Why is Jesus’ return delayed?

---

This may be answered by one text from Peter to alleviate the professed idea that the second coming should have already taken place. 2 Pet. 3:8 “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. This supports that He is first, graceful delaying His coming … providing enough time for more people to surrender to Christ as their Saviour, and by so doing choosing Him amidst reigning chaos during this extended time. The earlier text in this passage illustrates the seriousness of these times: 2 Pet.3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”