Good morning,
Is this the year?
It was just a week ago that we were celebrating God’s timing in sending his son Jesus to begin his life here on earth as the son of Mary and the Son of God. The Jewish people of that day were looking forward to the coming of a king who would rule the world and give them the power to control the world. The Bible that they had was full of promises that the God of creation would some day be in control of everyone and everything. Prophets like Daniel had been used by God to tell powerful kings and the people of their day that God was in control of time. At one point Daniel prayed, "Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.(Dan.2:20,21) As part of the dream that God gave the most powerful king on earth, God told him that there were going to be five great kingdoms that would be rule the earth over time and that four of them would come and go. Then God told him, "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.(v.44) The religious leaders of their day and the followers of Jesus were all expecting their Messiah, but they were all wrong about the timing that God had in store for them. The religious leaders killed Jesus as a false leader and the followers of Jesus were crushed when he died on the cross as a failed leader.
As the Apostles stood looking into the empty tomb, they had no idea that the fifth kingdom had begun right before their eyes. Jesus was alive and well and someday would be coming back again as the triumphant king.Peter came to understand the waiting as part of how God looked at time. Peter wrote, But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think.(2Pet.3:8,9) If Jesus had set up his kingdom on earth then, how many of us, from that time to this, would ever see heaven? Why the wait? Peter wrote, No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.(v.9) Well then, is this the year that Jesus will show up to begin the process of conquest? Paul tells us, For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.(1 Tim.6:15) The prophets of both the Old and New Testaments have told us what God told them about his timing. There are seven years of awesome battle ahead of our world before Jesus feet touch the earth again. Then there are going to be a thousand years when Jesus will be the king of the earth. Only after that time will a final battle be fought that will end the existence of the world as we know it.(2Pet.3:7)Then and only then, with a new heaven and a new earth, will the battle be over forever. John was told to write, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.(Rev.21:3) He was also told, All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.(v.7) Dear Lord, will you help us to be focused daily on willing obedience and bringing glory to your name, instead of when things will get better for us.
1 Timothy 6:15 For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Roy Wisner
