The return of Jesus Christ known as His return or manifestation at the end of times, as part of a period of time called “The Day of The Lord” forms the main point of Scatology. Apostles Peter, as does John and Paul, together with some other apostles who we will refer to in later studies, as it could not be in any other way due to its importance and because it is a revelation of the Holy Spirit, uses a vast portion of his second letters to reveal and explain the eschatology of the prophetic events of the last days, and more specific, about the second coming of Jesus Christ. To remember the different eschatological views read: The Coming of the Son of Man.

 

APOSTLE PETER AS AUTHOR OF HIS UNIVERSAL LETTERS

The authorship of the apostle Peter on 1 and 2 letters has universal acceptance, and the way of writing reflects that their author is a man of character of a rock and foundation on the rock, as his faith and his Lord, Weisinger mentions. The letters of Peter are the reference for our life in moments of persecution to Christians, especially in Muslim and Marxist countries, MacDonald mentions. In the West we are still living certain tolerance that we should use to preach the Gospel, because as time runs, persecution will raise in an anti-Christ world. Externally we find testimony of the letters of Peter in Eusebius, Polycarp and Clement of Alexandria. 2Peter 3:1 may be the oldest testimonial fragment recognized about the first letter of Peter. Some who doubt on Peter's authorship, especially about the second letter, argue that a fisherman cannot write in such an educated Greek, but they do not take into account thirty years of public preaching, the work of the Holy Spirit in the apostle or the help of Silvanus and Mark. The second letter counts with the testimony of the letter of Jude. Origins, Methodius or Eusebius, who doubted but admitted that most Fathers of his time did accept it. Geronimo and Agustin also admitted it. Despite many false teachers in the first centuries would use the name of Peter to write their heresies, and false epistles, like "the Apocalypse of Peter", the 2 letter of Peter shows a simple and true relation of the same doctrine as in line with the doctrine of Peter, and also it has never been rejected by any church as spurius.

The letters cover, the first period before the great persecution of Nero, because it is very conciliatory with a society that opposes, but not as cruel against Christianity, about 64 A.D. and the second in the times of the persecution, once initiated and before the death of the apostle, therefore about 67 A.D. Christianity, in what today is Turkey, is to whom he writes principally from the city of Babylon, which could refer to the geographical in the valley of the Euphrates, of the spiritual, a clue name to call Rome with the second coming of the Lord.

 

PETER, ONLY APOSTLE TO THE JEWS?

Peter has written two letters which, although they are considered as universal, mainly because they teach Christ's Message in a simple and practical way for all groups of readers. However the first letter is written to the "pilgrims of the Dispersion" a clear mention to the Diaspora of Jewish Christian converts, those today called "Messianic" the Christians coming from Judaism, located in the region know today as Turkey. But the letter does not stop in them only, because it also reaches those Christians from the Gentiles that form the Church. In a way, as Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, Peter is the apostle to the Jews, but however, the time comes when the communities now fulfil the premise that in Christ there is no Jew nor Gentile, and both apostles, pillars of the Church, pastor, at the end all those who love the Lord and His Christ, the Messiah. This if finally the work of the Holy Spirit with both apostles, which can be reflected as both at the end of their work, not only they praise each other, but because the love of God between them, 2Peter 3:15. And the second includes all the groups of believers who had obtained a faith as precious as they had, and now his message is useful to all of them, no matter their cultural or religious background nor their they come from. But there is another feature that make the letters of Peter universal, and it is that they could not be more up to date in their message for the end times, as other parts of their message have been along history for the Church, they are valid in all times. Therefore their inspiration lacks any doubt.

 

KEYS TO MESSAGE OF PETER'S LETTERS

Peter follows a clear purpose in his letters, a fight against false teachers that erupted all over the empire, which was a very mixed culture. Heresies and most of it an infiltrated Gnosticism in the Church, which was being influence by the Greek culture –the Greek seek wisdom, 1Corinthians 1:22, and those who have not known God, think that through the hidden wisdom that Gnosticism teaches they can, a sect, a group of those who consider themselves to be "enlightened" with supposed "revelations" even as it is evident that they are against the Gospel which was, and is, nowadays in many churches, mixed with the Sane Doctrine– was to battle, and it became necessary to remind and strengthen the teaching of the Sane Doctrine; another matter similar in our days. To develop brotherly love amongst brothers and also, as today, the problems of a society anti-Christ and the lack of preaching of the prophecies of the coming of Christ, which we discuss here, find in Peter a jewel of The Bible. You may read more studies about Biblical Eschatology.

