Corporate Repentance - Robert J. Wieland

clearest definition has been impossible until history
reaches the last of the seven churches. The original
word "repentance" means a looking back from the
perspective of the end: metanoia, from meta
("after") and no us ("mind"). Thus, repentance can
never be complete until the end of history. Like the
great Day of Atonement, its full dimension must be
a last-day experience. To that moment in time we
have now come.
Unless our veiled eyes can see the depth of our
sin as identical to that of Peter's congregation at
Pentecost, only a veneer repentance can be
possible, thus perpetuating the Lord's problem for
further generations. It is not enough that sin be
legally forgiven; it must also be blotted out.
Not only are we frustrated by the long delay;
Christ Himself is deeply pained. We can turn off
the horrifying nightly news and find relief in sleep;
but the Lord can't do that. He can "neither slumber
nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4). The agony of a suffering,
terrorized world weighs heavily upon Him. He
cannot take a vacation to some remote corner of
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