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We have a “More Sure Word of Prophecy”, July 26
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
.
The apostle was well qualified to speak of the purposes of God concerning
the human race; for during the earthly ministry of Christ he had seen and heard
much that pertained to the kingdom of God. “We have not followed cunningly
devised fables,” he reminded the believers, “when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a
voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with
him in the holy mount.”
Yet convincing as was this evidence of the certainty of the believers’ hope,
there was another still more convincing in the witness of prophecy, through which
the faith of all must be confirmed and securely anchored. “We have also,” Peter
declared, “a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star
arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
While exalting the “sure word of prophecy” as a safe guide in times of peril,
the apostle solemnly warned the church against the torch of false prophecy, which
would be uplifted by “false teachers,” who would privily bring in “damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord” (
2 Peter 2:1
). These false teachers, arising in
the church and accounted true by many of their brethren in the faith, the apostle
compared to “wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom
the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.” “The latter end is worse with them,” he
declared, “than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them.” ...
Not all, however, would be ensnared by the enemy’s devices. As the end of
all things earthly should approach, there would be faithful ones able to discern
the signs of the times. While a large number of professing believers would deny
their faith by their works, there would be a remnant who would endure to the
end.... “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that
ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”—
The Acts of the
Apostles, 534-536
.
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