Why has the Lord delayed His coming?
Its all about (it always has been about) love and mercy.
Does the Lord delay His coming just so the wicked can receive more judgement? So the wicked can get more wicked? So the thief and murderer can steal and kill more? Absolutely not. It comes right back to you and me, when the Lord reached out to us in our sin and rebellion. It comes back to the lost sheep. What will the Lord do for 1 more sinner who has the potential to make it into the kingdom? He will stop the world on its axis, He will stop time in its tracks. He will move heaven and earth for one sinner, one soul.
This world could care less about one person. This world is about numbers, what's "trending" what the crowd wants. Our kingdom could not be more different.
What has the Lord impressed upon this writer recently? What you have read above and:
1. despite all its backslidings and apostasys and all the Lord still walks among His Church:
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:20The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
2. The Lord had the entire Bible to fill us in on the tribulation the Church will go through. When we read Revelation 1-3 where our God is talking directly to the Churches by name, He actually does address tribulation to two out of seven Churches.
So its not like the Lord forgot to mention "oh by the way, get ready for the tribulation its going to be a rough ride." But He did not say that. What did the Lord say?
Rev 2:9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
To one of the seven Churches He said some of you (not all, some) will go to prison to be tried and have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful unto death. Could that be any more straightforward? The Lord clearly addressed 1. tribulation and 2. be ready to die for your faith during that tribulation. No guesswork involved whatsoever
To one other Church (2 of 7) they are threatened with great tribulation if they do not get their act together:
Rev 2:19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
What's the good news here ^^? Obviously the entire Church is not going into the tribulation. The Word is only used in the address to two Churches. The Lord did not forget, nor is He shy about telling us when and where we will be required to die for our faith. He came straight out with it to the Church at Smyrna (Rev 2:9-11).
There is an escape from all coming. If there was not, He would not have told us to be watching for it and praying for it. Watch and pray always! For what?
Luke 21:36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch and pray for escape. The Lord God said it, He commanded it. It is not optional based on pet doctrines about the rapture, it is a command. What does watch and pray mean? What does always mean? Do you see any wiggle room at all in that command? And yet there are thousands upon thousands who tell us "don't bother to watch and pray right now because of x,y,z" How foolish.
Brother D, are you calling believers foolish? No, the Lord did that here:
Matt 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Over and over and over again He told us you dont know the day or hour. Watch, pray, be ready. How many times does He have to say it? This is good news. No, its great news. Our God is coming for us on an unknown day and hour. There is an escape from all that is about to happen and we should be watching and praying for it ALWAYS. That includes today, tomorrow and the next day. Anything that conflicts with the straightforward reading and interpretation of the Word should go straight where it belongs, the trash can. The doctrine of men can perish with them. If the Lord said to watch and pray 1. For His return and 2. For escape, we need to do it.
Mark 13:32But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34For the Son of man is
as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority
to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to
watch.
35Watch
ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at
even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Guess what? He is right. I do not know when the time is, and neither does anybody else! If we do not know, and nobody does, then we better be watching.
This should be good news, news of love and mercy but so many will not hear it. All they want to do is argue and rebel. I will leave you with what the Lord impressed me with to write this post. Consider how the book of Revelation begins and who the beginning is addressed to (us). It begins with mercy and love (for us):
Rev 1:4John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Him who 1. loved us 2. washed us from our sins 3. made us kings and priests.
The Church is still alive on the earth today and the Lord our God still walks among His Church. He still loves us and His mercy is still extended to all mankind. He has not forgotten us, we are the apple of His eye. His love, His Bride, His prized possession. You have reason to hope and rejoice today in spite of all the problems and trouble in the world.
This is the heart of the Lord impressed upon me to share with you. I kept putting it off and He kept coming back with it so here it is. Glory to God.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
