THE TIME HAS COME!

Don K. Preston

In about 64 A. D. Peter said "The time has come for the judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel." (1 Peter 4:17). This verse challenges all modern doctrines of a future judgment.

Peter said "the time has come"; the word "time" is from "kairos" and means appointed or designated time. It is specific time as opposed to generic time. Earlier in that same generation the apostle Paul had said, "God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world" (Acts 17:30-31). Here is the appointed time Peter had in mind! And it will be noticed that Peter used the definite article. It is "the time"; not generic or unexpected time. It is the very time foretold!

The apostle said the time has come for "the judgment." Unfortunately, some translations do not take note that the definite article appears before judgment. Peter was not saying the time had come for "a judgment"; it was time for the appointed time of "the judgment! What judgment did he have in mind?

In 1 Peter 1 he was eagerly anticipating the arrival of the salvation foretold by the Old Testament prophets. Those prophets had been told they were not predicting events for their day (1 Pet. 1:10-12). But Peter said that salvation, that would come at the revelation of Jesus, was "ready to be revealed in the last time" 1 Pet. 1:5-7. And Peter emphatically said he was living in the last days (Acts 2:15f; 1 Pet. 1:18-20). In 1 Peter 4:5 the writer said that Jesus was "ready to judge the living and the dead"; in verse 7 he said "the end of all things is at hand."

Peter was not predicting the end of time or material creation. He was predicting the coming of Jesus at the end of the Old Covenant Age in the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Jesus said he was coming in that generation (Mat. 24:29-34), and redemption would be brought at that time (Luke 21:20-28). Peter was writing later in that very generation and said Christ's coming for redemption was at hand; the time had come!

Upon what basis do we today say the judgment has not occurred? Peter said the time for the judgment had arrived 2000 years ago! Was Peter wrong? Was he mistaken? Peter did not say "I hope the time for the judgment has come"; he said it had arrived! If he was wrong he was not inspired! If you say that judgment has not come you are saying Peter was wrong.

Traditional concepts are difficult to change. But if we are going to be serious students of the Word we must accept its inspired decrees. If we are going to reverence God's authority we must accept its decrees instead of our preconceived ideas. The question is: Was Peter right or wrong?

A Closing Note: The 2010 Preterist Pilgrim Weekend will be focused on Peter's two epistles. This will be an exciting and profitable seminar, with some new speakers added. Peter's epistles are some of the most intensely eschatological books of the New Testament! You don't want to miss this conference, so make your plans now to be with us, July 15-17, 2010, Ardmore, Oklahoma!