THE END OF ALL THINGS IS NEAR (1 Pet 4:7-11)
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Dr. Paul Manuel—2015
Dr. Paul Manuel—2015
For me, who did not grow up in the country, I enjoy the stories people tell about their animals, like this one by a woman who asked, for a reason you will soon understand, to remain nameless.
In the early 1800s, there was a growing anticipation that the end of all things was, indeed, near. The acceptance of Bishop Ussher's chronology, a feature in the center column of the Schofield Reference Bible, which provided a specific date for creation at 4004 B.C., as well as the study of certain prophecies in Daniel and Revelation led many to believe that Jesus would return in 1843. One of the most prominent of these Adventists, as they were called, was William Miller, an influential Baptist minister. He wrote and spoke widely on the subject and convinced many the Lord would return between October 20-22 of that year.1 Rev. Miller was not a cult leader but a sincere Christian, and when the Lord did not appear at the expected time, Miller attempted to discover the cause of his mistake. He determined that the calculation of the year might be off by one, and he reset the date for October of 1844. When Jesus failed to appear yet again, Miller acknowledged his error and repudiated such methods of predicting the Lord's return.?2
Like Miller, his followers were generally sincere and devout Christians, but friends and family often accused them of fanaticism, even insanity. As the time drew near, they disposed of property and goods, forgave debts, closed businesses, and gave away what money they had, assuming they would soon need none of these, for they believed, The End of All Things Is Near (Numbers and Butler 1993:209-221). Is this what God expects you to do? Please turn to 1 Pet 4, where the apostle explains what God does expect,3 beginning with...
I. The Believers' Recognition
Like Paul, Peter probably expected Jesus to return within his lifetime,4 and he begins v. 7 with a cheery thought: Something it is necessary for them and us to recognize:5
If you knew there were only a few days or a year left before Jesus' return, what would you do differently? ...Privy to that kind of information, most would alter their lives in some way. Yet, that is not what Peter advises. He advocates neither their proclamation of imminent doom nor their liquidation of all personal assets.
He does not instruct his readers to do different things; rather, he instructs them to do things differently. That is, whatever they should be doing, they should strive to do better, regardless of how much time is left. He calls them not to some dramatic, final act but to careful, measured conduct that brings glory to God.6 What then, should be...
...What, then, should be...
II. The Believers' Response
...to this recognition of the end? Peter begins by addressing...
I have in my files several examples of doomsday scenarios that predicted various dates when the world would end.7 Needless to say, none of these predictions came true. In each case, the appointed time came and went without incident.
Peter's exhortation is that they should not allow themselves to be caught up in the emotion of whatever trend happens to be popular at the moment. Instead, they should...
Peter is saying, "Do not let the distraction of predictions disrupt your concentration in prayer." No matter what doomsday scenarios excite or alarm others, you should remain calm and collected.
That is what these believers should be. Then Peter explains...
This is a very broad command, so he quotes from Proverbs to indicate one way that godly people demonstrate love.10
overlooking the faults of others in order to cultivate unity.11 As Paul says,
The second reciprocal command is one you cannot obey if you have given up your home to wait for the Lord's return. Peter says...13
Still relevant today, hospitality entails not only inviting people into your home but being gracious about it when they drop by unannounced. It is "making your
friends feel at home even when you wish they were [at home]" (emphasis added; Hodgin 1994:185).14 The test of hospitality is often your willingness to entertain visitors when they are unexpected and you are unprepared.15
The third command Peter gives is...
Peter goes on to say...
I have asked the question before, but this passage compels me to ask it again. Are you using your spiritual gift? Do you even know what your gift is? If you leave your spiritual gift undiscovered or undeveloped—if you are not using your spiritual gift—you deprive yourself and others of God's blessing. They will not receive the benefit God would supply through you, and you will not receive the enjoyment, the satisfaction, the fulfillment that such ministry brings. If this is a subject you would like to explore or know more about, speak to me. I will be glad to discuss it with you and help you to discover how the Holy Spirit has equipped you for service in this church.
Having explained the believers' response to news about the end, Peter turns to...
III. The Believers' Reason
...for being and behaving as he has just described. He explains the motivation in v. 11...
We do not know how near the end is, only that it is nearer now than in Peter's day. Whether or not it comes in our lifetime, though, the instruction he gave these early believers remains relevant today. This is what God expects from Christians in any age, not some dramatic, final act but careful, measured conduct that brings glory to Him. In this way, we demonstrate our readiness as The End of All Things Is Near.
