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"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time" (1: 4, 5).
We know that during the first century A.D. the Jewish Christians underwent great
trials and opposition from many quarters. Peter, true to instructions from Christ offers
encouragement and hope to his flock. "Kept" in verse 5 has the sense of security by a
garrison. God would be at their back at all times:
"When they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates and powers, take ye
no thought now or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost
shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say" (Luke 12: 11, 12).
Whenever the millennial kingdom would be established they could rely on God to
watch over them and establish them in their inheritance on earth. The power and
administration of the kingdom is reserved in heaven in the person of the King but His
kingdom then will be on earth. It is not to be confused with the Heavenly Jerusalem
which is reserved in heaven and will descend on the new earth at the end of the
millennium. Peter makes another reference to this inheritance at the end of his letter:
"An when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that
fadeth not away" (I Pet. 5: 4).
No.2.
Chapter 1: (continued).
pp. 176 - 180
Verses 6 and 7 make reference to the trials and sufferings that beset his flock with a
view to strengthening them to endure. A brief consideration of such suffering and why it
was necessary might be helpful for there are many references to suffering preceding
glory. The word `suffer' from its parts means to bear under or endure under some
adversity. When we view the Bible as a whole and the basic purpose of so much of its
teaching we find that its goal is that ultimately we might find a unity of outlook with
God, complete trust in Him, with conviction of His righteousness, that He knows best in
everything, and because knowledge of Him has taught us this, we willingly obey Him in
everything and willingly give Him all the glory.
The book of Revelation testifies that the overcomers will glorify God in the
knowledge of the truth:
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the
victory over the beast . . . . . sing . . . . . Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God
Almighty, just and true are Thy ways Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee O
Lord, and glorify Thy name?" (Rev. 15: 2, 3).
With this goal in view God ordained and found it necessary that those who were to
obtain in resurrection positions of glory and responsibility in His eternal purpose, He