The Full Number

    Numbers matter to God, from the days of creation in Genesis to the dimensions of the New Jerusalem at the end of Revelation, the Bible is full of numbers. The idea that Christ's return is waiting until the full number of Gentiles come for salvation is comforting, especially to us Gentiles. (Rom. 11:25) But there are also less comforting numbers, as in Gen. 15:16 when the Lord told Abram it was not yet time to occupy Canaan for the sin of the Amorites had not reached its full measure. But how does God measure sin? Rev. 20:12 says, The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books, so maybe God was waiting for their books to reach the last page.

   It may be hard to work up much concern for a people group dead for millennia, but Revelation 6:11 tells us about another countdown closer to our hearts--the martyrs. There are many martyrs in our own time, but this verse is about those who die during the tribulation. Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. This accounting is not about Gentiles getting saved, or ancient people getting punished. This verse says God has a set number of tribulation saints who will be martyred before God's judgment comes. On one hand, it is comforting to know each of these martyrs matter to God, they count, but waiting to intervene while the body count grows seems wrong by human standards.

    Though I may not fully comprehend this part of God's plan, I do find some applications. If Christ did not return sooner to protect those dying for His name, He is not going to return so we don't have to experience suffering--our own death, losing loved ones, sickness, pain, persecution, prodigals, loss of income, home, memories, and many other hardships. Those sorrows matter deeply to God, but He loves us too much to protect us from what He is using to perfect us. One of the signs we are growing as Christians is when we stop expecting God to keep us from suffering, but to keep us through it. He uses hardships to help us become the full measure of us.