A22.01.83.htm

THE ORDER OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT.

"Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning among you, which is happening to you for a trial, as though a strange thing were befalling you. On the contrary, go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the Spirit of glory, even the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. However, let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a busybody in other people's matters. But if he suffers as a Christian, let him not feel shame, but let him keep on glorifying God in this name. For it is the appointed time for the Judgement to start with the house of God. Now if it starts first with us, what will the end be of those who are not obedient to the good news of God? "And if the righteous [man] is being saved with difficulty, where will the unGodly [man] and the sinner make a showing?" So, then, also let those who are suffering in harmony with the Will of God keep on commending their souls to a faithful Creator while they are doing good." (1 Peter 4:12-19).

TRIAL: The action of testing or putting to the proof the fitness, truth, strength,
or other quality. That which puts one to the test. (Oxford Dictionary).

AN EXPLANATION OF MAKING "A SHOWING"?
Question: Since beneficial judgement starts with the house of God, "what will the end be of those who are not obedient to (refuse to obey. NEB) the good news of God?" (1 Peter 4:17).

Answer: By asking, "And if the righteous [man] is being saved with difficulty, where will the unGodly [man] and the sinner make a showing?" (4:18), we are supplied with the answer. Namely, that they will not be saved, not even with difficulty. It asks, "…where will the unGodly [man] and the sinner make a showing?" for the reason that those who are not being spiritually cleansed will not feel the spirit "burning", as their spirit is not being tested as to its quality.

THE "BURNING" FOR A TRIAL.
I say to those without knowledge of this spirit "burning": If the Spirit of God is resting upon you for a trial, you will not only be puzzled at why you are experiencing the heaviness of this strong inner feeling of burning, but you will react to it according to your disposition. You are then tested. The Spirit of God is a sanctifying Spirit for one's benefit, so that we might live, not "from the standpoint of men but might live as to the spirit from the standpoint of God." (4:6). That is to say, according to His spiritual requirements (His Will) for you. The "burning" is for a trial, literally felt when The Christ tests one's spirit. (John 5:22,27. 2 Cor 5:10).

THOSE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD ARE NOT JUDGED PERPETUALLY.
Those who are deemed to be of the house of God have therefore been sanctified (spiritually cleansed). So the meaning of: "For it is the appointed time for the Judgement to start with the house of God" (4:17) is that:

(1) This judgement is a spirit cleansing process, measured out from the standpoint of God, with Adamic sin taken into consideration, and the propitiatory covering of one's sins after one's acceptance by God.

(2) Faithful servants that are not of the defined number of 144,000 anointed members of the household of God are also judged in regard to His Will similarly; in relation to any mistreatment of these anointed members of the house of God while they were alive on earth. (Matt 25:31‑33, 41‑46. Rev 7:4-8).

(3) It means that after all anointed household members are gathered in and judged by the testing of their faith first, it next befalls those obediently following in their footsteps as Christ's disciples and helped to "make a showing" successfully. They are also tested by a burning sensation in their spirit. It goes on to say: "…go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of The Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory". (1 Peter 4:13). This proves that those who are truly sharers in the sufferings of The Christ receive a spirit "burning" of approval, having shared in Christ-like reproaches. Only these are deemed happy "…because the Spirit of glory, even the Spirit of God, is resting upon you." (4:14). The fulfilment of their faith is in their inheritance of everlasting life in the paradise of God, having successfully become a "new creation".

22/1/83.