Preface: Within the past couple days....two women were murdered only a few miles from where I type....a man was shot and killed while riding his bike in Pittsburgh....two more were shot in one section of Pittsburgh...and two more in another section of Pittsburgh. When I was young....my mother's family....when bored....would talk about the big murder in Turtle Creek....back in the 1930s. It was as if John Dillinger was part of it....one murder! God's Word is very clear about the violence everywhere....as in the days of Noah...at the time of the end. This isn't as hard as a Rubic's Cube folks....but we have been cooked as the proverbial frog in the kettle....as the violence got hotter and hotter....until it is boiling as it is now...,but we never noticed the temperature change!
The following are verses from 1st and 2nd Peter. Have you ever heard a word....seemingly for the first time in your life....and then lo and behold....you hear it again shortly after that? I know you experienced this for we all have. This time that word had been given a place in your mind....and therefore you easily spotted it after that. After reading these verses I would ask you to read God's Word this way as it pertains to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. As you read through Peter's letters you can see the emphasis that he had in preparing and reminding his readers of something very important! As you read through the New Testament...let those verses now jump out at you! You will find that they are all over the place...when beforehand you kind of passed over them as if they were just greetings or salutations! These passages of Scripture have not always jumped out at believers because in God's timing they were not the passages for the moment....but they are today!
"....has begotten us again to a living hope......kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5) 'revealed in the last time'....that is when Jesus comes back.
"that the genuineness of your faith....though it is tested by fire....may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."(1 Peter 1:7,8) 'revelation of Jesus Christ"...that is upon His return.
"Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind....be sober....and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13)
"Beloved....do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you....as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings....that....when His glory is revealed....you may also be glad with exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4: 12,13)
"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God....(1 Peter 4: 17)
"I am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ....and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed...." 1 Peter 5:1)
This is followed by..."Shepherd the flock of God....not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you: but being examples to the flock....when the chief Shepherd appears." (vs 2-4) Pastors should be exhorting and reminding just as Peter did....but by and large today they do not.
"But there were also false prophets among the people....even as there will be false teachers among you.....by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words/" (2 Peter 2 1, 3)
"Beloved....I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets....knowing this first; that scoffers will come in the last days....saying.....'Where is the promise of His coming' " 1 (Peter 3: 1,3)
"But the day of the Lord will some as a thief in the night.....Therefore....what manner of persons ought you to be....looking for an hastening the coming of the day of God....(2 Peter 3:10-12)
"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent...." (vs 14)
