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James speaks again of the rain, this time of its withholding from the earth for a period of
three years and a half (James 5: 17). As we have already seen, James writes to Israel,
urging patience, and using the figure of the husbandman; and he includes the actual
period of three and a half years that Revelation indicates to be the time of Israel's greatest
testing (Rev. 13: 5). Moreover, in chapter 5:, he speaks of the "Judge standing before
the door" (James 5: 9).
We now pass on to the fuller testimony of Peter. In the opening greeting of the epistle
of James the wording is literally, "To the twelve tribes, to those in the dispersion" (en te
diaspora). Peter follows the same course and addresses his epistle to the "sojourners of a
dispersion" (diasporas). The word diaspeiro implies the thought of sowing, as seed, the
choice of the term being in harmony with the prophecy of Hos. 2: 23, and the title of
Jezreel.
James speaks of the need of patience during the time of tribulation; Peter also speaks
of the need of patience and of a similar time of fiery trial. In connection with this period
of trial the apostle brings into prominence the second coming of the Lord:--
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth
(though it--i.e., perishing gold--be tried with fire), might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Pet. 1: 7).
It is necessary to keep distinct the two words, "appearing" and "revelation". The
translators of the A.V., not having seen the dispensational distribution of terms dealing
with the Lord's coming, have used the word "appearing" here for "revelation", but this is
not sufficiently accurate. Apokalupsis should always be translated by the word
"revelation"; the translators themselves have rendered its verbal form "revealed" in
James 1: 5 and 12, and in verse 13 the actual word is correctly rendered:--
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end (or perfectly)
for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
The apostle reverts to the fiery trial and its connection with the coming of the Lord in
chapter 4::--
"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . . . . but
rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when His glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (I Pet. 4: 12, 13).
This perfect balance of teaching is the more strikingly emphasized when we remember
that the true rendering of I Pet. 1: 11 is not, "the sufferings of Christ", but the "sufferings
for Christ, and the glories that should follow". This does not, of course, by any means
deny the truth that the one great basis of all glory is the suffering of Christ, and to this
Peter refers before his epistles closes:--
"The elders that are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock
of God . . . . . And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away" (I Pet. 5: 1-4).