Do You Believe Peter’s Message?

Our Challenging World

I pray you are well and rejoicing in our Savior, Lord, and soon-coming King. Let's agree together on this fact – being well does not exclude us from encountering problems in this life. The world (Greek cosmos) is, by definition and experience, an ordered system headed by Satan beginning at the time of humanity's fall in the Garden of Eden. This makes life in this world an uphill battle, or, if you prefer, a world of contrary currents, riptides, and, occasionally, hurricanes. However, we can confront it all victoriously because . . . greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Peter's Message Became His Swan Song (2 Peter 1:12-15)

The apostle Peter was probably more than 70 years of age. He wanted very much to tell us something. Three times he tells us he wanted to be sure to remind us of it. Peter said, Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance (2 Peter 1:12). Peter said, Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle [body], to stir you up by putting you in remembrance (2 Peter 1:13). Peter said, Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance (2 Peter 1:15).

Peter knew his life on Earth was coming to an end. His death was near at hand. He spoke of his demise. And he said, Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me (2 Peter 1:14). This was an amazing prophecy which the Lord gave to Peter almost 40 years earlier (John 21:18-19). Jesus told the apostle he would grow old and that he would be martyred.

Peter probably wrote this letter in A.D. 66 from a Roman prison during the Christian persecution by Emperor Nero. Peter was taken from prison by Roman soldiers and executed. Tradition suggests he was crucified upside down because he pleaded not to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. It is clear that when Peter wrote 2 Peter, he knew his death was imminent and that he was going to be martyred. Final words often take on special meaning. There was something Peter wanted to be sure we remembered, and he thought it was important. It was his swan song.

The Source of Peter's Message (2 Peter 1:16-18)

Where did the apostle get the message he was so burdened to communicate to his readers? First, he wanted to provide one very important caveat. That is, he wanted to share how he did not get his message. He said, For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:16). Then he turned immediately from the negative to the positive by sharing the source of his message, but [we] were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16). The question is, Who are the we who did not follow cunningly devised fables but saw Jesus coming in power and glory?

In a context, when speaking to His disciples about His second coming, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom (Matthew 16:28).

Six days later Jesus took three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, up on a high mountain (Matthew 17:1-9). These three are the we Peter was referring to who saw Jesus coming in power and glory. On the holy mountain Jesus … was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Matthew 17:2). Peter, James, and John were the fulfillment of the Lord's teaching that they would see Jesus coming in his kingdom before they died and long before He returned. They were unusually privileged to behold a preview of coming attractions. They saw the glory associated with Christ's second coming before it actually occurred. And they heard the voice of God the Father say, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17:5).

Peter Places the Prophetic Word Above His Own Experience (2 Peter 1:19-21)

The Lord Jesus, in His Olivet Discourse, described His coming: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30). This is precisely the same thing Peter, James, and John beheld on the Mount of Transfiguration. They beheld God's power and His glory as it will be manifested at Christ's second coming.

As astounding as that event was, there is an even greater testimony to the second coming. And Peter tells us what it is. He said, We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed (2 Peter 1:19). He was referring to the Lord's second coming. And the point he was making is this: The written word of prophecy, as found in the Old and New Testaments, is more authoritative than what he saw on the Mount of Transfiguration. The important principle is this: The inspired Word of God always supersedes experience. When someone tells me that God told them, or they had a vision, I hand them my Bible and say, show me.

Peter instructs us with these words: Knowing this first; that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). That is, no prophecy originates in the mind of one person. The question then to be asked is, From where does it come? The apostle provides us with the answer: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved [borne along] by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21).

The emphasis Peter was trying to make is this: Jesus is coming again in power and glory. He saw the manifestation of that power and glory on the holy mount. And more significantly, holy men of God were inspired to write of the second coming of Christ in the Bible. Peter wanted to remind us of the glorious second coming of the Son of God.

Do You Believe?

Do you believe He is coming? Do you believe He is coming soon? Do you believe He is coming soon with all your heart? Do you believe He is coming soon with all your heart to turn the world right side up? Do you believe He is coming soon with all your heart to turn the world right side up and that He is coming to establish a golden age under His rule for 1,000 years?

If you do, then you can be sad over the insane, sinful, wicked, corrupt direction of our nation and world. However, you must not allow this world to defeat you and take away your joy in Christ.

May Peter's great second epistle bring you comfort and encouragement during these challenging days. May the Lord bless you and keep you under His wings until He returns in power and glory. Soon we will mount up with wings like eagles!

Marv Rosenthal, founder and President of Zion's Hope, has been an acclaimed international Bible teacher for more than five decades.