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Judgment on the House of God

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 4, 1867

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 29, No. 25.

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Judgment on the House of God.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Pet. iv, 17.”
THE term rendered judgment in the text may, according to Greenfield, mean a judicial trial, or a condemnatory sentence, and by implication punishment. It is rendered punishment in A. Campbell’s version, I think. The trials and sufferings of Christians are the theme of the chapter. “Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.” V. 1. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy.” 12, 13. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him as unto a faithful Creator.” 16–19.
The argument is, If God’s judgments are so severe upon his own people in this life, how much greater shall be the punishment of sinners in the end? In view of this, we are exhorted to bear patiently our present trials. R. F. COTTRELL.