“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1John 5:4 KJV). Winning a war first requires defining victory. If Jesus already defeated Satan at the Cross, why must we fight a Spiritual War? Because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12 KJV). The Enemy covets the glory belonging only to Almighty God, so he must enlist the sympathy of the world and neutralize support for and dependence upon Yahweh. In reality, Satan can only delay God’s final judgment against himself, but cannot eliminate that inevitable conclusion. By contrast, the Father must draw humanity to Himself through His Son by His Spirit. Since faith is that relationship of trust in God which functions by love, I AM will be worshipped by His chosen ones for He is worthy. The Most High alone determines when everything is finished. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
Concept of Delay
Scoffers and Shirkers
Outside the Kingdom of God , scoffers attack the credibility and authenticity of Christianity. Inside the Professed Church, shirkers do whatever possible to keep their hope of Heaven, while doing as little as possible to differentiate themselves from the world. “But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken” (Luke 12:45 KJV). Bible prophecy should warn the world to put their house in order, Jesus is coming. The Church must keep their eyes on Jesus and not look back to the flesh pots of Egypt. “Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full” (Exodus 16:3 KJV). Delaying Christ’s coming means different things to different people.
Last Days Scoffers
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, 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” (2Peter 3:3-4 KJV). Like the watchers of Noah building the Ark, scoffers reject the promises and prophecies of the LORD. Doubters mistake the LORD’s delay for His inability to return. But, even His delay may be their salvation. The Flood came — just look at how it carved the Grand Canyon — and, Jesus Christ will return anytime soon!
Negotiating With God
“That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 KJV). Abraham interceded for Lot, when he negotiated for Jehovah’s willingness to put off the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The LORD was not negotiating whether it was right to deal with the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, but He was willing to give the evil twin cities more time to repent — and, they never did! Never mistake God’s merciful kindness for unwillingness or inability.
Concept of Delay
The concept of delay in spiritual warfare is more important in understanding Bible prophecy than it’s simple name would indicate. For whatever reason the Sovereign Lord deems appropriate, He may delay the return of the Messiah. Though delay puts off the ultimate defeat and subsequent judgment of Satan, the LORD gains by the additional opportunity for humanity to switch their allegiance to Yahweh. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9 KJV).
Stand Your Ground
Stand your ground. No retreat. Deny the enemy the opportunity of flanking and destroying the line. “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1Corinthians 16:13 KJV). Since this is a spiritual war, every action translates into consequences for the progress or delay of victory. Satan and the forces of the Antichrist cannot ultimately win, but they can delay the Almighty’s final victory and their judgment. If you were Lucifer wouldn’t you want to put off the final day of your reckoning with your Creator and Judge? This was the thinking of the demon possessed pair that met Jesus. “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29 KJV). No matter how long the delay, the All Knowing Creator is not surprised or confused by the enemy. Lucifer will be a chained lion (Revelation 20:1-3) during the Millennium, but He presently “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5:8 KJV). Spiritual warfare demands, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 KJV). We may admire the tenacity of soldiers such as Joshua Chamberlain at the Battle of Gettysburg, who stood their ground and even bayonet charged their foe; but, we know our victory is by faith assured, if we will have the spiritual backbone to “resist stedfast in the faith” (1Peter 5:9 KJV). God bless all soldiers of Christ!
Why the Christian Worldview Isn’t Working
Church membership is quite noticeably declining because the Christian worldview isn’t working. The faith of the Scriptures doesn’t seem to explain what’s going on in the lives of church members to make the weekly pilgrimage to church worth it. Not enough Christian service? Too little outreach? Some churches preach and teach Bible prophecy, while others simply acknowledge the Second Coming of Jesus Christ with allusions to the New Heavens and New Earth. For instance, Hebrews 10:25 is often quoted as why disciples should assemble as a church. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV). Notice the compelling nature of church attendance was “as ye see the day approaching” (10:25). What day? The soon or imminent return of the One who said, “I come quickly” (Revelation 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20 KJV). Who has a good explanation for why Jesus hasn’t yet returned? This is only one example of a Christian worldview that doesn’t seem to be working. And, I do not think this was simply anticipating the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple worship in 70 AD by the Romans. If we were to introduce the concept of delay in spiritual warfare, as seen in the Book of Daniel (10:13), we could see how Christ’s Return would be just as imminent today, at any moment, as for the original recipients of the Book of Hebrews. But, we would have to reorganize our worldview. A little drastic change, now and then, is a healthy thing, don’t you think?
All Prophecy Has Already Been Fulfilled?
If I said, ‘All prophecy has already been fulfilled, as of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70,’ then you would probably correct me. ‘No, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the New Heavens and New Earth are still yet to be fulfilled.’ Then, the Book of Revelation is not just figurative and allegorical — teaching only principles and not predictive prophecy. You can see the difficulty of attempting to take away the stated purpose of the Book of Revelation. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John” (Revelation 1:1 KJV). When the Children of God become embarrassed about how long it has been taking the LORD for it to “shortly come to pass,” then we attempt to allegorize the Book of Revelation to ‘protect’ His image. But, if the any moment, imminent, “shortly come to pass” return of the Lord Jesus Christ can be accounted for by the delaying aspects of Spiritual Warfare, as seen in the Book of Daniel (10:13), then we can begin to appreciate why Jesus cautioned us, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32 KJV). May the LORD give us wisdom concerning His Return.
We Need A Miracle 