Eyewitnesses of His Majesty
Christ has come into the world (Jn 16:28). Christ is coming again (Jn 14:2–3). These two propositions were under fire from the heretics in the early church. The false teachers accused even the apostles of manufacturing cleverly devised tales (2 Pet 1:16a). In 2 Peter 1:1–15, the Apostle Peter exhorted the recipients of his epistle to remember the powerful grace of God that was producing Christian virtue in them. The blessing and benefit of being a partaker in the divine nature should comfort believers in Jesus in every age.
In 2 Peter 1:16, the Apostle Peter began his argument against the heretics. He first gives a defense of the apostolic witness of Jesus regarding the Transfiguration event that occurred on the holy mountain (Mt 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; 2 Peter 1:16–18). Next, he employed the defense witness provided by the Scriptures (2 Pet 1:19–21).
In verse 16, the reference to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is somewhat debated by theologians; but most of them rightly see the polemic extended to 2 Peter 3, which clearly teaches about Christ’s second advent. The return of Christ is no fable, nor myth, or concoction of someone’s imagination. It is a future event prophesied in both the Old and the New Testament. Obviously, the unbeliever has no regard for what the Bible teaches regarding eschatology; but Christ’s parousia is actually a fundamental of the faith.
There is not enough space to include every detail here; but we wish to briefly consider the Bible’s affirmation of this future event and its place in sound doctrine. False teachers, today, are still distorting the account and the reason for Jesus’ glorious appearing.
The fall of man from the Garden of Eden set the stage for a rescue mission (Gen 3). The plight of man was established; and the problem of evil persists, today. Sin is lawlessness against Almighty God and His holy Law (1 Jn 3:4). Man is a criminal under the just judgment of God.
The Bible informs us that sinful man has been deceived by Satan (2 Cor 4:4), who is identified as the leader of the rebellion against God and Christ (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Evil is advanced in all that the devil promotes. His objective is to destroy the works of God. Without the restraint of evil, there would be nothing but darkness in the domain and dominion of Satan (Jn 3:19; Acts 26:18; Col 1:13).
Light has come into the world (Jn 1:9; 8:12); and the majesty and glory of the Sun of righteousness (Mal 4:5), Jesus Messiah, has shone in the hearts of God’s elect, redeemed, regenerate, believing people (2 Cor 4:6). Here is the conflict among men. All are born into the kingdom of this world; but only some are saved out of the world, being transferred unto the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Col 1:13; 1 Pet 2:9).
As ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom, Christians endure scorn and hostility from unredeemed people representing this perverse generation. Those without God in the world endeavor to create their own Christ-less utopia in this present evil age. These are the ambitious tower builders, who gravitate toward cities, form governments, invent false religions, and conceive of endless philosophies.
The history of the world has recorded endless tension between the two kingdoms. At times, the kingdom of God advances through revival — a work of the Holy Spirit to re-invigorate the chosen people of God, who resist the devil’s destructive works. Regardless of the strength or weakness of the kingdom of Christ at any time, the task of promoting the Gospel message of God’s advancing kingdom continues until Jesus comes from heaven a second time.
When the Gospel has been preached to all nations and the last of God’s elect is called out of darkness and into the marvelous light, then the end will come (Mt 24:14; 1 Pet 2:9). The final conflict between the two kingdoms will be fought with utmost intrigue and intensity. Amidst great tribulation, the second Person of the Triune God will come again from heaven in bodily form (Rev 19:11–21). He will come suddenly and will be visible to all (Zech 12:10; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 1:7).
The Day of Judgment will bring the execution of punishment against every resurrected soul outside of Christ. Christ is coming with His saints and angels to wage war (Rev 17:14; 19:11). This means that everything will be destroyed by fire and fervent heat (2 Pet 3:10–12); for our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29).
All will be raised from their graves to receive bodies suited for eternity and each one’s eternal home — be it heaven or hell and the lake of fire, forever (Eccl 12:5; Jn 5:28–29; Rom 8:30; Rev 20:14–15). Those in Christ at His coming will receive glorified bodies to be conjoined with their already glorified souls. Following the resurrection to life, the saints will be caught up together with the Lord at his coming (1 Thess 4:13–5:11). They will look upon Him who they pierced; and they will see him as he is. The glorified ones will be like Him; and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes as the old things pass away and are remembered no more (Is 25:8; 65:17; Rev 7:17; 21:4).
Peter, James and John were eyewitnesses to the radiant majesty of the Transfigured Jesus on the holy mount (Mt 17:1–13; Mk 9:1–13). In the day of His coming, we, too, will be eyewitnesses to His power; His majesty; His dominion. This is God’s beloved Son in whom He is well-pleased. He is the righteous Judge of all the earth (Gen 18:25; Jn 5:22); and His just judgment in the destruction of this world-in-rebellion will be celebrated by those He delivered from God’s wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10).
My dear reader, you must reject the confusion and perversions brought by false teachers of end things. They are legion in their distortions, today, as they were in the past. We must hold to the simple truth of God’s revelation. We must not go any further with speculations regarding timing, persons, or even what these events will look like beyond what can be seen in the Holy Bible.
The blessed hope of Christ’s return is the hope of our salvation (Titus 2:13), which belongs entirely to God who planned, executed, and who now applies it to His beloved (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1). We have much to look forward to…especially in our upcoming role as eyewitnesses of His glory and majesty at His coming. Even so, come Lord Jesus.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
September 19, 2024
2 Peter 1:16
