Why did Prophecy take so long to be fulfilled?

God gives us this answer in 2 Peter.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering (patient) toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” -- 2 Peter 3:9

You see God took this long so he could save as many of his children that he can. Perhaps one day we will understand more about this patience of God, but for now our task is to believe and to keep watch.

Are we living in the Last Days? We sure have reason to think so don't we? and believe it or not there is more evidence.

Evidence that Christ himself tells us;

Jesus warns, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be . . .” Matt 24:37

To help us understand this prophecy Genesis 6:11-13 tells us what the days of Noah were like.

“The Earth also was corrupt before God, and the Earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the Earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the Earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the Earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the Earth.’ -- Gen 6:11-13

And, “As in the days of Noah,” worldly men and women will casually ignore God’s warnings and live as though God will never intervene and life will simply continue on as always.

Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” -- Matt 24:37-39

The coming of the Lord is imminent. There is no stopping the prophecies as written in the word of God. The days before Christ’s return are numbered, not one of us know the day, but we can see by the signs of the times, that it will, it must… be soon.

When Will These Things Be? Are We Ready?

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? – Matthew 24:3

From the above passage three separate questions can be seen being asked by the disciples to the Lord.

1) When shall these things be?

This question is in direct reference to the prophecy Christ had just given in regards to the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:2).

2) And what shall be the sign of thy coming?

This question appears to be in regard to the signs to be witnessed in the world prior to Christ returning for his Church. This return we commonly refer to as the rapture.

3) And of the end of the age?

This question, separate from the 2nd, asks what signs and events would take place before Christ’s returning a second time to the Earth, commonly referred to as the 2nd coming.

So what are the signs in this passage?

Continuing on in Matthew 24 we see that Christ mentions a few in his Olivet Discourse.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. – Matthew 24:4-8

From a study of the Olivet Discourse let’s take a quick refresher at some of the events described therein.

• Jesus warns that we will see cults and false messiahs … increasing (Mat 24:5) 
• There will be no lasting peace until Jesus, the Messiah, returns. (Mat 24:6) 
• “Nation will rise against Nation” the greek here for nation was ‘ethnos”. Ethnos is where we get our word ethnic. So what Christ is saying here is we will see an increase in ethnic tension and violence. (Mat 24:7) 
• We will see small and large wars increasing throughout the world… (Mat 24:7) 
• We will see hunger, starvations and famines…. Increasing (Mat 24:7) 
• We will see pestilence and the spread of disease…. Increasing (Mat 24:7) 
• All these are the beginning of sorrows. – The greek here for sorrows is ‘odin’ which translates directly to ‘birth pangs’. 

The bible being a perfect writing of truth provides other passages and parallelisms to Christ’s own words, and throughout it we can read of these ‘signs’ and 'calling cards' of the 'end time’ period.

The bible tells us there would be a ‘falling away’ and a turning away from God.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. – 1 Timothy 4:1-3

It tells us that men will try to change, pervert, or corrupt the true message of Christ and the Word of God

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. – Gal 1:6-9

These verses parallel what was said in Matthew 24:11-12 where we are warned about ‘false prophets’ that will arise, and would deceptively lead many away from the truth…

And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. -- Matthew 24:11-12

The bible tells us we are to beware of any who teach another Gospel, or anything that would be in direct opposition to what Christ taught.

The bible tells us that we are to test the spirits…in essence we are to test those we question in faith and doctrine.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. -- 1 John 4:1-6

And that knowing Christ through our own personal relationship with him, we shall know they who are not of him…

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. -- Matthew 7:20

In the latter days the bible tells us that Homosexuality will become more prominent and that the world will resemble something a'kin to Soddom and Gommorrah prior to those two ancient city’s destruction by fire and brimstone.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot ; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. – Matthew 17:28-30

The list goes on and on throughout the bible of all the things to expect. The general ‘air’ of the generation will be the turning away from God.

So what does God think of the generation that provides the breeding ground for all this sin and corruption?

The bible warns the generation which approves of things detestable to God. When we read the passage we can see several parallelisms to today.

From Romans 1 we read…

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The above sounds like man’s sciences and knowledge replacing God.  Romans goes on ...

Sexual Sins, fornication, adultery, pornography….

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

The theory of evolution and darwinism. Denying scripture in light of man’s science.

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Homosexuality among women and men.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Here we have a list of characteristics akin to those we read in 1 Timothy we read previous. It also says that society will be aware and know of their wrong doing, but they will do it anyway.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Isaiah sums it up perfectly as to what awaits those who do ‘evil’ in God’s eyes.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! – Isaiah 5:20

God warns us not to give in and be seduced by the world around us. He warns that even casual embracing of the heartbeat and ideals of our ‘society’ could be frowned upon in his eyes.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. – 1 John 2:15-16

…… know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. – James 4:4

God offers all of us his Salvation and redemption from this world around us. We can rejoice in the fact that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we have a way to outlast all of the pain, all of the evil and sin in this current world of ours. Through Christ Jesus we are promised life everlasting with our creator.

For those who have not accepted this gift, the window of opportunity is closing fast. Christ warned that his coming for the church would be as a ‘thief in the night’. He warned us to watch and be ready for know one will know when he is coming. One day soon Christ will return for his church. After which horrors and tribulation the world has never seen before in all of history will begin.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. – Matthew 24:21

Are you Ready?

If you answered ‘NO’ to my question and you would like to know how you can be Ready for Christ’s return. I encourage you to have a look at the following: Are You a Good Person?

For those of us who think they can answer ‘YES’ to that same question - For those of us members of this church who have a personal relationship with Christ, are we doing our part as we stand ‘Ready’?

The bible tells us we won’t have time to ‘GET’ ready… instead the bible tells us to ‘BE’ ready.

The time is short. We can read in the news around us that all of the things prophesized by Christ and the apostles 2000 years ago are coming true before our eyes. Are we doing our part to fulfill the great commission? One day we will all be held accountable for all that God has given us charge over. It is up to us to be ready and ensure that we don’t miss an opportunity to do God’s will in the world around us. There is no one else in the world, the location, the street, the house that God placed us at right now… each of us at our own specific spot and place… each put there for definite and precise purpose.

And so I ask the question again…

 Are you Ready?

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. – Matthew 28:18-20

- J.R.Hall

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