The recent posts have been in series explaining and implementing what is written in 1 Peter 4:17, as the original texts says, time begins with judgment in the house of God. The translated texts adds the word “is come” causing it to imply the time was then alone, rather than it telling of changing and renewing from age to age, glory to glory, as it should be. Peter is speaking of the corrupted being brought back to its incorruptible state. Here is the translated text, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”
The earlier verses in chapter 4 tell of the “time” of the gentiles as the age that is ending. While stating this in verse 3 the translators add the words “our” and “us,” thereby changing the subject from the age itself to the people present day. The idea is that Christian were being told of Christianity being reformed from a previous state the writer in verse 2 calls “the will of the Gentiles.” The new age being told of is in “the will of God,” and tells of Christ as our example. Separating these two states/ages are the judgment that begins in/at the House of the God.
I am annunciating this as it is written for our time and is our mission. This is what we have been discussing, ending the age of ignorance and beginning the new age of minds created in the image and likeness of God. Then having put on the same mind that is in Christ we preach to the dead, those imprisoned in ignorance and the chaotic world it produces. It begins in the church, as it must, as the reformation of the corrupted, and it begins through those first born from the dead.
Here it is defined in the chapters:
1 Peter 3
12 For the eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the LORD is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18 For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
The word translated “conscience” is translated from suneidesis, meaning co-perspective, as in a moral consciousness. It is from the word suneido. Here is the definition from the Strong’s Greek Dictinary: Strong’s #4894: suneido (pronounced soon-i’-do) from 4862 and 1492; to see completely; used (like its primary) only in two past tenses, respectively meaning to understand or become aware, and to be conscious or (clandestinely) informed of:–consider, know, be privy, be ware of.
It is telling of our being in agreement with the LORD, having been brought to understanding by the baptism of correction, and it coming through those suffering and resurrected, as is Christ. (Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.)
1 Peter 4
1 Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked wanting material things, lusting for them, drunken in this, rejoicing together in it, and consorting with those doing so, these being abominable idolatry:
4 Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6 Therefore for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
10 As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 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.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 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.
Again we must look at the beginning of above passages where in 1 Peters 3:14 & 15 are quoting Isaiah 8:12 & 13. As we know Isaiah is speaking of those confederated against the LORD’s counsel, and therein we are also warned not to consort with these types. As we see once again, the context is of the LORD’s counsel correcting us as means to overcome the opposition of the “wizards that peep,” wizards meaning those speaking seemingly innocent words while actually with intention shaping thoughts in the minds of those listening, and then further manipulating these darkened and deadened minds to do the will opposing God’s intended will.
Isaiah 8
6 Forasmuch as this people refuse the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
7 Now therefore, behold, the LORD brings up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.
9 Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you of far countries: gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you shall be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say you not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwells in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
Friends, all the world fallen away from God is going to remain in the confusion it has created, but unto those understanding, this is the light shining into the darkness. That is what the following chapter of Isaiah goes on to say. It begins with telling of our being afflicted, but not as in the former time when this was followed with being more grievously afflicted.
The world doesn’t make it through this. But we look for a New city wherein dwells righteousness and peace. As Isaiah 9 says, those refusing this light see the need for change and will go on with their own ideas thinking they are rebuilding what they can’t avoid admitting has crumbled. In going their own way and following the advice of the ignorant, they are unknowingly consuming themselves.
Isaiah 9
1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For you have broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8 The LORD sent a word into Jacob, and it s lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people turn not unto him that smites them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
15 The ancient and honorable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Those in the House of God refusing the love God has shown shall likewise perish at their own hand as they oppose the truth. When Paul writes the second letter to the Thessalonians he tells of the prerequisite for the day of the LORD. He says it will be once a falling away has occurred. The Greek word translated “falling away” is apostasia, literally it means to stand away, the context is that there will be those taking a stand against God and opposing him, and this is occurring in His house.
2 Thessalonians 2
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
The word translated “perdition” is apoleia, meaning to come to ruin. The literal translation seems to be from the word apo, away, and a derivative of leipo, meaning to leave, fail, or be absent. The writer is using this language to tell of this being the one having fallen away remaining in that state and therefor wasting away in it.
1 Peter 4:3 tell of those in the age of the “will of the Gentiles” thinking this state to suffice. The word translated “suffice” is the three times used Greek word arketos, said to mean satisfactory. Remember, Peter is talking about suffering we need to endure as we preach to the dead (minds), and doing this to bring them out of corruption (the place of the dead). One of the other times the word is used is in Matthew 10:25 translated “it is enough.” It is the LORD telling of the state/stand (stasis) that isn’t away, but rather like His (in agreement with His Character/Mind). Here is the verse followed by the greater context of the chapter. “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his LORD. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” It is worth noting here that the “Master” isn’t the one in the house. He is the one on the outside being demonized by those in control of the house.
Matthew 10
24 The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his LORD.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his LORD. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak you in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach you upon the housetops.
The word “revealed” is the word apocalypse, it is telling of the Revelation of truth, which is the arm of the LORD being revealed. To answer the question from yesterday’s title: The arm of the LORD is uncovered to those hearing and understanding, to those believing the report.
The word arketo is from the very similar word use seven times, arkeo, which is similarly translated. It is used one time in Matthew when telling of the two states as those having the light, rising up and going out, and those remaining in darkness. It is translated as “enough” when telling of those having the oil, but there isn’t “enough” for those who didn’t fill their lamp beforehand. There isn’t enough because they aren’t satisfied and didn’t fill them because they didn’t think it would happen now, or be like this.
Matthew 25
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go you out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, LORD, LORD, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Truly I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
