“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. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.”
In context, Peter here is not talking about a rapture that will snatch believers from the earth before some tribulation and earthly millennial reign of Christ, but about his Second Coming at the end of time. The scoffers of his time were trying to discount the fact that Christ would come at all and so feel free to continue their depraved lives. When Christ comes for his Church, he will only come once, at which time the dead will rise, those believers still on earth taken up, and then immediately the judgement and eternity.
I should add that Peter is quoting Psalm 90, specifically verse 4: "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night." The whole Psalm is about the eternalness of God compared to the frailty and passing nature of man. If Peter was applying this to a future millennial reign, he would be guilty of severe out of context proof-texting.
You do not have to hold to the novel and convoluted rapturist End Times schema to benefit from Peter's warning. Christ can come at any time, and it behooves us to be ready at all times.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again. Amen. Alleluia.
That message that Peter wrote towards the end of his life was aimed at all people of the Church. But he does mentions “Last Days Scoffers”, which could easily mean then (Dispensation of Grace) or now as we edge ever closer to The Lord’s Return.
Israel is a nation again after 1,878 years of being dispersed. That is the “super sign” that we’re close..