How Long?
Revelation 6:10
They shouted to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?"
This poignant cry has often been raised by suffering believers anxious to see the Lord work on their behalf. It was often recorded in Scripture under such circumstances, first in
Psalm 6:3
I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
And in others,see also
Psalm 74:10
How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever?
Psalm 90:13
O Lord, come back to us!How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants!
Zechariah 1:12
Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: "O Lord of Heaven's Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?"
and last of all in our opening text.
The cry in our opening text(Revelation 6:10) is from “ the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony.That was what John saw under the altar When the Lamb broke the fifth seal(Revelation 6:9)
The context would indicate that these souls are of those who will die under future persecutions, but the principle surely applies to the martyrs of every age. When they were slain, it was only their physical bodies which died, while their souls live on in heaven, aware of events on earth. This truth, in fact, applies to all who die trusting in Christ as their Savior.
All of these men and women, both while yet alive in the body and also later when they will be at home with the Lord
2 Corinthians 5:8
Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord
These souls have longed for the day when Christ will come to complete His promise
Ephesians 1:14
The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him
and when finally God will answer the age-long prayers of His people as they prayed,
Matthew 6:10
May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven
For several generations now, Christians have been asking (even singing!) the great question of our text, “How long, O Lord?”
The signs of His soon coming multiply, yet we still wait.
Nevertheless, He has promised to return, and His Word is true and sure.
He will come–perhaps today!
Hebrews 10:37
"For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.