Warning: Mockers in the Last Days - By John McTernan -
http://www.raptureready.com/soap2/mcternan1.html There shall come in the last days scoffers/mockers: 2 Peter 3:3, 4 “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...” I recently noticed a tremendous increase in mockers and scoffers attacking Christianity and the Bible in general. In the past a very small percentage of the population were atheists, agnostics and others who would attack the authority of the Bible. But in the last few years, there has been an explosion of rejecting the Bible to the degree that about 20 percent of the population fall into the category and increasing all the time. This rejection is not passive but militant and aggressive. The spirit behind this rejection reminds me of the spirit of the French Revolution. This is serious rebellion against the Bible. What was so significant to me about the mocking was the power of it. There seemed to be a vicious, disarming spiritual power associated with the mockers. It seemed impossible to cut through this mocking spirit to defend and proclaim the faith. In a sense, the mocking felt overpowering, which greatly alarmed me, as I never had encountered this power before. It is the rise of the spirit of antichrist preparing the way for the “man of sin.” Because of the effect of this mocking power, I studied the Bible to find out what is so significant about mocking and this dangerous evil power it was generating. I was stunned with what I found. The spiritual implications for both the mockers and America are frightening. On two occasions the Bible warns that the closer the coming of the Lord Jesus, the greater the mockers/scoffers will become. These verses are found in 2 Peter 3 and Jude, and what is so significant is both verses stress that the prophets and apostles warned about the mockers. Apparently the mockers are a sure indicator that the “last time” or Day of the LORD is near. It is going to be a powerful force as the Lord’s Second Coming draws near. The driving force of the mockers is sinful lusts. Sin has taken over and controls a person, and this is the power behind the mockers! Notice one of the main focuses of mockers is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:2-4 “That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: 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?’” Jude adds something very important about the mockers. They are completely given over to sin and are without the Spirit of the Lord in their life; therefore, they are reprobates with a mind that is at war with God. Their mind is void of anything connected with God. Jude 1:17-19 “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit” The ultimate mocking was found when Jesus Christ was in the hands of evil men and He was dying on the cross. This mocking was Satan using men to directly attack the Lord Jesus and it was with an all-out mocking attack. You will notice when reading these verses that the mocking involved action. As they were torturing the Lord, they were also mocking Him. This was an all-out brutal attack by Satan to try and break the Lord. The full hatred of Satan was being unleashed against the Lord, and at the heart of it was mocking! Mocking is one of Satan’s most powerful tools against believers. Matthew 27:29 “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:31 “And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. Mark 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.” Luke 22:63 “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.” Luke 23:11 “And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.’ Luke 23:36 “And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar.” Mockers are the Seal of God’s Coming Judgment There are two criteria for a society to fulfill which seals its destruction from God. The first is to legalize iniquity while the second is to mock God and those that warn of the coming judgment for sin. God clearly lays out in the Bible what are the conditions for triggering His righteous judgment on a nation. America is now almost completed these requirements and is ready for judgment. A judgment from which there is NO remedy. The First Criteria The Ordinaces of the Amorites/Americans Genesis 15:16 “But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” God told Abraham that his descendants were going to leave the land of Canaan for 400 years because the iniquity of the people living in the land was not complete. There is a process for a society to be engulfed by iniquity. In the case of the Amorites/Canaanites, God gave these people 400 years to stop iniquity. God knew that after 400 years the iniquity of the people would reach its peak. The people would not turn from sin, but they would completely embrace it. When studying Genesis 15:16, there is a key word in this verse. It is the Hebrew word translated full. This word is directly connected with the idea of friendly or friendship. The concept of this word is that when a society is friendly with iniquity at that point it is subject to judgment from God. Iniquity is no longer shameful or a disgraceful. It is not hidden or done in the dark. The people are friendly with it. They are accustomed to it. In Genesis 15:16, the Bible does not define iniquity: it simply states that there is a time for it to mature in a society and become full. After the 400 years, the Jews left Egypt and came back to the land of Canaan. Today it is called the land of Israel. At this time, the Bible identifies what is iniquity. In Leviticus 18, God warned the Jews not to follow the Ordinaces of the Canaanites who lived in the land. The Canaanites and Amorites blended into one people; therefore it is also the Ordinaces of the Amorites that are mentioned in Genesis 15:16. Leviticus 18:3 “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinaces.” In the above verse, the key word is ordinaces. The Hebrew word means an enactment and is also translated custom, manner, and statute. By using the word ordinance the Bible is describing a society that is “friendly” with iniquity. Iniquity had become ingrained in the Canaanite society by both customs and laws, which made it a way of life. For this reason, God is about to judge the Canaanites and drive them off the land. The judgment comes because iniquity is an ordinance of the society and not because individuals are committing sin. When a society makes iniquity an ordinance, this is extremely serious with God. It is a trigger and the first requirement for judgment. Later in Leviticus chapter 18, the Bible defines iniquity. It includes such acts as: fornication, adultery, child sacrifice, homosexuality and bestiality. Homosexuality is singled out from this group and described as an abomination. Without any doubt, God strongly condemns the homosexual act as iniquity. There is no section in the Old Testament where God approves or condones homosexuality. The homosexual act is a very serious offense to God. It is linked with child sacrifice and bestiality. When homosexuality becomes an ordinance, it is a leading trigger for God’s judgment. The Scriptures to show this follow: Leviticus 18:20-23: “Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her.” (Adultery) “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” (Child sacrifice.) “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Homosexuality) “Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.” (Bestiality) The