3 First of all, know [without any doubt] that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming [what has become of it]? For ever since the fathers fell asleep [in death], all things have continued [exactly] as they did from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they willingly forget [the fact] that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God, and the earth was formed [a]out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.

2 Peter 3:3-6 (AMP) 中文 

From false teachers to mockers

Peter, in the previous verses, set up this discussion on the end times. He tells his audience to remember what the prophets and Jesus have said. Of course, not to just remember, but trust what they have heard. So with that thought in mind, he turns to future events.

Mockers among us

But first he starts with the mockings of mockers. They have indeed heard what the prophets have said about Christ’s return. However, they don’t trust their word…nor, by extension, God’s word! Rather, they mock God and His Word, the word He spoke through the prophets.

Note that they go back to the very beginning of creation as their reference point. It’s a pretty bold statement to say that nothing has changed! Maybe this is why mockers and fools are companions.

Flood rebukes mockers

Peter “takes them to court” and proves them blatantly wrong. He picks the event in the world that was the biggest change – the flood. No one denies the flood. Notice that Peter says, “they willingly forget”. That implies that they just don’t care. They simply do not want to believe and be accountable to the Word of God.

And using the flood sets Peter up to talk about the end times…when the earth again will be drastically changed – but even more so. Stay tuned. “Peter [speaks] of world history in three periods divided by two cataclysms: the world before the Flood (v. 6), the present world (v. 7), and the future world (v. 13).” (Constable commentary)

Now note. Peter is not addressing the mockers themselves, for that would be like Proverbs 26:4 which warns us against responding to a fool. Rather, as a good teacher and shepherd, he is addressing their mocking so he can replace it with the truth.

RЯeflection

• When you read this, do you see yourself in the seat of the mockers? Do you “willingly forget” what God’s Word says? Maybe not about end times but His commands – like Love God and your neighbor or, husbands love their wives and wives submit to their husbands. Psalm 1:1 warns us to not do that. If we continue in that Psalm, v2 tells us the blessed man, rather than mocking, delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night.
• Are you ready for Christ’s return? Peter hasn’t talked about it yet but it’s coming. We don’t know when. But we can see the signs. Jesus calls us to be ready.