This author insisted that they must know that on the last days, scoffers or mockers would come indulging their lusts. They will say, where is this second coming? There is no end of time. Their ancestors died, yet things continued on as if from the beginning of creation. They ignore the fact of the divine existence of heaven and earth. God formed earth out of water. He sent a flood of water where the evil ones perished. The present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire and the destruction of the godless on the day of judgment. What do you expect on the day of judgment?
The last days
The last days (2 Pet 3:3)
“First of all,
You must understand this,
That in the last days,
Scoffers
Will come,
Scoffing
And indulging
Their own lusts.”
τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες, ὅτι ἐλεύσονται ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐν ἐμπαιγμονῇ ἐμπαῖκται κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν πορευόμενοι
This author said, “First of all (πρῶτον), you must understand (γινώσκοντες) this (τοῦτο), that (ὅτι) in the last days (ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν), scoffers (ἐμπαῖκται) will come (ἐλεύσονται), scoffing (ἐν ἐμπαιγμονῇ) and indulging (πορευόμενοι) their own lusts (κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν).” This author reminded his readers that they had to understand some things about the last days, the day of judgment, the day of the Lord. During that time, in the days, months, or years prior to the day of judgment, there would be people mocking or scoffing at them. However, these mockers would be indulging or following their own lusts and desires, not the wishes of the Lord. Do you know someone who has mocked you for being a Christian?
The last days (chapter 3)
Paul said that in the last days, it would be very distressing. Men would be selfish, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, and unholy. They would be inhuman, slanders, brutes, treacherous, reckless, and conceited. They would be lovers of pleasure not God. Are you a lover of pleasure?
The last days (2 Tim. 3:1)
In the last days,
Distressing times
Will come.”
Τοῦτο δὲ γίνωσκε, ὅτι ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις ἐνστήσονται καιροὶ χαλεποί·
Paul said, “You must understand this (Τοῦτο δὲ γίνωσκε). In the last days (ὅτι ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις), distressing times will come (ἐνστήσονται καιροὶ χαλεποί).” Only the Pauline letters used this word ἐνστήσονται, that means to place in, to be at hand, present, or threaten. Paul reminded Timothy that he had to understand that in the last days, the distressing times would come. At the second coming, the judgment day, the end of the world, it would be a tough time. Timothy had to realize this. Do you expect the end of the world to be easy?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 