Why Hasn't Jesus Come Back Yet?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000
Why Hasn't Jesus Come Back Yet?
"Where is the promise of his coming? ... 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." (II Peter 3:4, 9)
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end
come." (Matthew 24:14).
"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth
labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:38).
"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20).
There seems to be at least three elements involved in the
"delay" of our Lord's return FOR His church in what we call the
Rapture (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17) and then WITH His church in
what we call the Second Coming (Revelation chapter 19):
1. Our Lord's great love and patience giving never dying souls an
opportunity to repent and be saved, because He is "not willing that
any should perish". "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming
of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit
of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early
and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh." (James 5:7, 8).
2. The fact that the gospel is to reach ALL nations BEFORE the
end will come. This is the ONLY "sign" that I can find that Jesus
said would indicate the time of the end (Some would say the fig tree
illustration is another.). But, He did not say that we would know
exactly when it would happen (more on the subject of WHEN may
come later). Also, I would like to point out that it seems possible that
this might not be fulfilled until after the Rapture, during the Great
Tribulation, perhaps by the 144,000 converted Jews.
The "end" in Matthew 24:14 does not necessarily refer to the
Rapture. It more properly refers to the end of this world (or of the
age) as we know it, because it includes such ideas as "limit, conclusion,
uttermost, and termination" (Strong's and Vine's Dict.).
Then again we read in Revelation 14:6, "And I saw another angel
fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people,".
3. The lack of prayer on the part of the saints. By this I mean
prayer for the spread of the gospel to all nations, for the salvation
of the souls for which our Lord is waiting, and for Christ's return.
It is a mysterious reality that God works in answer to the prayers of
His people. John Wesley said, "God does nothing but in answer to
prayer".
Whether John Wesley was right or not, we can find throughout
God's Word and in our lives today that God works in answer to prayer.
Also, the fact that Jesus urged His disciples to pray that the "Lord of
harvest" would "send forth laborers" would show that the Great
Commission -- to take the gospel to all the world -- is greatly
dependent upon the prayers of the saints.
Then, since the last Holy Spirit inspired prayer of the Bible is
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus.", it would seem imperative for the saints
to join in with this prayer which may hasten the return of Christ.
With all this in mind, let us be busy about the work of our Lord
by praying much and by laboring much for its success. While we
"occupy" until Christ returns, let us LOOK for Him!
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28).
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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