It is not wonderful how the Bible predicts the future? Almost two thousand years, ago the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:3-4 predicted how in the future, the last days, “mockers would come with their mocking, following their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” This prediction came true in the mid Nineteenth century with the theory of uniformitarianism (uniform and slow deposition of sediments over millions of years) by Charles Lyell and others. This theory replaced the Biblical theory of catastrophism (rapid deposition of sediment over a short period of time) which was held by previous scientists like Sir Francis Bacon, who devised the scientific method.

Peter pointed out that this theory of uniformity—everything continuing as it was in the beginning or as it is now in the present—is a way to spread doubt about the judgment of God which He promised in the second coming of Christ. The mockers want us to doubt the character of God, that He is not faithful to keep all His promises and that He is not holy, righteous, and just and will not bring judgment on the earth. So how did Peter respond to this attack? He stated in verse 5-6, “For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed being flooded with water.” In this verse, Peter gives us insight into how the earth was created, by water and out of water. Then He points to the Noahic global flood as the mechanism by which God destroyed the whole earth and all the living with water as proof that not all has continued just as it was from the beginning.

But Peter did not stop there. He went on in verse 7 to predict another future event, “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” Peter wanted all to know that our God is holy, just, and righteous and will again bring judgment on the earth as He did in the days of Noah. This is why uniformitarianism is so deadly, for it gives the unbeliever the false idea that they are safe and secure and not in the hands of an angry God. Therefore, we must proclaim the truth of creation and the Creator, where we came from, and what is coming in the future so the unbeliever can repent and seek first the kingdom of God.