knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts 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 a scoffer in this context is one who mocks Christ ridicules the things of God and opposes the gospel the purpose of scoffers in the last days will become more intense as the devil will sponsor them as part of his Endtime strategies to discourage Believers from the service of God scoffers are stirred up by
the Antichrist Spirit against those who have chosen to serve God I am not saying the Antichrist himself has arrived the truth is I don't know if he has or if he hasn't but what I do know and what I can see from just looking at the world is that his Spirit has the spirit Spirit of antichrist is the rejection of the deity of Christ 1 John 4:3 States and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard
that it should come and even now already is it in the world you see there's coming a day a day where there will stand a man not just any man but a figure an embodiment if you will of the Antichrist this isn't some fairy tale folks no no it's written it's proclaimed in the word of God in 1 John 43 it tells us clear as day that though this man hasn't shown himself yet his spirit that Spirit of deception and Rebellion is already here working prowling and deceiving but today we are going to look at
the scoffers those who mock those who ridicule those who laugh in the face of the almighty and his children friends we need to be vigilant we need to be on guard because these scoffers with their Sly words and their taunting they'll try to shake you off the foundation of your faith they'll try to pull you away from the straight and narrow path of righteousness and godliness that you've chosen the path that leads to eternal life how many of you have felt the sting of their mockery how many of you have been questioned doubted or laughed
at for your unwavering faith in Christ for standing tall in your service to the almighty when they come at you remember this they are not operating on their own no sir they are either knowingly or unknowingly being driven by that Spirit of antichrist the Apostle Peter told us about these people they walk after their own desires their own pleasures and with smug faces they question us where's This Promise of Christ's return huh been waiting a long time haven't you people of God I've heard some things in my time as a preacher and let me tell
you there are some that really make you stop and think about the state of our hearts I've had people come up to me genuinely earnestly and they've said pastor I grew up hearing that Jesus is coming soon and yet here I am 50 years later and he hasn't come because of that I've stopped being a Christian now I want to address this and I hope you'll bear with me for a moment first off let's get some perspective here 50 years do you think 50 years is a long time in the sight of the almighty the
Eternal one in the grand tapestry of Eternity 50 years is but a blink a fleeting moment and this brings me to my next point the sheer audacity the arrogance to believe that God's prophetic calendar should align with our personal timetable friends who are we to dictate the timeline of the creator that is pride humble yourself before the Lord the one who set the stars in motion the one who breathed life into our very beings it's high time we remind ourselves that God doesn't operate on our schedule we live in his timing not the other way
way around have some humility brothers and sisters it's not all about us the grand Narrative of Bible prophecy the culmination of all things it doesn't revolve around our personal timelines our impatience our demands and here's the thing God in his infinite wisdom and love gave us his word the Bible which clearly spells out why Jesus hasn't returned yet so before you point a finger at the heavens and demand answers dive into the scriptures seek understanding with a humble heart recognize that his ways are higher than our ways his thoughts higher than our thoughts and that
God doesn't operate on the same level as you and I now allow me to read a verse that explains the exact reason why Jesus has not returned yet second Peter 3499 10 the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us Ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat the
Earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up in second Peter the 3 sign 10 there we find the heart of God revealed when we wonder about his timing when we question his return this passage reminds us that God's Tim table is not like ours understand this the god of the universe the God who set the heavens and the Earth in motion will keep his promise without delay but on his Divine timeline he is longsuffering folks that means he's patient beyond our comprehension Desiring that as many Souls as possible come to repentance
let's take a step back and Ponder many of you listening right now ask yourself if Jesus had returned 20 years ago where would you stand heaven or hell what about 10 years ago or even just last year the Lord's mercy and patience have allowed many of us more time to come to him his delay has been our Salvation consider this as I stand before you across this world souls are being saved someone in a remote corner of the earth is on their knees giving their life to Christ right now this very moment right in your
hometown hearts are turning towards the Savior one by one they're coming to the saving knowledge of of our Lord Jesus Christ Peter The Rock on whom Christ built his church shared a profound Insight with us he shed light on the very heart of God the reason our Lord hasn't returned yet is rooted in his compassion and love he wants all to come to repentance he's not willing for any to perish it's not a cold Divine decree we're talking about no it's a reflection of his vast unfathomable love for Humanity a love that made him say
whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life so when impatience nudges at you when doubt Whispers In Your Ear remember God's Compassionate Heart remember that in his Mercy he's reaching out to one more Soul offering one more chance for repentance and let's thank him for his p Pati for in it we find our Salvation now I want to ask you a question have you ever stopped and took a look around you have you ever noticed how standing up for righteousness living a clean and holy life in this world feels lonely it reminds
me of Noah oh dear Noah he stood tall preached righteousness for a long long 120 years and what did he get laughter mockery and isolation he was seen as an oddity A peculiar man in a sinful Lawless generation but here's the thing though the whole world turned its back on him though everyone rejected him God the Alpha and the Omega God had his eyes on him God's radiant light Shone upon Him guiding him protecting him so Church stand firm stand tall and let God's light shine upon you folks I want to bring your attention to
a remarkable man in the scriptures Enoch Enoch the only man that the Bible tells us did not see death why because he walked with God think about that for a moment he didn't run ahead of God he didn't lag behind him no he walked in tandem in step in sweet communion with almighty God and here's the thing in a world filled with wickedness in an age age that knew no bounds to its Rebellion there was Enoch this lone figure chose not to be a part of the problem but rather to walk side by side with
the Creator so close so intertwined with God's spirit that one day God simply took him