Bible warns that when homosexuality becomes an ordinance, social custom or norm, it will bring God’s judgment on that nation. When the Bible defines iniquity, the homosexual act would automatically fall under the description of this word. In the strongest language possible, the Bible says, because of iniquity being made an ordinance, the land will vomit out its inhabitants. The Scriptures to show this follows: Leviticus 18:24-27: “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled.)” The United States now is enacting, by both customs and laws, the Ordinaces of the Amorites; therefore the nation is defiled before the holy God of Israel and faces His judgment. By promoting homosexuality, America has become like the ancient pagan Amorites and has now come under the direct judgment of God. America promotes homosexuality by custom with events such as Gay Pride Day, Gay Awareness Month (June), Gay day at Disney land, Gay Day at sporting events and events like Southern Decadence in New Orleans. There are gay clubs in high school and colleges. The political parties are pandering to the homosexuals for their votes. By custom, homosexuality has woven into the fabric of America. It is an ordinance. America is continually making ordinaces to advance the homosexual agenda. They can legally “marry” now in all states. Homosexuals are now able to adopt children and gain custody of children during a divorce. There are now numerous hate speech laws which are being used to silence opposition to the homosexual agenda. Both federal and state courts are declaring that homosexuality is a “right.” America is a long way down the road to enacting all the Ordinaces of the Amorites. The Bible warns of God judging a nation that enacts these ordinaces. When the corporate attitude of a nation is friendly toward homosexuality then at this point the iniquity is full. It is apparent that “the cup” of America’s sin is rapidly filling up. Americans hardly blush anymore at fornication and adultery. The nation kills over one million babies a year with up to 55 million killed “legally” since 1973. The legalizing of abortion was an additional “Ordinance of the Amorites/Americans”. Homosexuality is fast becoming a constitutional right. The only ordinance left to fulfill Leviticus 18 is bestiality. This sin is most likely being performed “under the radar” and is probably next on-line to become an ordinance. Please do not think that this is impossible as just fifteen years ago few thought that “homosexual marriage” would be legalized was thought impossible. This ordinance came very fast and swept across the nation in a few years. Psalm 107:33, 34 “He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.” The Second Criteria Mockers and Scoffers at the Warning of the Coming Judgment: God is merciful and always warns before judging a nation. At God’s core He is holy, and His holiness will only allow a nation to go so far with iniquity. This is what happened to the Canaanites, as they enacted all the Ordinaces of the Amorites and would not repent of these sins. Remember, that God is merciful and judges a nation only as the last resort. He desires for people to repent of their sinful ordinaces and turn to Him for forgiveness. Ezekiel 33:11 “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” The last act before God judges a nation is that He warns of the coming destruction. This is seen in what happened with ancient Israel before it was destroyed by the Babylonians in 600 BC. The destruction was complete as the nation was destroyed with only a very small remnant of the people surviving. Jerusalem was burned along with the magnificent temple. The religious system of worship was stopped and the kingdom was taken away. God warned this was going to happen, but the people wanted to live in the Ordinaces or Amorites. The religious and political leaders were leading the people into the iniquity! There were practicing all the Ordinaces of the Amorites and had no intention of repenting. 2 Chronicles 36:14 “Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. The Babylonians were on the way to destroy Israel, but God moved in one last effort of compassion toward the people. He sent final messengers to warn the people of the imminent destruction. They refused to repent and mocked the warning messengers of the Lord and also they despised His words. Their mocking was the final trigger for judgment. The Bible states that God reacted to the mocking with wrath and it sealed the judgment with NO remedy.” The combination of the Ordinaces of the Amorites and the mocking sealed their destruction. The last act before judgment is that the people are so hardened in sin, they mock God, His word, and those that warn of the impending doom. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 “And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes (early), and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” God warns that mockers will make their bands of judgment or chastisement much stronger. He will not allow mockers to get away with their arrogance. Isaiah 28:22 “Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.” The Swift Judgment Once God sends His last warning and the people mock, the judgment is very swift with no way to stop it. There is no remedy, and the people are sealed into the destruction. When the mockers take over, the destruction SUDDENLY hits. Proverbs 6:15 “Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1 “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” How to Handle Mockers Proverbs 14:9 “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.” The Bible clearly states that the power behind mockers is their sinful lusts. Mockers will protect their lusts at all costs. The Bible then identifies mockers as fools. It is the fool’s mouth which sets his destruction and a snare to the soul. The mocking then seals them into judgment. Proverbs 18:7 “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words” If you understand that mockers and scoffers are fools then it easy to deal with them. It is best not to engage a fool. I will not engage a mocker at his level as it is folly. There is great power in mocking as it is energized by hell. What I think is best to do is not to engage a mocker or proclaim judgment and repentance to them. I will proclaim warnings from the word of God to the mockers and go no further. America’s Future The nation is NOW very hardened in the Ordinaces of the Amorites with no sign of turning back to the Holy God of Israel. Most of the church has lost the fear of God and thus cannot see the judgment coming. The key now is to watch the growth of mockers. Atheists were a very small percentage of the population, but in the last 10 years the percentage has shot up to over 20 percent. As they grow in numbers, they also grow in power which energizes their mocking. At the speed America is free-falling spiritually, in a very short time the mocking will be at the level of the final judgment. It is very sad to watch America die like this, But, when a nation turns from God to the Ordinaces of Amorites, judgment awaits and there is no remedy. Our job is to stay a faithful witness for the Lord to the end. We are to stay focused on the coming of the Lord Jesus for His bride. This is the Blessed Hope. Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” |
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