1 Peter 4:17

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. The house of God is the Church (see 1 Timothy 3:15 ; 1 Corinthians 3:16 ; and 1 Peter 2:5 ). The judgment must begin at the sanctuary ( Ezekiel 9:6 ; see also Jeremiah 25:15-29 ). The beginning of judgment is the persecution of the Christians, as our Lord had taught ( Matthew 24:8 , Matthew 24:9 , and following verses); but that judgment is not unto condemnation: "When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" ( 1 Corinthians 11:32 ); it is the fiery trial, "which is much more precious than of gold that perisheth," the refining fire of affliction. And if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Compare the passage in Jeremiah already referred to: "Behold, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my Name, and should ye be utterly unpunished?" Compare also our Lord's question, "If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" Gerhard (quoted by Huther) rightly remarks," Exaggeratio est in interrogatione." The question suggests answers too awful for words.