By Zenas J. Bicket
Where is this coming He promised? Everything goes on as it has
since the beginning of creation. If that is what you think when
you hear mention of Christ’s return to snatch away His people,
be careful. Peter predicted last-day scoffers, following their own
evil desires, would be saying just that (2 Peter 3:3,4).
Yet, with the many centuries since the promise was given (Acts
1:11), it is natural to wonder if such a supernatural intervention
will actually take place.
Count on it. It is going to happen. The Bible is full of references
to this glorious event, the blessed hope of every believer (Titus
2:13). However, don’t be misled by our human way of counting
time. The average human lifetime is 70-80 years. But some life forms
live fewer years than humans and some much longer. God’s lifetime
is forever, without beginning or end. As Psalm 90:4 says, "A
thousand years in [God’s] sight are like a day that has just
gone by" (NIV). So it has been just "a couple of days"
since the promise was given to first-century Christians.
But why might Christ delay His return even for another instant?
Several reasons come to mind:
1. He is giving our generation a chance to repent and receive His
salvation.
2. He is testing the strength of our faith and commitment.
3. He is giving the church opportunity to evangelize the lost.
4. His delay encourages us to work faithfully, as though death
is yet in the future, but to be ready for His coming at any time.
God is not willing that any should perish or experience spiritual
death. His delay is not slowness in fulfilling His promise (2 Peter
3:9). He is preparing His bride "to present her … as a
radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but
holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27).
Our natural minds tend to be concerned about the millions since
the first century who have lived on earth without accepting Christ
as their Savior. And we should have a burden for the lost of our
day. But we should be even more concerned about becoming the holy
and blameless bride of Christ without wrinkle or blemish. Christ
tarries now so we may have opportunity to become that prepared and
perfect bride.
As God’s children, our earthly lives will end in one of two
ways: by death or via the Rapture. A faithful elderly Christian
woman left detailed instructions for her funeral. But at the end
of the note she wrote, "Prefer to go in the Rapture."
Are you ready for either departure route?
Zenas J. Bicket, Ph.D., is the former president
of Berean University of the Assemblies of God in Springfield, Mo.
