted to fit within the narrow confines of the limitations of human logic. To navigate faithfully what is coming requires that we remember the words of the prophets and apostles who centuries ago wrote about this time in history.

Peter foretold of a scoffing spirit that will emerge and rob the faith of people. “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days, scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created’” (vs. 3-4). 

When too much time passes, according to someone’s demand that God perform in a way that fits within their understanding of time, people can become scoffers. Even worse are believers who in a similar state of frustration, become scoffers themselves, not denying Jesus, but inventing interpretations of God’s word that dismiss the harsh reality of things to come. 

Peter describes what happens when a scoffing spirit controls a person’s thinking, “They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment when ungodly people will be destroyed” (vs 5-7).

To keep our perspective and our faith intact when our world as we know it is being upended, Peter told his readers, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.  (vs. 8-9). Any perceived delay in the timing of God can only be properly discerned if we understand that all of time and how it plays out is in submission to His will and His heart of redemption. 

Peter gave his readers an assignment – an assignment we would be wise to heed, “And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (vs. 14). While scoffers are on the rise, the evidence that our faith is alive will be seen in our ability to live peaceful, pure, and blameless lives while the world moves deeper into darkness toward the end of time.