“THEREFORE, I SHALL ALWAYS BE READY TO REMIND YOU OF THESE THINGS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ALREADY KNOW THEM, AND HAVE BEN ESTABLISHED IN THE TRUTH WHICH IS PRESENT WITH YOU. 13 AND 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 MAY 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 AND 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.”
This is probably Peter’s last letter written to the church. He was old and knew he would soon be martyred for his Lord (John 21:18,19)
Now, when someone is about to die they tend to say the things most important to them; and they do not lie. So it is important, knowing Peter wrote these words at the end of his life and knew the end was near, that we pay attention and realize these words were written by a man wanting to say the things he considered of extreme importance and worth.
Look at verses 16-19 again.
Peter is talking about the time, just before the crucifixion of Christ, that Jesus took Peter and James and John up on the mountain. While He was praying there, He suddenly changed in appearance and then was talking to Moses and Elijah about His imminent departure.
These three disciples, at that moment, saw the King of Glory in all His splendor. Just for a moment, all that He really was shined out so much that it hid his fleshly body in bright light and heavenly glory. Their teacher, their Master, was now, standing before them, the Creator, Judge of the universe, the beginning and the end, the Almighty God.
(Read Luke 9:28-36 and Hebrews 1:3)
So, he goes on to say in verse 19, by the things we witnessed there, we have something more sure than just the writings of the prophets. They wrote to us about things they saw and heard; but we have seen them ourselves. If the prophets said, “God will come and save His people”, we can now say, “God has come and saved His people.” THE PROPHETIC WORD MADE MORE SURE.
Listen to these words of Peter; remember, these were some of his last words on earth, and he meant them with all his heart.
Listen to these words of Peter; Let the word of God be to you as a lamp to your feet and a light showing you the way, until Christ the bright and Morning Star enlightens your heart and takes away all your darkness.
Here are some related scripture passages to read:
Malachi 4:2 Ephesians 5:14 Romans 13:11-14
Revelation 22:16
