How Close Are We?
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:8
Obviously, God has a different clock than we have today or even a calendar. God operates based on eternity, not as we do, watching the clock every day. Consider that we always speak of time as past present and future, but with God, everything is the eternal present. Moses wrote something very similar in Psalm 90:4.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
This was stated nearly 4000 years ago.
The response in 2 Peter 3:8 follows a question by scoffers. There will always be scoffers. Scoffers walk after their own lust and say,
Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (2 Peter 3:4).
Question: Why hasn’t the Lord come back since it has been over 2,000 years and since the world is so wicked? Remember, God’s calendar being different, it has only been two days since Christ ascended back into heaven! We must never view the events of our world with a temporal viewpoint. We must remember that God sees the big picture and His time is always perfect.
There have always been date setters. Perhaps they have used what we all know. The Bible seems to show the course of history as 6,000 years plus 1,000 years of Christ’s reign for a total of 7,000 years. From this perspective we must be close to the time of the Rapture, but this is based on our calendar. What the scoffers should really be concerned about is the Great White Throne Judgment.
We are living at the most critical time in the history of the world. 2 Peter 3:9 reveals that
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Right now, the proliferation of nuclear weaponry is out of control. Mankind could blow up the world, but that is not going to happen. God is totally in control of the timing and how the end will be played out.
When you read the book of Habakkuk, he was all bent out of shape seeing his wicked nation and the fact that God wasn’t doing anything. Anyway, that’s how he saw it! Yet, how many of us have considered this kind of thinking in our day?
God’s computations are found in His Word. Galatians 4:4-5 reveal that Christ came to this earth when the fullness of time was come. That was God’s timing and not ours. But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26). For when we were yet without strength, IN DUE TIME Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
As Christians, we have nothing to fear regardless of how wicked our world is. God’s program will move forward despite Satan, his cohorts and the wickedness of mankind. It is more important to consider whether we will be ready when God decides it is time for the Rapture to take place? Will He find us faithfully living as He has instructed us in His Word? Are we sharing Christ with the lost and praying to God for their salvation? Are we letting them know that without the shedding of Christ’s blood there is no redemption?
Mini Thoughts
- Never view the world circumstances or any events with a temporal viewpoint. Recognize that God is constantly seeing the big picture while we normally see what is taking place day by day. We must choose to see through the lens of God’s divine revelation which is eternal.
- Sin never triumphs. Certainly, there are times when it looks like sin is triumphing, but again, it is only temporary. God will judge all sin and right that which is wrong. He is still on the throne, and everything is ultimately under His control.
George Stiekes serves as a Lay Pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, NC. See here for a more complete bio of brother Stiekes extensive ministry. We republish his material by permission.