One of the things that will be prevelant in the coming days before Jesus returns, will be the mockery of His return. Peter tells us that there will be “scoffers” in the last days, “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 Pe 2:3-4] People will be walking in their own lusts, following after whatever makes their bodies feel good. People will be driven by their natural desire, thinking that just because Jesus hasn’t come yet that He won’t ever.

God says a similar thing through Ezekiel,

"Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, the days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, thus saith The Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every vision." [Ezek 12:22-23]

Even back in Ezekiel’s day this attitude was present. People looked at the prophecies of God and mocked them, saying they would never happen. But one day, God says “I will make this proverb to cease” and He is going to swiftly bring upon the world all the judgments promised. Jesus Himself says, “Surely I come in quickness.”

Peter tells us the reason that they have this attitude: they are ignorant of the fact that God is a God who intervenes, who is active in the earth. After all, The LORD created all things by His word and by His word destroyed all things through the flood. Likewise, The LORD will intervene once again. For Peter tells us “the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” [2 Pe 3:7]

The LORD has promised to return and judge the earth with fire,

"…For all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." [Zeph 3:8]

And the Psalms promises,

"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him." [Psa 50:3]

And Paul promises,

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…" [2 Thess 1:7-8]

Along with mocking, people will, instead of preparing to come face to face with the God who created them, will “give wicked counsel” and say, “it is not near; let us build houses.” [Ezek 11:2-3] Those on earth don’t believe that Jesus is coming back; they mock, and they are confident in their position: building houses and additions and upgrades, storing up more money, investing in the earth and its accouterments instead of in God. Instead of recognizing the shortness of life, they continue to entrench themselves in this earth, making it their permanent home. Of those who do such things, Jesus says “the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world” is to “try them that dwell upon the earth.” [Rev 3:10] And later an Angel proclaims, “woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” [Rev 8:13]

Those who have their lives fixed upon earth, whose hope is not in Jesus, who are at ease, live in luxury, eat well, etc… Those who live in comfort, all the while rejecting Jesus and continuing to disobey His words, are spoken of in Amos. The LORD says woe to them!

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph." [Amo 6:1-6]

In contrast to those who scoff, those who “put far away the evil day,” or who say “it is not near,” in contrast to those who say within their heart “My Lord delayeth His coming,” yes in contrast to those we must, as Paul exhorts, “cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light;” we must not walk in the lusts of our own bodies or of the world, “but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not foresight for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” [Rom 13:12-14] We must,

"…not sleep, as do others; but let us stay awake and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." [1 Thess 5:6-10]

We must espescially be in prayer. Paul writes that we ought to, “persevere in prayer, and stay awake in the same with thanksgiving.”

CONCLUSION

Truly, the night is far spent and the day is at hand – there is no time to lose, we must persevere through God’s grace in Jesus Christ and seek to be ready for His imminent return.

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." [2 Pe 3:11-14]