X. The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude

James, writing during this time of Paul, and before John, foretells the grievous woes to come upon ill-gotten wealth in the last days, and the conflict between employer and employed just before the end. (James 5:1-8.)PFF1 154.1

Peter stresses prophecy as divinely given by the will of God, to shine as a searchlight pierces the darkness. (2 Peter 1:19.) He admonishes the gospel shepherds to feed the flock of God, until the Chief Shepherd appears with His crown of glory for the faithful. (1 Peter 5:2-4.) Likewise he depicts the last-day scoffers, the fiery destruction of the earth, and the final restoration.PFF1 154.2

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and 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.” “But 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.... Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4, 10-13.PFF1 154.3

Peter closes his first epistle, moreover, with the salutation of “the church that is at Babylon.” 1 Peter 5:13. That this was frequently understood of Rome by early writers will be subsequently seen.PFF1 154.4

And Jude admonishes the Christian church to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints” (verse 3, A.R.V.; see also ‘’once for all” in Rotherham, Weymouth, Moffatt, Goodspeed, and other versions). He alludes to Enoch’s prophecy of the Lord’s return with His holy ones, to execute judgment on the ungodly (verses 14, 15), and declares the power of God able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless at that day.PFF1 154.5