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"Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1: 1, 2).
Such have been begotten unto a living hope, they have an incorruptible, undefiled, and
unfading inheritance reserved in heaven. Israel, as a nation, had no such hope. They
shall inherit the earth. This elect company pass through fiery trial which shall issue in
honour and glory at the "REVELATION of Jesus Christ. . . . hope to the end for the
grace that is to be brought to you at the REVELATION of Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1: 3-13).
The hopes of this company centre in the revelation, the apocalypse of Jesus Christ, and
take us to Rev. 1: Of them it is written:--
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people
. . . . . which in times past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had
not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (I Pet. 2: 9, 10).
They thus anticipate Israel's restoration (see Hos. 1: 9, 10; 2: 23, etc.). They, like
Abraham and all overcomers, are "strangers and pilgrims" (I Pet. 2: 11 & Heb. 11: 13).
They are exhorted as follows:--
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of
Christ's sufferings, in order that in the revelation of His glory, ye may rejoice exultingly"
(I Pet. 4: 12, 13).
Once again fiery trial, followed by glory at the revelation, is the theme. Yet further:--
"The God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eonian glory by Christ Jesus, after that
ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" (I Pet. 5: 10).
The second Epistle continues in the same strain. Chapter 1: 11 speaks of an abundant
entrance into the eonian kingdom. Chapter 2: vividly depicts the times of the book of
the Revelation, and its testing of the elect remnant. Noah, Sodom, fallen angels, and
Balaam figure in the story. Chapter 3: deals with the long deferred coming, and the
introduction of the new heavens and new earth. It is further of interest to note that the
Apostle addresses believers in Asia Minor, the same district as the seven churches of the
Revelation. He also addresses them from Babylon, which plays so prominent a part in
the Revelation too.
To understand the special teaching of the Revelation, we must keep prominently
before us that the millennial kingdom is largely one of reward, it is the eonian glory and
kingdom, entrance into which is by suffering. It particularly deals with an elect company
who are consistently spoken of throughout as "the overcomers." Failure to perceive this
exclusive character has made the millennial kingdom a kind of dumping ground for all
unfulfilled prophecy, leaving the "Ages of Ages" which follow it a blank prophetically,
and has also introduced into the book those who have no part nor lot there at all.
Christendom or the Church are not in view. Israel, and particularly the faithful remnant
of overcomers, are the chief human interest. Read I and II Peter again and again--they
will give clear light on the teaching of The Apocalypse.