“We constantly hear from those who scoff at what we do at Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter. They hate the message. Now, we should not be surprised that so many unbelievers scoff when we stand up for God’s Word because “men [love] darkness rather than light” (John 3:19).
“In 2 Peter we’re warned that in the last days (since God’s Son became a man) there’d be scoffers mocking those who stand on the truth of God’s Word.
“‘Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to 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 creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water (2 Peter 3:3-6).’
“This passage tells us that scoffers in the last days will reject creation and Noah’s Flood—we certainly see that today with scoffers of the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum. These scoffers "willingly forget" the truths of the history of God’s Word—they deliberately reject the truth despite obvious evidence.
“But, in this same passage, God’s Word reminds us that He is long-suffering toward scoffers and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)—a reminder to pray for scoffers. Will you join us in praying for those who mock and scoff, that they will come to know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel?”
~ Ken Ham, Jan. 17, 2016
“Scoffers and the Last Days”
Accessed 2/25/2025 (1)
According to Ken Ham and many other Young Earth Creationist (YEC) proponents, the “scoffers” mentioned in 2 Peter 3 are those living in the post-ascension era who “reject creation and Noah’s Flood.” Whether intentional or not, this interpretation extends the category of “scoffers” to include Christians who diverge from the broader YEC definition of “creation” (as detailed in the previously cited source). For example, individuals who accept the extensive scientific evidence for an ancient cosmos or biological evolution, or who interpret the Flood narrative as describing a regional rather than global event—or who disagree with any element of the Answers in Genesis (AiG) formulation—are viewed as “scoffers” who “willingly forget the truths of the history of God’s Word.”
This framing lends particular weight to Mr. Ham’s subsequent exhortation:
“…in this same passage, God’s Word reminds us that He is long-suffering toward scoffers and not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9)—a reminder to pray for scoffers. Will you join us in praying for those who mock and scoff, that they will come to know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel?”
Given that Ham’s usage of “scoffer” appears to include Christians who do not affirm YEC positions, the implication is that such individuals are considered under God’s judgment. His appeal that readers pray for these individuals “that they will come to know the truth of God’s Word and the gospel” suggests a soteriological concern—that those who reject AiG’s interpretation of Genesis 1–11 are either unsaved, deceived, or spiritually deficient.
But does 2 Peter 3 support this interpretation?
The passage reads:
“Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder, so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, ‘Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.’ They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
“Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.”
~ 2 Peter 3:1-10 (CSB)
When examined in its immediate literary and historical context, 2 Peter 3:3–6 and 3:9 do not appear to affirm the claim advanced by Mr. Ham and other YEC teachers. For instance, verse 4 depicts the scoffers as saying: “Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation (ktisis [κτίσις]).” This statement presupposes belief in a created order rather than denial of creation per se. Such a view aligns with the supernatural cosmology of the ancient world; philosophical naturalism was not a prevailing concern in the first-century Greco-Roman context. Thus, the claim that the scoffers “reject creation” is not borne out by the text itself.
Moreover, what precisely are the scoffers rejecting? Verse 4 indicates their central objection is to the promised return of Christ: “Where is his [Jesus’] coming that he promised?” Their skepticism targets eschatological fulfillment, not the Genesis creation or Flood narratives. In this context, the mention of creation and the Flood in verses 5–6 functions theologically rather than polemically. The Flood is referenced as a paradigmatic act of divine judgment—a typological parallel to the coming eschatological judgment described in verse 7: “By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire…”
The primary concern of the passage is not to defend a particular interpretation of Genesis, but to affirm God's authority as both Creator and Judge. The reference to the Flood in 2 Peter 3:5–6 functions not as a rebuttal of those who question the extent of the deluge, but as a theological example of divine judgment. As described in Genesis 6:11–13, the Flood represents God's response to widespread human wickedness—a point Peter echoes to highlight the danger of ignoring God's past and future acts of justice (see also 2 Peter 2:1–10).
In conclusion, 2 Peter 3:1–10 teaches that, in the period between Christ’s ascension and return, there will be individuals who mock the promise of His return, refusing to acknowledge that divine judgment is both a historical reality and a future certainty. The passage calls believers to perseverance, holiness, and hope in light of God's patience and impending justice.
As the chapter closes, Peter exhorts his readers not only to anticipate the “day of the Lord” with sobriety but also to guard against theological distortion and grow in grace:
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
“Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
“Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.”
~ 2 Peter 3:10-18 (CSB)
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