A couple bought an old farmhouse on several acres of land. The house itself was at the end of a long driveway, set back from the road and out of sight from any who might pass by as well as from the neighbors on either side. Because this couple both had jobs elsewhere, they did not raise crops or tend livestock. They just had some chickens, a rooster (named Randy), a dog, and two cats.
After coming home from work one day, the wife had gone upstairs to take a relaxing bath. She was about to get into the tub, having just drawn the water, when she looked out the window and saw that Randy the rooster had gotten loose from its pen. "I'll catch him later," she thought, until she noticed the dog, a retriever, was also loose and was eying the rooster. Deciding that urgency was more important than modesty, the woman ran down the stairs and out the door without putting her clothes back on, yelling to her husband, who was working outside but around the corner of the house and could not see the animals.
Picture this: Her shout startled the rooster, which started running, with the dog running after the rooster, the woman running after the dog, and the husband, still uncertain about the reason for the commotion, running after his naked wife.... As they rounded the house for the third time...it gave new meaning to the term 'family circle.'That is not something you would see in the city.... Certain things are urgent and require immediate attention. Other things are urgent but come with some advance notice, allowing you to prepare, such as Peter's warning that The End of All Things Is Near.
In the early 1800s, there was a growing anticipation that the end of all things was, indeed, near. The acceptance of Bishop Ussher's chronology, a feature in the center column of the Schofield Reference Bible, which provided a specific date for creation at 4004 B.C., as well as the study of certain prophecies in Daniel and Revelation led many to believe that Jesus would return in 1843. One of the most prominent of these Adventists, as they were called, was William Miller, an influential Baptist minister. He wrote and spoke widely on the subject and convinced many the Lord would return between October 20-22 of that year.1 Rev. Miller was not a cult leader but a sincere Christian, and when the Lord did not appear at the expected time, Miller attempted to discover the cause of his mistake. He determined that the calculation of the year might be off by one, and he reset the date for October of 1844. When Jesus failed to appear yet again, Miller acknowledged his error and repudiated such methods of predicting the Lord's return.?2
Like Miller, his followers were generally sincere and devout Christians, but friends and family often accused them of fanaticism, even insanity. As the time drew near, they disposed of property and goods, forgave debts, closed businesses, and gave away what money they had, assuming they would soon need none of these, for they believed, The End of All Things Is Near (Numbers and Butler 1993:209-221). Is this what God expects you to do? Please turn to 1 Pet 4, where the apostle explains what God does expect,3 beginning with...
I. The Believers' Recognition
Like Paul, Peter probably expected Jesus to return within his lifetime,4 and he begins v. 7 with a cheery thought: Something it is necessary for them and us to recognize:5
1 Pet 4:7a The end of all things is near."Great! Why didn't you tell me this when I was trying to decide what to do with my life. I made certain choices on the assumption that there was plenty of time left, and you're telling me it's almost over. I guess this means I should pack it in, quit what I'm doing, and party till the end or wait on the top of some mountain." ...Is that what Peter advises?
If you knew there were only a few days or a year left before Jesus' return, what would you do differently? ...Privy to that kind of information, most would alter their lives in some way. Yet, that is not what Peter advises. He advocates neither their proclamation of imminent doom nor their liquidation of all personal assets.
He does not instruct his readers to do different things; rather, he instructs them to do things differently. That is, whatever they should be doing, they should strive to do better, regardless of how much time is left. He calls them not to some dramatic, final act but to careful, measured conduct that brings glory to God.6 What then, should be...
...What, then, should be...
II. The Believers' Response
...to this recognition of the end? Peter begins by addressing...
A. What they should be
This sounds simple. You might even say, "I don't need someone to tell me this; it's common sense." That may be true, but the most common response to the urgency that often attends the expectation of Jesus' return is a kind of "eschatological frenzy" (Blum 1981:246). People make wild and speculative assertions about how this or that event is a fulfillment of prophecy.1 Pet 4:7b Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
I have in my files several examples of doomsday scenarios that predicted various dates when the world would end.7 Needless to say, none of these predictions came true. In each case, the appointed time came and went without incident.
Peter's exhortation is that they should not allow themselves to be caught up in the emotion of whatever trend happens to be popular at the moment. Instead, they should...
- Keep a clear head (lit. "be sober"), unimpaired by the kinds of activities that cloud one's judgment, and
- Keep a cool head (a sound mind), unaffected by the inordinate excitement that accompanies this issue.
Peter is saying, "Do not let the distraction of predictions disrupt your concentration in prayer." No matter what doomsday scenarios excite or alarm others, you should remain calm and collected.
That is what these believers should be. Then Peter explains...
