2 Peter 3:9

‘The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.'

So in view of the fact that what appears to be a large extent of time to us is in fact to God but the passing of a mere day, while in one day He can accomplish what to us would seem to require a thousand years, we need not be surprised that the final anticipated part of His Parousia in openly revealed glory has not taken place. It is not due to any slackness on the part of God. It is in fact due to His compassion and longsuffering. He is longsuffering towards men because He does not wish that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, that is, should come to a turning to God, and a change of mind about God and about sin (compare 1 Thessalonians 1:9).

‘As some count slackness.' The ‘some' are those who are arguing against the final Parousia because of its non-appearance, and those who are subscribing to their teaching. For the idea of the delay that lies behind this compare Hebrews 10:37, and see the fears in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

‘But is longsuffering towards you.' We must never underestimate or understate the greatness of God's longsuffering. For two thousand year He has endured the insults of atheists and scoffers, the challenges of foolish men, and the apathy of the great majority, and has granted them the opportunity to repent. And His love has constantly reached out through the cross. ‘God commends His love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us' (Romans 5:8). But still they have not heard.

‘Not wishing that any should perish.' And that love is revealed in the fact that ‘God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance'. In the words of Paul, ‘He would have all men saved and come to a knowledge of the truth' (1 Timothy 2:4). This does not mean that all men will be saved. It is rather an indication that if it were possible this is how God would have it to be. He takes no delight in the death of the sinful, but would rather that they turned from their wickedness and lived (Ezekiel 33:11). It is thus man who is responsible for his own rejection.

‘But that all should come to repentance.' The idea of repentance as the way back to God for the unbeliever is rare in Paul's letters, only occurring in Romans 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25. But in Acts the idea is found regularly on the lips of Peter (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 5:31; Acts 8:22), and indeed on Paul's (Acts 17:30; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:20). It is seen as ‘repentance unto life' (Acts 11:18). It was, of course, an important part of the message of Jesus (Mark 1:15 and parallels) and of His commission to His Apostles (Luke 24:47). The main idea behind it was of ‘turning to God' (1 Thessalonians 1:9 b).

‘The Lord.' It is an open question whether this indicates Jesus Christ or God, Indeed by this time both may have been in mind when it was used, for Christ was seen as God.