Corporate Repentance - Robert J. Wieland

On the other hand, the alternative is
frightening. If our Lord has indeed delayed His
coming, He has deceived us and we cannot trust
Him in the future. But if we have delayed His
return, then there is hope. Something can be done.
Our unbelieving impenitence can be healed.
Insisting that our Lord has delayed His coming
virtually destroys the Advent hope, but recognizing
that we have delayed it can validate and confirm
our hope.
"Just Like the Jews"
Our historical parallel with the ancient Jewish
nation is striking. They were God's true
denominated people, enjoying as much evidence of
His favor as we have enjoyed. Their pride in their
denominational structure and organization was
shown by their attitude, "The temple of the Lord,
the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are
these" (Jeremiah 7:4). The "temple" to us is our
worldwide organization, which is as much a source
of pride to us as was the temple to the ancient
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