In the final days, as the promised Second Advent of Jesus Christ draws near, the Bible warns us that a specific attitude of scorn and disbelief will permeate the world. This deliberate prophetic blindness is identified by a single, powerful subject word, faithfully preserved in the King James Version of scripture.
This is not a general questioning of faith; it is a direct fulfillment of prophecy designed to weaken the resolve of believers.
The Prophetic Definition of Scoffers
The definitive passage describing this end-time attitude is found in the second epistle of Peter. Notice the exact terminology used:
“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.” (2 Peter 3:3-4, KJV)
The Greek word translated as “scoffers” (ἐμπαῖκται, empaiktai) means one who mocks, derides, or ridicules. This word perfectly captures the spirit of cynicism regarding future events.
Why the KJV Terminology is Crucial
Many modern translations weaken the impact of this passage by using words like “mockers” or “cynics.” While accurate, the term “scoffers” carries a unique weight, highlighting not just simple doubt, but a deliberate contempt for the idea of divine intervention, judgment, and the glorious return of Christ.
- A Sign of the Last Days: Peter clearly states that the arrival of these scoffers is a fulfillment—a primary sign that we have entered the “last days.” Their very presence and question (“Where is the promise of his coming?”) confirm the nearness of the event they deny.
- The Deceptive Argument: The core argument of the scoffers is uniformitarianism: “all things continue as they were.” They deny both the past action of God (the Flood) and the future action of God (the Second Coming), preferring to believe in an unchanging world that makes prophecy impossible.
- The Call to Action: The presence of scoffers is not a reason for alarm, but a reason for urgency. We are called to stand fast, knowing their very skepticism is documented proof of the imminence of the Lord’s Return.