Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

Just as Wolves open their mouths to bite and wound Sheep, Scoffers open their mouths with biting remarks to wound the Sheep that follow the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who are anxiously watching for His return.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:10-11

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. I Peter 5:4

Much of what follows was originally written over 2 years ago, but it still holds just as true, maybe even more so, today.

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. II Peter 3:3-4

We are indeed in the last days. Most people now seem to be motivated by their own lusts instead of any desire to know God by knowing His Word. They would much rather engage in drugs including alcohol and tobacco, gambling, pornography, sex outside of marriage, and every other vice imaginable.

They are not content in just walking in their own lusts but want to drag everyone else around them down with them, even making fun of those that are watching for His coming.

Sadly, many scoffers also profess to be Christians. Will God take them kicking and screaming in a Rapture that not only are they not watching for, but one that they are making fun of those who do watch? Of course not. God does not force anyone into Paradise or Heaven against their belief system or against their will.

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24:42

But the scoffers are loud, numerous, and repetitive saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?" They sincerely believe one of the following:

1. He is not coming back so it is foolhardy to watch for him.
2. He is coming back, but no one will be able to watch the signs promised by God and with the help of the Holy Spirit figure out when He is most likely to return, so it is foolhardy to watch for him.

Sadly, the scoffers are like germs. They are everywhere. However, they don't do much damage as long as they stay outside the body of Christ. However, once they get inside the body they can spread throughout the body, weakening and distracting the whole body of Christ.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; I Peter 1:13

What about scoffers that would want to label all of us that watch as prophets, or in their mind, false prophets, when we watch a date that passes? But many of us are no more prophets, nor claim to be, than the local weatherman looking at the signs and coming up with a forecast. We are like watchmen in a tower who call out to those inside the fortress. We watch the signs instead of making claims to direct revelations from God. In fact those that do claim direct revelations from God of when He is returning for His bride should be suspect for two reasons. The first, even though scripture records:

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

It also records over and over God's command for all of us to watch for His return. Why watch if God is going to directly reveal the time?

The second reason is direct revelation has no signs to watch. With signs, the evidence can be made available for others to see. Then, based on the evidence, they have the chance to reach the same conclusions. This is just like a scientist that can make available his evidence and conclusions for predicting a future solar eclipse, equinox, or return of a comet.

Does this mean that God is then absent from being involved in the process? Heaven forbid, any more than He was absent from being involved in Sir Isaac Newton's or Albert Einstein's discoveries, to which they both credited their Creator. But just as He leaves the physical universe for us to discover more, the deeper we watch, He leaves the timing of His second coming for us to discover more, the deeper we watch.

Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. Mark 13:35-37