The Grand Dilemma (Rev 1.7-8)

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8, NKJV)

Webster’s defines dilemma as an “undesirable or unpleasant choice.” While many choices are pleasant (shall I have steak or lobster?), other choices are between the lesser of two evils (do I stay here and keep looking for another job or move my family out of state?). When you are a child such dilemmas are solved for you by your parents. But with adulthood comes difficult choices.

Some people may wonder why generation after generation has expected Christ’s Second Coming, yet it hasn’t come to pass. Others use this as a point to mock the Bible. But this was already anticipated by Peter in the first century before John wrote the words of this prophecy.

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”…But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:3-4; 8-9, NIV)

When Jesus comes again it will mean Judgment for all the earth. He comes to tread the winepress of the wrath of God. Any loving father grieves when he has to punish his disobedient child. When our children were young, I believed in spanking. Home Depot equipped us with a 5-gallon paint stir stick that proved to be the best tool for the job. But I reserved this for only the most defiant acts. Although I never told my children, “This is going to hurt me more than you,” I took no pleasure in punishing them.

The Grand Dilemma is this: does God allow this world to become increasingly corrupt and evil or does He unleash His wrath to eliminate wickedness and set things right? There comes a point when the rod can no longer be spared, when justice must be served. When Jesus comes with clouds at the end of the Great Tribulation, He will use a rod of iron, and that is why all the tribes of the earth will mourn.

I can understand the Grand Dilemma from a human perspective. If Jesus comes for His Bride today, I know people who aren’t ready. They would surely remain for the awful Judgment. While part of me rejoices in Jesus coming and delivering me from this fallen world, the other part hopes He will delay a little longer to give them more time to repent.

No one said it would be easy to be a grown up.