1. Comment #12261 by Stephen Topping on December 11, 2006 at 1:24 pm

In reading this thread, I am reminded that the wicked can sometimes unwittingly fulfil the very Scriptures whose message they reject.

I will begin with perhaps the most striking example, namely the crucifixion of Christ. The Lord Jesus was betrayed by a wicked man for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26 v.15); wicked men nailed his hands and feet to a cross (John 19 v.18); wicked men divided His clothes between them and cast lots for his coat (John 19 v.23-24); wicked men said sneeringly, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him" (Matthew 27 v.43); and wicked men decided to thrust a spear through his side rather than break his bones, once they saw he had already died (John 19 v.33-34).

All these things were done by wicked men; and yet unwittingly they were fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

Many centuries before, these things had all been prophesied by men inspired of God. The prophet Zechariah foretold that the price of betrayal would be thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11 v.12). The writer of Psalm 22 foretold that the dying Messiah would have his hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22 v.16); that his clothes would be divided with the casting of lots (Psalm 22 v.18); that men would sneer at Him saying "He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, if he delight in him" (Psalm 22 v.7-8); and that his bones would not be broken (Psalm 22 v.17).

You may be thinking, what is the relevance of this to the discussion thread?

Well, some of the entries on this thread pour scorn on the account of the world-wide flood contained in the Bible. Unwittingly, however, the writers of these entries are fulfilling a prophecy of the very Scriptures they despise, one found in the New Testament. The epistle of Peter says:
"…there shall come in the last days scoffers …
"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Peter 3 v. 3 and 5-6)
Dear reader, I wish you the greatest of all blessings, even peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55 v.7)

Stephen Topping

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2. Comment #12752 by Stephen Topping on December 13, 2006 at 3:08 pm

Here are some additional comments to add to my previous entry.

First, I do not pretend to know when the Second Coming of Christ will happen. The Lord Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24 v.36).

However, in response to my earlier entry, a number of people have scoffed at the idea that there is such a thing as the "last times". The argument in at least one of these entries could be summarised as "The Second Coming of Christ hasn't happened for the last two millennia, hence it won't happen."

This response only reinforces what I said in my first entry: that the scoffing in this discussion thread is itself a fulfilment of Scripture.

If you go back to my earlier entry, you may notice that when I quoted from the second epistle of Peter I quoted (part of) verse 3 and verses 5-6, missing out verse 4. In light of subsequent replies, however, verse 4 is very pertinent. Here is the full quote:

"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. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" (2 Peter 3 v.3-6).

Think about it. Around 2,000 years ago, a leader in what then appeared to be a small and persecuted sect predicted that in the last times there would be scoffers who would refuse to believe in the biblical account of the flood. He predicted that these scoffers would pour scorn on the Second Coming of Christ, using the argument that "The Second Coming of Christ hasn't happened so far, hence it won't happen."

If you have read this discussion thread, you are a witness that around 2,000 years later this prophecy is being fulfilled. How many books make accurate predications over a 2,000 year timescale? Will you still close your mind to the possibility that the Bible is an inspired book?

Let me go on to quote the verses which follow on from the above.

"But 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. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3 v. 7-9)

Here we see that even in the New Testament there is a hint that the delay in Christ's Second Coming might be a matter of millennia. Moreover, the reason for this delay is that the Lord "is longsuffering to us-ward [written to believers], not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Dear reader, the delay in Christ's Second Coming gives you time for repentance before it is too late. O that God may work in your heart, that you may avail yourself of this opportunity! O that you may come to know salvation through Christ Jesus!

It is true that (like me) you have sinned greatly against God and do not deserve His mercy. But, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1 v.15). It is true that (like me) you have provoked the Almighty and deserve his judgment. But, "Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5 v.6).

Perhaps someone may ask, what must I do to be saved? Dear reader, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16 v.31).

Stephen Topping

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