Why does it take so long?
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Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. The true character of the usurper, and his real object, must be understood by all. He must have time to manifest himself by his wicked works.... Therefore it was necessary that he should demonstrate the nature of his claims....The whole universe must see the deceiver unmasked.[1]
If God had intervened long ago, the charge could have been made that humans were not given enough time to develop a workable government and the necessary technology to bring about peace and prosperity to all.[2]
God in his wisdom permitted satan to carry forward his work.…It was necessary for his plans to be fully developed, that their true nature and tendency might be seen by all.…His power to deceive was very great, and by disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood he had gained an advantage....Until fully developed, sin would not appear the evil thing it was.[3]
It takes time for sin to destroy, what God has created. It takes thousands of years for sin to complete its terrible work, of bringing this earth back to the way it was in the beginning.[4]
Image #1
Rom 8 (v. 20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly,... (v. 21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
How was the earth, in the beginning?
Gen 1 (v. 1) In the beginning....(v. 2) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep....
(v. 3) Then God said, "Let there be light"....
Now, let’s look at what sin does to a perfect world.
How sin reverses what God has created!!
Gen 3 (v. 19) In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.
Although the earth was blighted with the curse, nature was still to be man's lesson book. It could not now represent goodness only; for evil was everywhere present, marring earth and sea and air with its defiling touch....In drooping flower and falling leaf Adam and his companion witnessed the first signs of decay. Vividly was brought to their minds the stern fact that every living thing must die. Even the air, upon which their life depended, bore the seeds of death.[5]
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Eventually, the earth will be reversed back to a desolate condition, as before creation!!
Isa 24 (v. 18) And it shall be....and the foundations of the earth are shaken. (v. 19) The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly. (v. 20) The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard.... its transgression shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again.
After all of this time, conditions are more unstable than ever. In spite of thousands of years of human experience and effort to build upon, mankind is still unsuccessful.[6]
Rom 8 (v. 22) For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [ KJV ]
The earth itself suffers through human greed and neglect; they have polluted the land, sea, and air. The bible description in [ ROM 8:19-22 ] of the contaminated condition of the earth is even more accurate today!!
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth.…Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found (Rev 16:18&20).…This catastrophic convulsion of the earth levels the cities as well as the mountains.[7]
UNTIL FINALLY:
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Jer 4 (v. 24) I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth. (v. 25) I beheld, and indeed there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens had fled. (v. 26) I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the Lord....
And then go back to: (verse 23) I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form, and void; And the heavens, they had no light.
Does that sound familiar?
Concerning the condition of the earth "in the beginning," the Bible record says that it "was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep....(Genesis 1:2) Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back, partially at least, to this condition. Looking forward to the great day of God, the prophet Jeremiah declares: "I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light....[8]
Gen 1 (v. 2) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep....(v. 3) Then God said, "Let there be light"....
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So, sin has finally completed its work upon this earth, of reducing everything back to dust!!
The Earth Desolated: My attention was again directed to the earth. The wicked had been destroyed, and their dead bodies were lying upon its surface. The wrath of God in the seven last plagues had been visited upon the inhabitants of the earth....The earth looked like a desolate wilderness. Cities and villages, shaken down by the earthquake, lay in heaps. Mountains had been moved out of their places, leaving large caverns.[9]
Ragged rocks, thrown out by the sea, or torn out of the earth itself, were scattered all over its surface. Large trees had been uprooted and were strewn over the land. Here is to be the home of satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Here he will be confined, to wander up and down over the broken surface of the earth and see the effects of his rebellion....[9]
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By allowing enough time to settle the issues relative to human rule, God has established a permanent precedent for the future.[10]
If any free being should challenge God’s way of doing things, it would not be necessary to allow thousands of additional years to try to prove his contention.[10]
Everything that needs to be proved has been proved in the time period that God has allowed.
For all time the issue has been settled: human rule apart from God cannot bring about desirable conditions on the earth.[10]
As the bible states in Chapter 1 from the book of Nahum about any further rebellions:
Nah 1 (v. 9) What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end if it. Affliction will not rise up a second time.
Though it takes a long time, Christ is waiting for everyone to have a chance to come to the altar! Jesus is calling....forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ....
video ref. [11]
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References:
1. E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.498, par.1-2
2. Life―How did it get here? (Ch.16). "Why would God permit suffering?" p.193
3. E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.497, par.1-2
4. Savior of the world Bible Course, (2000).
5. Conflict and Courage, p.19, par.2, “Taught by Nature”.
6. Life―How did it get here? (Ch.16). "Why would God permit suffering?" p.194
7. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.306, Hart Research Center.
8. The Great Controversy, "Desolation of the Earth" p.658-659, par.3
9. E.G. White, Early Writings, p.289-290, par.3
10. Life―How did it get here? (Ch.16). "Why would God permit suffering?" p.195
11. Elevation Worship. “Oh Come to the Altar” with Lyrics. Online video. YouTube, 5 Oct 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpfuKKH_SCE&list=RDOpfuKKH_SCE&t=1
Image #1: Peter Hammond, (2016). The universal reign of decay and death. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/frontfel/christ-is-risen-indeed
Image #2: Author Unknown, (2017). Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Retrieved from http://www.machicon-akihabara.info/2017aimage-adam-and-eve-in-the-garden-of-eden-for-kids.awp
Image #3: Nouskrabs, (2017). Apocalyptic landscape, the remains of destroyed houses at sunset. Retrieved from https://www.alternet.org/world/nuclear-winter-planetary-scale-biggest-threat-mankind-virtually-no-one-talking-about
Image #4: Review and Herald Publishing Assoc. (n.d.). For one thousand years, Satan will be confined to this earth, to see the effects of his rebellion against God's law. Retrieved from http://www.ellenwhite.info/books/ellen-g-white-book-early-writings-ew-72.htm
Image #5: Johannes Paulsen, (2015). Judge with gavel. Retrieved from http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2015/03/johannes-paulsen/draft-review-illinois-court-appeals-smacks-anti-gun-family-court-decision/
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