Posted on 01/24/2014 10:13:32 PM PST by pastorbillrandles
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?(Luke 18:1-8)
We have been looking at aspects of the parable of the desperate widow and the uncaring Judge. She had no earthly resources or powerful friends to plead her case, all she had going for her was the willingness to constantly cry out for Vindication without ceasing. The other factor is that the Judge that she went before had no fear of God whatsoever, and not even human considerations moved him.
Jesus told this parable that we could see ourselves and our current world situation in this. We should be like the widow, and ceaselessly cry out to God day and night, for the ‘Vindication”. When we really see the true nature of the World system; the fact that the powers that be, the so-called “Kings of this world and their rulers” are literally united against the Lord and his Christ,we will give up on worldly solutions and began to cry out in earnest for the coming of the Lord and the promised Kingdom.
The widow prevailed, in spite of the hard hearted and unjust judge. She never became cynically “realistic”, giving in and going along with the injustice. The church also shall prevail, in spite of the Kings of this world and their rulers, as long as we “Pray always and not faint…”. The great danger Jesus warns of is fainting, giving in and accommodating to the world Spirit instead of constantly witnessing against it, and crying out for the ultimate vindication.
The mark of the elect of God according to this parable is that they don’t find ways to accomodate the world Spirit, they cry out against it, seeking the Vindication which will come at the coming of our Lord to rule in Righteousness.
Jesus asked, “Will not God avenge His own elect, which cry out day and night to Him, though he bear Long with Him?”
The Lord bears long with us, in the sense that it has taken him a long time to bring us to this point of realizing our holy desperation and poverty and powerlessness in worldly terms.We still imagine we can marshall enough votes, or raise up some kind of worldly or political champion, in order to reverse the destruction of our world. Therefore we rely on other solutions, rather than looking for and hastening the coming of the Lord.
But events of recent years have shown many of us, that all we have as a hope is the hope of the return of Jesus, the setting of things straight and right with God, the reign of Righteousness. As Evil seems to advance in its march, we are crying fervently, (like the widow woman), “Come quickly Jesus, Vindicate us, deliver us from Evil, let thy Kingdom come!”.
Jesus said He would indeed avenge those who call out to Him, in fact he said he would avenge them speedily! What does Speedily mean? Didn’t he say this two thousand years ago? How then could it be said that he would ,”avenge them speedily”?
“Speedily” does not mean “Soon” as in the sequence of events.
Jesus used the same word in Revelation when He said, (Two thousand years ago), “Behold I come quickly…”(Rev 3:11,22:7,22:12,22:20). The word means that when the event happens, it will happen in rapid fashion.
As in the parable of the ten virgins. The time between the initial invitation to the Wedding, was followed by a long period of inactivity. The Virgins fell asleep!
But once the shout went out, “Behold the Bridegroom comes…”, events began to happen in rapid succession; lamps had to be trimmed, lit, and entry into the marriage commenced, whether the virgins were ready or not! If you are late, you are late! Entry into the feast is denied those who lacked oil, it’s too late !
In this sense Jesus comes quickly. There has been a long waiting period, but now things are happening swiftly, prophecy is being fulfilled, and the pace of Eschatology is accelerating exponentially.
God will indeed avenge his elect speedily. Those persecuted and powerless believers, who have no other resort than to cry out day and night to Him, are told by Paul,
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.(2 Thess 1:6-10)
The World has no idea what is about to be revealed to it, they are going to be stunned, shocked and horrified. What they had dismissed as weak, powerless and foolish, will soon be vindicated at the Revelation of Jesus to this planet, in the glory of the Father and His Angels.
Thanks, Pastor Bill. Another excellent post.
This is how I have understood the Second Coming, as a thief in the night.
Christians in many locations around the planet have endured great persecution; they have been looking for the Rapture for decades while we in the US have experienced no testing hardships.
We cruise from job to Church in air-conditioned comfort while others less fortunate in the 3rd world die for their beliefs.
Many in the US expect to be raptured from their sofa to Heaven.
I do not expect that outcome.
God Bless!
Great post. All I will say is that what you have written aligns closely with what the Spirit in me has been speaking.
The king’s heart is like channels of water, He turns them however He wills.
Good lesson, thanks!
He is a Christian brother, and he needs God's intervention.
thank you for post
Amen-prayers up- This is Oppression for telling the truth-
Agree Bill. We need to lift up all our Christian brothers and sisters, but particularly those speaking light into darkness and boldly claiming Christ to an unbelieving world.
Thank you for yours posts. I may not always respond but I read them.
Jesus said “thief in the night”, not me.
Do we “know” the rest of your postulation?
Pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, a-trib?
Except that those days be shortened, there would no flesh be spared.....
The rapture isn’t about sparing flesh. It is the Groom coming for His Bride, and no man knows the day, or the hour of His Coming, IMHO.
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