Peter is referring to being received by the Bridegroom at the pre great trib rapture when God will judge His House first. I see Peter mirroring Paul's call of those looking to Him to help them lay aside every weight & sin in departing from iniquity of that race run by faith in Jesus Christ as our Good Shepherd.
When you see how that chapter began in how sinners as mockers are living in these latter days, then you may see Peter's warning to be abiding in Him to be ready to go.
1 Peter 4:1Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
So Peter's reference to the end of all things being at hand is for believers to abide in Him for when He comes to escape what is coming on the earth as there will be judgment on the ungodly and the unbelievers, but He will be judging His House first.
Jesus warned of this preparing to be ready to go to believers seeking to be His disciples in Luke 12:40-49 where the consequence is being cut off and cast away to be with the unbelievers that are still on the earth when that fire comes.
Getting back to Peter's message for preparedness before God comes to judge as the Bridegroom, we see the same message in the 2nd epistle by him that mirrors how mockers will be in the last days for how we should not run as they do from Peter's first epistle.
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 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. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men......9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 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. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Peter refers to Paul in how Paul had warned them to be ready and abiding in Him by running that race to avoid becoming a castaway, but it is not for eternal life as in to obtain salvation by, but to be ready as His disciples to escape and be saved from what is coming on the earth.
I go back to your reference in 1 Peter 4:17-19 to include verse 19, in the KJV because it is significant in pointing out that those that are not abiding in Him, He is faithful still as He will keep their souls while they suffer being left behind.
1 Peter 4:17 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?18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
So while you see that as if salvation is to come with works, I say please repent of that notion, because Jesus Christ is your Saviour because He has saved you. Those unrepentant saints & former believers left behind to suffer that fire coming on the earth, He is keeping their souls still because He is their Saviour, even though they were not abiding in Him as His disciples by faith in Him as their Good Shepherd in having them ready to go, they will become vessels unto dishonor in His House testifying to the power of God in salvation by those who believe in Jesus Christ, even in His name.