Sinners delaying Jesus’ return?
Two weeks ago, we wrote about Malachy who said the current pope might be the last. Last week, we heard from Muslims who said time on earth is just about up. In Christianity, signs are also damning, so why is the world not ending? BRIGHT MHANGO takes up the issue.
According to Pastor Aubrey Mwasinga, president of the Redeemed for a Purpose Ministries, God is only trying to give sinners a chance to repent before he strikes. He said there are many biblical signals indicating that these are the last days.
“1 Peter 3:9 New Living Translation says ‘The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for their sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.’
“So, the only reason that the world has not ended today is because the God of mercy and love doesn’t want anyone to perish but that all should repent. So, he is giving an allowance to the sinners to repent,” said Mwasinga.
He argued that it is, therefore, crucial for those able to go out to quickly call out to sinners in the world to win back their souls from the path of damnation.
“This confirms what Jesus said in Matthew 24:14: ‘And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’ The end will come when we have fully preached the gospel,” said Mwasinga.
But when will the gospel be fully preached?
Mwasinga believes that this will be achieved very ‘soon.’ It is difficult to argue with him there, almost every corner of Malawi has some Christian radio signal; religious channels are free on television.
Then, there are the numerous religious efforts and gatherings that pierce Malawi. If Malawi, a poor country, has this much penetration of the gospel, then maybe we really are on that ‘soon’ that Mwasinga spoke about.
The Bible is clear that nobody knows the day the earth will end. But it has evidence of what will happen before the end comes.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy. (2 Timothy 3: 1-2)
Man has been blamed for climate change and degradation of nature. This has been proven by science and some people say this is what John said in Revelations 11:18 where destroyers of the earth are also marked for destruction.
There is so much warmongering in the world today: Rumours of North Korea against South Korea and Israel preparing to attack Iran. This can be linked to Mathew’s gospel.
“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Mathew 24: 6-8)
Jesus went on to warn of great tribulations never seen since the earth was made. After the tribulations, there will be phenomena similar to what Islam says: The sun will be blacked out, the stars will fall from earth and the moon will not bother lighting us up. (Mathew24: 29)
After the heavens themselves shake, Jesus will land with a lot of pomp. In fact, he swore that the heavens can pass away but not his words.
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven but my father only,” said Jesus.
And that father of Jesus might at this point be thinking the very same thing you are afraid to think about.
“My message to everyone is that today is the day of salvation. Don’t wait for tomorrow, don’t wait to follow signs of end times because all or most have been manifested. To the church, let’s preach the gospel with haste and snatch people from the flames of fire,” warned Mwasinga.
