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Ellen G. White and Her Critics

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Factors That Affect Promise of Advent

The Scriptures reveal that one of the reasons why God seems to us to be slow in carrying out His plan and promise to create a new earth for the righteous is because He desires to give men a little longer time in which to exercise their free will to flee from the wrath to come. Peter thus answers those who would doubt the certainty of God’s promise to bring an end to this world of evil simply because time has tarried: EGWC 107.4

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. EGWC 107.5

Peter also declares that the children of God may hasten the Advent by exercising their free will. There is something that we can do about bringing the Advent nearer. We read, “Looking for and hasting unto the coming [margin, “hasting the coming”] of the day of God” 2 Peter 3:12. Commentators have observed on this text: EGWC 108.1

“St. Peter seems to represent Christians as ‘hastening the coming [literally, “presence”] of the day of God’ by working out their own salvation, and helping to spread the knowledge of the gospel (Matthew 24, 14), and so rendering the long-suffering patience of God no longer necessary.”—The Pulpit Commentary, Notes (Exposition) on 2 Peter 3:12. EGWC 108.2

“God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come. By praying for His coming, furthering the preaching of the Gospel for a witness to all nations, and bringing in those whom ‘the long-suffering of God’ waits to save, we hasten the coming of the day of God.”—JAMIESON, FAUSSET, BROWN, Commentary, Notes on 2 Peter 3:12. EGWC 108.3

That the coming of Christ is related to an action of men’s free will—the preaching of the gospel by Christ’s followers—is clearly revealed in our Lord’s prophecy as to the time of His coming: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14. EGWC 108.4