The apostles had no idea over twenty centuries would pass (and maybe even more) before the Lord would return. Early on, they thought the Lord’s return was imminent. And they thought that due to the intense persecution brought against the Christians by both Jews and pagan Rome. Over and over again in his first epistle Peter speaks of the suffering of Christians and how they were looked upon as evil doers. (See I Peter 1:6-7; 2:12, 19-23; 3:14-17; 4:1-4). And then, in light of this continued persecution of believers, Peter writes “But the end of all things is at hand Be you, therefore, sober, and watch unto prayer!” (See I Peter 4:7). Christians were not being spared these fiery trials, suffering and persecution, and it was such continued treatment that prompted Peter to say, “the end of all things is at hand!” He could not be faulted for believing that as the Lord had plainly stated there would be a great persecution of believers prior to His return!
When Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus, “What shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world (or age)…Jesus answered and said….Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated of all nations (America, Britain, Italy, Sweden, etc.) for my name’s sake (because you are Christians)…and then shall the end come” (See Matthew 24:3-14). These were the words that were ringing in Peter’s ear as he saw the growing persecution of Christians, prompting him to write “the end of all things is at hand!”
Peter then writes, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (I Peter 4:12). It seems most believers would think it mighty strange if they began to be persecuted and even put to death! Yet Peter firmly believed such treatment was a sure sign of the Lord’s near return.
Peter goes on to write, “But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed (following this unparalleled suffering of Christians), you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (See I Peter 4:13-14). Peter then says, “Wherefore let them that suffer ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (verse 19, I Peter 4).
Nor was Peter alone in his belief that the intense persecution and killing of Christians everywhere and in every place signaled Jesus Christ’s return was near at hand. The apostle Paul believed the same thing, writing, “the time is short” (I Corinthians 7:29) in light of “the present distress” (I Corinthians 7:26), the persecution of Christians by Rome. James also agreed with these apostles, writing “the coming of the Lord draws near” (James 5:8).
Jesus tells us plainly when to expect His return and that is when Christians are being delivered up to be afflicted and killed and hated by all nations for their Christian faith. He said when believers see “ALL these things” spoken of in Matthew Chapter 24, verses 5 through 24, THEN, and only then should they lift up their heads and look up as His return was then imminent. (See Luke 21:28). Scripture cannot be broken. It says what it means and means what it says. (See John 10:35). God help you to understand.
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley