The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 10:6-7,
"There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
These are the words spoken by a "mighty angel" that John saw in his vision, who had come down from heaven, verse 1. He held a little scroll in his hand as he stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. Here he proclaims the end of God's delay in bringing his "mystery" to accomplishment.
Certainly this "mystery" is the completion of God's grand agenda of the redemption of mankind and his judgement of all who rejected him. "No more delay" refers to the end of opportunity for any to embrace the Lord in faith, as well as bringing the wicked to their appointed judgment: no more delay!
We live in a time when we feel this "delay" of the Lord. Those of us who have embraced the Lord in faith await our resurrection, as Paul notes in Romans 8:22-25, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Peter speaks of God's purpose in this delay in 2 Peter 3:8-9, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
God is delaying the end of this age that he might fill the nation he is building with the many souls who embrace him in faith. He wants "everyone to come to repentance" and does not want anyone to perish as he provides the time for fully populating his kingdom, his nation.
Surely we can all live with this "delay" as God builds his kingdom - given its importance. But, as the mighty angel proclaimed, that moment is headed our way when "There will be no more delay!"
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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