2 Peter 3:1-18

Waiting

It has been almost 2,000 years since the angels told the gather disciples, “This same Jesus will come again in the same way that you have seen Him go.” That means that He will come in a literal and physical fashion. But it has been almost 2,000 years!

That seems like a long time but if you consider His first coming it is certainly in the ballpark. If you go back to the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 as being the first promise of Messiah then mankind waited at a minimum over 4,000 years for His first coming. The nation of Israel had the promise of a coming Messiah at least as far back as Moses who foretold concerning the Prophet in Deuteronomy 18:18-19. That would have been a wait of near 1,500 years. So, 2,000 years isn’t out of line; however, it sure seems like a long time.

Therefore, it is not surprising that some would have given up and become scoffers. Where is this “coming”? It has been 2,000 and we don’t see him. Maybe He has forgotten to return? Maybe He never was going to return? Maybe He was just a myth all along? 

Ah, but such scoffers are actually themselves fulfilling the prophetic word concerning His return by their own words. Furthermore, it isn’t really we who are waiting for Him. He is waiting for us. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

When you feel discouraged and start to doubt that He will return remember. Two thousand years is not a long time by God’s reckoning. He hasn’t forgotten. We are constantly on His mind. When the time is fulfilled He will come; literally and physically, He will come.