THE TIME IS COME

1 Peter 4:17-19 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 of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 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 17, of our lesson text, begins with, For the time is come... . Most bible scholars think the time, spoken of here, had not yet occurred at the time Peter wrote this letter, but was to take place in the near future. It has a meaning similar to the phrase; "the time is at hand." And what is to happen when the time is come? There is to be a judgment of God carried out. Many examples of God's judgment are found in His holy word. The most notable of these is recorded in Genesis, chapters six through nine. Here we find God's judgment resulted in the destruction of all nations, save Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives. This severe judgement came on all people because of their sin and corrupt manner of living. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is another well-known event demonstrating the judgment of God against sinfulness. The history of the Jewish nation tells of many judgements of God that were, both prophesied and carried out against certain tribes, or on the nation as a whole, due of their disobedience.

Here, in our lesson text, we find another judgment of God about to take place. Again, referring to bible scholars, most believe this judgment refers to the impending destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew, chapter 23, records one of Jesus' last messages to the multitude, and to His disciples (Vs. 1). In His message, Jesus foretells of the woes that will come to the Jewish nation, especially to their leaders, the scribes, and Pharisees. He closes this message with a lament for the city of Jerusalem, the seat of the Jewish nation. The reason for their impending destruction was because of their rejection of Jesus, as the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus greatly desired, and pleaded for, their acceptance, offering comfort and protection as His children even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not (Vs. 37).

In Matthew, chapter 24, we find Jesus, and His disciples, had ascended to the top of the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. As they looked down on that great city, Jesus foretold of the total destruction of Jerusalem - there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down (Vs.2). In the following verses, Jesus says wars, disasters, calamities, and famines would precede the destruction of Jerusalem. In general, Christians would be hated, slain, and offended. False prophets would deceive many, and brotherly love would practically cease to exist. But, Christ said, he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Vs. 13).

And how were these Christians to know the time is come for the destruction of Jerusalem? Jesus told them when they saw the Roman armies advancing into Jerusalem, (the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet), ...Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (Matt 24:15-18). Verses 19 through 28, completes Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and His warning to Christians to flee for safety immediately when the Roman armies began entering and invading the city.

Verses 17 and 18 tell us how urgent it was for Christians to flee into the mountains. They were to do so immediately in order to avoid being killed by the ruthless Roman army. There would not be enough time to return to their homes for clothing and other provisions. Had they done so, they would probably have been slain or captured. Again, it is relevant to state that the destruction of Jerusalem was God's judgment against Israel for their refusal to accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as the promised Messiah.

According to the writing of the historian, Josephus, over one million people perished in the siege of Jerusalem, with many other inhabitants being captured and enslaved. Josephus, as well as other reliable historians of that era, such as Eusebius and Epiphanius, confirmed that Christians fled from Jerusalem to Pella, an area, or city, located in the mountainous country east of the Jordan River, which the Romans called Decapolis. The indications were that all Christians that fled immediately found safety in those mountains. Due to their imminent danger, and the swiftness necessary to escape the Roman invaders, Peter was certainly correct in stating that the righteous Christians were scarcely saved.

Peter's question then was, if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? The righteous had a sign to warn them when the time is come, and they barely escaped the onslaught of the Roman armies. The fate of the ungodly and the sinner was in even greater jeopardy. Without having, or ignoring, the warning sign given to Christians, they were not able to escape the Roman armies, and many, if not most were slain or taken captive.

Those within the body of Christ, the Christians residing in Jerusalem at the time of the Roman invasion, were scarcely saved, just barely escaping into the surrounding mountains where they found safety. This incident of salvation is very similar to eternal salvation for faithful Christians. They, too, will scarcely be saved. And if the righteous scarcely be saved, and given a home in the promised heaven, most assuredly the unrighteous sinner will be lost and spend eternity in the punishment of hell.

There are a number of scriptures telling us that the righteous will scarcely be saved. The following are a few references showing how difficult, and how narrow and restricted, the pathway to heaven really is. In His "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus taught the multitude gathered to hear His message: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13-14). In today's words, this would be like comparing a 10-lane super-highway leadingto destruction, and an extremely narrow alleyway which leadeth unto life.

Consider the impossibility of a person, that is so driven by greed and riches, that they care not how their wealth is obtained. They are obsessed with it, hoard it, and keep it to themselves, having no desire to share it with others, or to use it to further the cause of Christ. They totally disregard Paul's message to Timothy when he referred to the love of money as the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Here is what Jesus says about such person: For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God (Luke 18:25). If those that are poor and righteous scarcely be saved, what hope is there for those that love money, and value it higher that eternal life?

Finally, consider this lesson taught by Jesus in the synagogues of Jerusalem. Reiterating a question posed to Him by one in His audience, Jesus then gave His answer: Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (Luke 13:23-24). Jesus used the following parable to teach, both His audience then, and us today, the impossibility of sinners entering into heaven. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (Luke 13:25-27).

The time is come for each of us to make a decision. Do we want to be among the few that will be saved, or do we want to be numbered with the many that will be lost? Are you traveling the broad way that leadeth to destruction, or the narrow way, which leadeth unto life (See Matt. 7:13-14)? Do you want to be among the few that will scarcely be saved? The answer you should be searching for is found in verse 19 of the lesson text. You must become a child of God, and conduct your life as God would have you do so. Therefore, you must suffer according to the will of God. You must make the ultimate commitment to God, and through obedient faith, be baptized for the remission of your sins. And thereafter, you must place your life in His hands. In His keeping, you will be safe from danger, harm and, especially, from the wiles of the devil. In order to remain in His grace, God asks you to be obedient to His will and continue in well-doing by serving the cause of Christ and in the spirit of brotherly love; you must search for, recognize, and fill the spiritual and physical needs of others. This is what your Creator, your Heavenly Father, desires of you. God's commitment to you, as His faithful follower, is eternal life in heaven.

The time is come for you to make your commitment to God. As Jesus Christ, during His final moments on earth, gave His life for you, you must give Him your life during your sojourn here on earth.