Six Reasons God Delays Judgment

Scripture gives several reasons why he delays his judgment: 

1. Because he’s giving sinners time to repent. 

Romans 2:3-4: “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

2. Because not all the martyrs have died. 

Revelation 6:11: “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.”

3. Because the full number of God’s elect have not been sealed.

Revelation 7:3-4: “Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 'Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.'”

4. Because the iniquity of the nations has not reached its full measure. 

God does not judge until “the iniquity of the Amorites” is complete (Genesis 15:6), that is—until the nations become ripe for Christ to tread out the winepress of the wrath of God almighty (Revelation 19:15). God is the judge of when that time will be, and has planned the day of Christ’s arrival (Acts 17:31) in accordance with it. 

5. Because the gospel is still being preached as a testimony to the nations. 

Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

6. Because of other unknown reasons to us (but known to God).  

The things that God has revealed in Scripture are for our instruction and knowledge, but those things he has chosen not to reveal, are left up to his discretion (Deuteronomy 29:29). There are undoubtedly other secret reasons God has for delaying the judgment. 

Until that coming day, keep your lamps burning (Luke 12:35), Christians!