Expressions as "for...sparkling of the blood of Jesus Christ", which we are blessed with as we are begotten by God, and the "living hope" to inherit through resurrection and in an uncorrupted way the Kingdom of God. Through a faith "much more precious than gold" salvation in reached, vs. 5; the affliction and the test of the Christiana as something normal which to learn to stand, like all who are of Christ did, do and will do. The end of that faith is the salvation of our souls. The prophets have inquired and searched carefully Scripture and found beforehand that the Messiah would suffer, as He did, and would raise from the dead bringing Glory to God, and this is guarantee that the Gospel is real and Truth. The angels desire to look into these things which we see and receive. "Be holy for I am holy" says the Lord, vs. 16; the "aimless conduct" receive by our fathers; life as pilgrimage, vs. 17. The predestination of Christ foreordained before the foundation of the world, vs. 20. The sincere love to the brethren "love one another fervently with a pure heart" and "having being born again, through the Word of God", 1Peter 1.

The "Living Stone" rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, we as "living stones", and this is said by him who had his name changed by Jesus, from Simon to Rock or Stone. The "Royal Priesthood of the believer" through which that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. "Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" vs. 17, famous sentence of how the Christians must live, treating well all as long as they don't do abomination against the Lord, and suffering like Christ who carrying our sins was maltreated until the Cross and did not complain, He who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, 1Peter 2. Chapters 3 and 4 deepen into Christian life and of the ministry, like "...the Gospel was preached to those who are dead..." 4:6, and 8 reminds us of the fervent love for one another, because "love will cover a multitude of sins".

Jesus instructed Peter in John 21:15-25 to shepherd the "flock of God" which Peter now reminds in Chap. 5 that the elder (bishops and pastors) to whom he now instruct in a clear way, must treat the brethren, because we must give account to God of how we treat the brothers, not for dishonest gain, but taking care of them willing and eagerly, not being lords over them but being examples to the flock. The younger people submit to the older, and all submissive to one another, clothed with humility. "Cast all your care amongst upon God" vs. 7. Resist the devil, steadfast in faith, vs. 9. God, after our suffering, perfects us, establishes, strengthen and establishes us. To Him be the glory. "The church who is in Babylon" closes the letter.

The second contains other unquestionable jewels of God's revelation in a chosen apostle. Partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world that seeks lust, we must give all diligence in separating from it add to our faith virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness love, because if these things are ours and abound in us we will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge or our Lore Jesus Christ. He warns those that lack these things, because if we have them we shall never fall from the faith. Peter informs or his imminent death from a direct revelation. Then he reminds of the voice from Above: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" a voice that Peter heard because he was there, in the transfiguration of the holy mount, 2Peter 1. He warns again about the false prophets and teachers and of the sinful life of those he calls "natural brut beasts" vs. 12. The last chapter, the 3rd is the eschatological part.

 

ESCHATOLOGICAL TEXTS OF THE COMING OF CHRIST IN PETER

We have seen a resume of the context of the Christian life in the first brothers of the churches to which Peter, and as he stands out for them, at the end, the message of the coming of Christ, something vital which at that time, in the last period it was beginning to be left in second place. The key Texts are 1Peter 1:3-12 and 2Peter 3 in which we will concentrate now:

...¹This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: ²That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: ³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. ⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: ⁶Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁷But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. ⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. ¹¹Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, ¹²Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? ¹³Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

It is clear that this message is a parallel of Revelation of John in the eschatological part, as it is 1Thesalonnians 4, of Paul. His reference to the millennium is key and fruit of many debates regarding the meaning of this period.

 

ESCHATOLOGICAL CONCLUSION

Eschatology begins and ends Peter's letters. The first letter, in chapter 1 starts with the "Living Hope" of the coming of Christ, and that the brethren are kept but the power of God, through faith. Yes, faith, as well as being a gift of God for salvation, because it provides us the capacity to believe in the Gospel, it is also a tool of God to keep us to reach salvation, while we are in this world.

Peter finishes his second letter with a full compendia of eschatological data that come from divine revelation. His conclusions are so impacting, so detailed, and so important that many have tried to deny them. The Bible, as a work of His Author, was not going to leave one apostle only to provide these data, but many other, apostles and prophets confirm, in different times and places, the same information, as do Paul, John, Daniel, Isaiah and Jesus Himself.

We know, indeed, according to the promises of the Lord, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, for all that we now know will be burned in the day of God.

The blessing is from the second letter of the apostle Peter, once we now know the preaching of eschatology that was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit:

...Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. ¹⁵And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; ¹⁶As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. ¹⁷Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. ¹⁸But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.