B. How they should behave (1 Pet 4:8-11b)Peter gives three reciprocal commands here, instructions that concern relationships with one another. With each command, he includes some additional information about why or how to implement it. As we might expect, the first and foremost of these is that believers must...
1. Love one another.
Love is part of their very identity as Christians. Jesus said,1 Pet 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.Peter is not commanding an emotion but a decision—not something sentimental but practical—an act of the will to conduct themselves in a certain way with fellow believers.8 Moreover, it is not superficial but deep and sincere.9
This is a very broad command, so he quotes from Proverbs to indicate one way that godly people demonstrate love.10
Prov 10:12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers [over a multitude of sins].Another proverb says,
Prov 17:9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.Covering sin in these passages does not mean condoning it or concealing it but
overlooking the faults of others in order to cultivate unity.11 As Paul says,
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient [and] kind.... 5...it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.So, how are you doing on this point? Have you let some slight, whether real or imagined, affect the way you relate to someone in the church? Do you greet everyone warmly, or is there someone you deliberately avoid, even snub? Are you consistently critical of someone, or do you look for positive features to compliment? If you keep a "record of wrongs" or act that way, you are not exercising love, and you are placing yourself outside the company of those Jesus calls his disciples, because they love one another. In Peter's second letter, he says that when you do not show love, it makes you unfruitful in the ministry of Christ and ungrateful for the sacrifice of Christ12— So, how are you doing on this point? Do you "love each other deeply"?
The second reciprocal command is one you cannot obey if you have given up your home to wait for the Lord's return. Peter says...13
2. Host one another.
This practice was especially important in the days before motel chains. It was what enabled Paul to conduct his missionary journeys.1 Pet 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Still relevant today, hospitality entails not only inviting people into your home but being gracious about it when they drop by unannounced. It is "making your
friends feel at home even when you wish they were [at home]" (emphasis added; Hodgin 1994:185).14 The test of hospitality is often your willingness to entertain visitors when they are unexpected and you are unprepared.15
The third command Peter gives is...
3. Serve one another.16
We serve through the spiritual gifts God has given us. Notice what Peter says: "Each one should use whatever gift he has received." Everybody has a gift, an endowment of God's Spirit that enables him to make a meaningful contribution in the body of Christ.17 It is up to you, though, to develop that gift18 and to use it for the benefit of others.19 "The biblical principle is that all can and should minister in one way or another" (Blum 1981:246).1 Pet 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Peter goes on to say...
1 Pet 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides....The two examples of spiritual gifts that Peter cites represent two broad classifications: gifts of speaking and gifts of serving.20 From other passages,21 we learn that the first category, gifts of speaking, would include prophecy, teaching, and evangelism. To those who possess such gifts, he says they must speak the words of God. The second category, gifts of serving, would include helps, mercy, and giving. To those who possess such gifts (the vast majority of Christians), he says they must exercise the strength of God. In both cases, believers must be conscious that they do not operate on their own but rely on God's working through them. Moreover, spiritual gifts are not for one's personal benefit but for the benefit of others.22
I have asked the question before, but this passage compels me to ask it again. Are you using your spiritual gift? Do you even know what your gift is? If you leave your spiritual gift undiscovered or undeveloped—if you are not using your spiritual gift—you deprive yourself and others of God's blessing. They will not receive the benefit God would supply through you, and you will not receive the enjoyment, the satisfaction, the fulfillment that such ministry brings. If this is a subject you would like to explore or know more about, speak to me. I will be glad to discuss it with you and help you to discover how the Holy Spirit has equipped you for service in this church.
Having explained the believers' response to news about the end, Peter turns to...
III. The Believers' Reason
...for being and behaving as he has just described. He explains the motivation in v. 11...
1 Pet 4:11c so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.This is what "the end of all things" will bring, and it is what should compel them and you to anticipate that great culmination. The ultimate purpose of Christian character and conduct is to bring honor to God.23 As Paul says,24
1 Cor 10:31 ...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647), which summarizes many of the major doctrines of the church, opens with a restatement of this principle: "Man's chief end is to glorify God." That is really why you exist, and it should be your reason to follow what Peter commands here, especially as Jesus' return draws ever closer.25
We do not know how near the end is, only that it is nearer now than in Peter's day. Whether or not it comes in our lifetime, though, the instruction he gave these early believers remains relevant today. This is what God expects from Christians in any age, not some dramatic, final act but careful, measured conduct that brings glory to Him. In this way, we demonstrate our readiness as The End of All Things Is Near.
For Bibliography, Endnotes in the pdf see here.
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