THERE ARE GREAT TREASURERS HIDDEN IN GOD'S WORD, AND AS YOU FEAST UPON IT YOU WILL FIND THEM!

1. Simon Peter wrote to tell the Saints how to suffer, by following the Example of Christ.-
2. But mark well these mysterious words in your Bible, and remember the warning & blessing
3. Since Constantine two Major Bible texts have battled for acceptance-& men have translated their own prejudices into both.-One gave us KJV; the other has Daniel 13 in it- Vulgate!

I.- WHAT IS "THE DAY OF VISITATION"?? I Pet 2:11

Sometimes the Commentaries and Versions hint of a buried treasure- dig it out -"Visitation"

A.- THIS WORD IS TRANSLATED IN STRANGE CONFUSING WAYS IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS- WHY?

1. Goodspeed says "Glorify God in the Day of Judgement" Basic English-"When he comes to Judge"
2. The New English Bible "On the day when he comes to hold assize (Judicial Inquest)".
3. The Living Bible says -"They will end up praising God for your good works when Christ returns"

B.- THE WORD COMES FROM THE GREEK "EPISCOPAS", AND IS TRANSLATED IN I Pet 2:25 AS "BISHOP".

1. The Presbyterians stress "Presbuterous", & the Episcopalians used "Episcopas"-Bishop!
2. The Word also means "the one who visits to judge" and this one is the "Bishop of your Souls"
3. The hidden message is that this is the Lord when he comes to judge our Souls- and He is coming!

C.- JESUS USES THIS WORD IN Luke 19:44 TO DESCRIBE HIS VISIT TO JERUSALEM, & THEY KNEW HIM NOT!

1. Jesus wept over the city as He prophecies the enemies would destroy them-terrible- v.41-44a
2. Because the City did not know who was visiting them (judging their situation & sins)-death!
3. You might entertain Angels unawares-or worse! fail to welcome the Bishop of Your Souls!

Sodom and Lot were both visited - the way they treated their visitors sealed their destinies

II. THE OLD TESATMENT'S DAY OF VISITATION

The LXX -Septuagint uses this same Greek word in several places, let's examine four of them

A.- EXODUS 3:16 WHILE ISRAEL WAS IN EGYPT GOD VISITED THEM AND SAW THEIR SUFFERING

1. Israel was suffering, and praying for salvation. They were in Sin, but still God visited them
2. Like sheep going astray, the faithful Shepherd-(pastor) visits to try to bring them back
3. God saw something worth saving in these people- and in Egypt He saw something worth cursing

B.- ISAIAH 10:1-3 GOD DECLARES "WOE TO THE WICKED" - WHAT WILL THEY DO IN DAY OF VISITATION?

1. In 1-2 God pronounces a woe upon those whose injustice exploit the poor and week -true today!
2. In 3 He asks them what they will do on the Day the Bishop comes- old England had traveling Judges
3. For all the sins- God still held His hand out-v.4b to save any who would reach out to Him

C.- JEREMIAH 10:15 THE BRUTISH MEN PREPARED IDOLS THAT WOULD BE DESTROYED IN THE VISITATION

1. Men are wicked- evil hearts made idols of gold- v.14 but these idols had no breath in them
2. God is going to come to Judge and the idols will perish- Like Dagon of old fell on his face

D.- HOSEA 9:7 -THE DAY OF VISITATION WILL COME, AND IT WILL BE A TERRIBLE DAY OF JUDGEMENT

1. Those who claim to be prophets- and are so spiritual; these will face a true Judge- knows all
2. God visited Israel & cast away the false v.17, And when He visits us, will cast into Hell!

Prepare your hearts and lives so that the day the Bishop comes will be glory to God!

III.- WILL GOD BE GLORIFIED BY YOUR ENEMIES ? I Pet 2:12

This verse says-so live that even your pagan enemies, when they gossip about you, prove God right in saving you

A.- WHEN YOUR LORD COMES TO JUDGE YOUR SOUL HE WILL DO SO IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR ACCUSATIONS

1. The unsaved enemies speak evil of Christians, trying to drag them down to their own level.
2. Your life is to be so that the only things they can criticize is small silly things-apparent
3. Now if you have never done anything to make a "Gentile" mad at you, where is your testimony?

B.- BUT YOUR LIFE IS TO BE SUCH THAT THEIR ACCUSATIONS WILL BE TURNED ABOUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

1. We need people whose lives are so Godly that the enemies nit-picking shows God's glory-
2. When men tried to accuse Jesus- remember their main -He healed on Sabbath -Glory to God!
3. Have you lived like Daniel- 6:5-nothing to accuse except his obedience to God -Prayer!

C.- THE DAY OF THE BISHOP'S VISIT IS DRAWING CLOSE, WILL YOUR LIFE STAND INSPECTION?

1. Some have hidden sins- from friends & enemies- but not hidden from God- SHOUTED FROM HOUSETOP
2. Some have been accused of much because they are interested in souls- & compassion shines!
3. But some have been so innocuous that nothing bad, or GOOD can be said about them-Phooey!

Does your life stir up any waves that your enemies speak evil of your good works? why not?
If you want to know how- read carefully I Pet.- & God will show you- Do you want to?

YOU WERE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY, BUT HAVE NOW RETURNED TO YOUR SHEPHERD AND BISHOP, v.25 *GLORIFY HIM*

1. The Lord's Coming is soon- are you ready to meet Him- with something for His glory?
2. Come and make any decision you need to- but get ready for day of visitation- soon!