How long?

Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. [10] 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?" [11] Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Apparently the Doomsday clock has been moved on nearer to midnight!

Look at the headlines of the tabloid newspapers, or on the mainstream media and they are dominated by inane trivialities.

Yet there are massacres going on around the world where the cries of the persecuted go unnoticed because no one really cares!

In Nigeria, Iran, China and in hidden places people are being ruthlessly slaughtered for their faith.

No wonder we hear their voices in Revelation: "How long O Lord?"

We have no proper explanation as to why God stays His Hand of retribution - but this passage makes clear that judgement day IS coming.

In the meantime it is okay to pray the extreme prayer of "how long"...

Justice delayed is not justice denied. There is an expression in the Bible called "the fullness of time"...

Galatians 4:4 NKJV

But when "the fullness of the time" had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Ephesians 1:10 NKJV

that in the dispensation of "the fullness of the times" He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him.

God has HIS timescale, HIS time to deal with injustice.

It's not as we would like it, so we pray "how long?" - a totally understandable prayer.

Psalm 94:1-3,5-10 NKJV

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs- O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! [2] Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud. [3] LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph? [5] They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage. [6] They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. [7] Yet they say, "The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand." [8] Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise? [9] He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? [10] He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge?

Give your "how longs?" to the Lord and trust in His timing.