Why do believers cry out for the Lord to come quickly?
The world's increasing slide into the lap of the evil one, plus the inward groaning of those who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, drives this plea. They await the redemption of the body—the adoption—when the corruptible becomes incorruptible, they enter the Lord's presence, and they prepare to participate in His kingdom.
Les teaches that the believer's cry for the Lord to come quickly is tied to watching the world fall apart and move more and more into the lap of the evil one. If He delays, even America will see tremendous changes. Beyond that, those who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly, waiting for the adoption—the redemption of the body. The soul and spirit are already redeemed, but the body remains corruptible until it suddenly becomes incorruptible when we go into the Lord's presence, receive our reward, and prepare to return as active participants in the kingdom. Les also points out that believers are already members of the kingdom, which is now in heaven, and one day that kingdom will come to earth. Thus the cry arises both from worsening world conditions and from the longing for bodily redemption and the kingdom's full coming.