Surely by now everyone who looks to the LORD Jesus Christ for their salvation knows that no hope for us exists in this world. Everywhere Christianity and the people who cling to Christ’s teachings are under attack. It has been this way before in one part of the world or another, but now we are entering that time prophesied when God’s wrath will be revealed to the entire world, including unfaithful Christians.  In his anointed writing concerning Christ’s letter to the Church of Sardis J. Leland Earls said,

“The fact that I spoke of my coming ‘as a thief’ indi­cates that the Protestant denominations, along with their Catholic mother, will not be expecting my return, but will be taken completely by surprise. There are a few, however, who will be ready. Of them did I speak: ‘You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.’ (Rev. 3:4). Their garments, which they have kept undefiled, are their inner soul garments. Originally washed in the blood of the lamb (Rev. 1:5, 7:14), they have been kept continually white and pure through obedience to the truth, and the washing of the water of the Word (I Pet. 1:22, Ephes. 5:26-27). They shall ‘walk with me in white’ by being received of me when I come as a thief at the beginning of the tribulation period, and by being clothed with their glorified bodies.” From The Mystery of the Seven Golden Candlesticks by J. Leland Earls.

Jesus comes as a thief at the beginning of the time of his second coming. This is when he will take and glorify his “firstfruit” overcomers. These are those to whom Christ wrote in his seven epistles who will receive special rewards, power, and status at his secret coming. Most Christians do not believe this doctrine. They think that if someone simply names the name of Jesus and believes that he is the Son of God who died for their sins that they will escape the tribulation and take part in any kind of “rapture.” The truth, however, is that only those who have loved righteousness and have desired to be holy even as God is holy will be accounted worthy of the special status of being called and considered an overcomer.

God’s prophets always wrote with the intent (intent of the Holy Spirit) of turning a child of Satan into a child of God. Before we knew Christ we served the god of this world, even Satan, in the lusts of our flesh. How perverted could one be who thinks that he can serve God and still serve the lusts of his flesh? The Biblical “teaching about righteousness” does not teach that we can perfectly obey Christ now or become perfectly righteous in this flesh. It does, however, teach that we must want to become righteous, just as God is righteous. Peter taught,

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV)

Peter speaks many several mysteries in this introductory paragraph: 1) It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that allows us to be born again, 2) that our new birth is to a living hope, 3) that God keeps our inheritance, which comes to us by virtue of our new birth through faith in Jesus, in heaven, 4) that God guards our salvation by faith, 5) that our actual salvation will only be revealed in the last time. 6) that God tests the genuineness of our faith through various trials, 7) that this testing of our faith through trials is our baptism of fire, 8) that this testing results in praise and glory and honor for those who pass the test (the overcomers), 9) that this praise, glory, and honor will become manifest at the revelation of Jesus Christ (the time of his second coming when he manifests to the world), and 10) that those who submit to these fiery tests will obtain the outcome, or goal, of their faith which is the salvation of their souls.

Jesus spoke of the praise, glory, and honor the overcomers would receive when he said to the Church of Philadelphia, “Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.” (Rev. 3:9) The “synagogue of Satan” and “those who say they are Jews” here speaks of both adherents of Judaism who do not believe in Jesus and those Christians who do not seek after God’s righteousness. Remember, Paul said, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28-29 KJV) In saying this Paul says that true Christians are “Jews.” Therefore a person who calls himself a Christian also, spiritually, calls himself a Jew. A Christian, therefore,who does not walk in God’s ways is thus a person who says he is a Jew (spiritually), but is not.

The problem for many Christians is that they have not truly grasped the meaning of the “living hope” they were supposedly born again to. This hope is defined in many places, but one critical verse is Galatians 5:5 which says, “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” Our hope should not be just to escape the evil of this world, but should be a living, active hope for the actual and literal righteousness of God. When describing this living hope Peter went on to say,

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:13-25)

Amen.