2 Peter 1:12-21

12: Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 
13: I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 
14: knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 
15: And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

16: For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 
17: For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— 
18: and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19: So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
20: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
21: for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

*** 

We read yesterday of the great gift of salvation and the diligence required on the part of a believer to make certain this calling—to remain in it until the end. Here we read that Peter said as long as he’s in his earthly dwelling he will always be ready to remind them of these things. He acknowledged that they already knew this and had been established in the truth, but he considered it right to stir them up by reminding them again. After he departed—which he said would be soon—they would be able to remember what he’d said.

The prophetic word of God—even prophecy acknowledged as Scripture—comes from God, not human will. It’s not a matter of one’s own interpretation. Scripture came from men, moved by the Holy Spirit, who spoke from God. Having these things written down would enable Peter’s readers, and others, to be reminded of these truths after his death. When Peter, and the others, preached Jesus to them, it was not a cleverly devised tale they were following, but they were eyewitnesses of the Lord Jesus and His majesty. Peter heard the utterance from God Himself, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” when they were with Him on the mountain (Matthew 17:5).

This prophetic word has been made sure and we would all do well to pay attention. It’s as a light which shines in the dark until the day of the Lord’s second coming. The first coming was when Jesus was born, lived, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. His second coming (Hebrews 9:28) will be when the day dawns and the morning star (Jesus Christ-Rev. 22:11) arises in our hearts. We have Him in our hearts now, but His second coming will be a physical return, and a visible, full revelation of Him—revealing what we can only partially see now by faith, and when His great glory is revealed to all.


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