Peter opens his letter to the elect exiles dispersed and fledgling in their new born faith by framing the historical era of the early church age in the context of redemption's timeline. Suddenly the trials and afflictions of a early convert to Christianity in a thoroughly pagan culture are placed in perspective and appear trivial by comparison. Christian perseverance is tied directly to appreciation of the miracle of salvation's plan through the course of history. Jesus proclaimed as much in Mat 13:16-17 when He said: “blessed are your eyes for the see, and your ears for they hear. For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see and did not see it, and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.” The fullness of the prophesies of old would not be realized by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, David, or Moses... but instead, by the believers of the church age (New Testament converts). These authors of scripture were ministering to us all along! It turns out that we are the heirs of revelation riches accumulated over thousands of years and this changes everything!