How long?

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" – Revelation 6v10

Sometimes we think we have it bad as believers today. The world has gone upside down. It seems like wickedness is rampant and that evil is not dealt with. It seems like the evil go unpunished. It seems like evil is winning. Every day the news of violence and perversion seems to dominate the news. Sometimes we are tempted to ask, ‘Lord, how long can this go on?’

It is only going to get worse. Our brothers and sisters in this passage are going to be in the middle of a great tribulation. ‘All hell’ is literally about to break loose on the earth. As bad as evil is to day, it will then be unrestrained. In their misery they cry out, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until you judge?’

The truth is that we don’t know how long it will be, but one day justice will be served. God’s right and His righteousness will prevail. One day we will live and reign in Him. Sin will be totally vanquished. Truth and peace will win out.

Longfellow’s poem that we sing as,:’I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ ends with these powerful words:

And in despair I bowed my head“There is no peace on earth,” I said,“For hate is strong and mocks the songOf peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;The wrong shall fail, the right prevailWith peace on earth, good will to men.”

How long till we hear those bells? Even so, come Lord Jesus!