Why is Christ Delaying His Coming?

It's been about two-thousand years since Christ walked on our planet. He promised to return but we haven't seen any sign of his coming. Additionally, the signs Pentecostal denominations  claim to be indications of his return are so vague.

So, when will our Lord return? Scripture indicates that God has a set number of those who will be saved. As Jesus prayed in John 17:24 (BBE), "Father, it is my desire that these whom you have given to me may be by my side where I am, so that they may see my glory which you have given to me, because you had love for me before the world came into being."

I'm sure that some folks will object, saying that Christ was praying only for those disciples gathered with him at that time. But Jesus said in John 17:20 (BBE) that, "My prayer is not for them only, but for all who will have faith in me through their word;"

Some people believe that the offer of salvation is open-ended, meaning that it depends upon us spiritually dead humans to repent and believe on Christ. One scripture they quote is Acts 2:21 (BBE). "And whoever makes his prayer to the Lord will have salvation." But that doesn't mean that there aren't an unlimited number who can be saved.

One word we Christians use to describe this set number of believers is predestination. It means that God picked some folks to be saved before the world was made. As Paul mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:9 (BBE), referring to Christ, "Who gave us salvation, marking us out for his purpose, not on account of our works, but in the measure of his purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,"

Even the plan of salvation was decided before time began. As Titus 1:2 (BBE) mentions, "In the hope of eternal life, which was made certain before eternal time, by the word of God who is ever true;"

In one of Christ's parables, he gave an example of how the end of this sinful age will be. Matthew 13:47 and 48 (BBE) reads, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net, which was put into the sea and took in every sort of fish: When it was full, they took it up on the sands; and seated there they put the good into vessels, but the bad they put away." Notice that it was only one cast, not many and all the fish in the net were sorted at that time.

This is one topic I'll tackle in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? None of us knows who's predestined to be saved so we need to tell everybody the good news. Some will repent and some won't. that's just the way it is.

I'll be featuring one of my favourite songs on Saturday. Steve Miller recorded one about humanity leaving the Garden of Eden. I think you'll enjoy it, especially the harmony of the voices.

Who Leads People Astray, God or Allah?

For those of us who trust in Christ, there's no doubt on this point. But for those who might still wonder, here's what the Bible says about God and what the Quran says about Allah.

Look at what Paul wrote in Titus 1:2 (KJV). "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

But one of many examples of Allah leading people astray is sura 4:88 (Women). "What is the matter with you, divided into two factions regarding the hypocrites, when Allah Himself has overwhelmed them on account of what they did? Do you want to guide those whom Allah has led astray? Whomever Allah leads astray—you will never find for
him a way."

But some folks might argue that God blinds people spiritually. They might quote Deuteronomy 28:28 (KJV) which says, "The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:" 

But throughout Scripture, only those who refuse to see are spiritually blinded. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:18 (KJV) of the wicked, "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:"

Joe Casey, creator of the video series called Understanding Islam, said that the English versions of the Quran were altered so that the word "deceivers" was changed to "planners." Sura 3:54 (FAMILY OF IMRAN ) says, "They planned, and Allah planned; but Allah is the Best of planners."

But according to the Bible, Satan is the deceiver. Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 8:44 (KJV) that, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

I suppose that some folks will say that the Devil isn't Allah. Look at what Deuteronomy 32:17 (KJV) says about any other god than the real one. "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not."

I'll be writing about this in more detail in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Satan is a real entity and we must be aware of how he tries to deceive the Lord's children.

On Thursday, I'll post about the one who intercedes for us in Heaven. We believers know who it is but the Quran contradicts the scriptures on this point as well.