What a frightening, wonderful, dreadful, beautiful, and glorious time to be living!
I don’t mean now; I mean then, with Peter’s audience. Spectacular things were happening and about to happen; things which thrilled the soul and chilled the mind. The difficulties were so immense that Jesus said of them: “a great tribulation, such as has not ovvurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall” (Matt. 24:21). But, the glory was so majestic that all the prophets of old yearned to see them. “Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw, and was glad” (John 8:51).
Persecution was mounting. Faith was being challenged, along with hope. Lives were being purged, purified. Living Stones were emerging and God was building His Temple—the True Temple—out of those stones. It was a temple “made without hands” (cf. Heb. 9:11).
Increasing hardship, fire-purified stones for God’s temple, and glory to follow: that is the upshot of Peter. We’ll trace some threads.
Join me for another exciting study into the world and thoughts of Peter.
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