PETER AND THE PAROUSIA

Peter is an outstanding example of the amazing transforming power of the Holy Spirit of God. Remember after Pentecost how he fearlessly addressed his fellow Jews as presented in Acts and… boldly interpreted Old Testament prophecies lucidly. True, he had made remarkable declarations during our Lord’s ministry, such as “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and “Thou hast the words of eternal life,” yet later he denied his Lord with oaths and curses, saying that he ever knew Him. How he depicted for all of us the weakness of human nature and our need ever to be watching and praying, lest we enter into temptation.

In this article, we refer to the Transfiguration recorded in three of the Gospels. Peter was one of the favored three who were with our Lord on the Holy Mount, and it was he who proposed that three booths be erected. By nature, he must say something, but two of the Gospels tell us “he did not know what to say, for they were all afraid.” We mention this in contrast with what he later wrote when he refers to this experience…in his 2^nd Epistle, chap. 1 verses 16-21, to which passage we shall now direct our attention.

Peter asserts that he and his fellow apostles were not duped by believing “cunningly devised fables” or “artfully spun myths” when they made known what transpired on the Mount, declaring that it was a representation of the “parousia” of the Lord Jesus Christ’s future coming in power and glory. In fact, Jesus had told the disciples, as recorded in Matthew 16:27, 28 (words, which should have been the opening verses of Matthew chap. 17), “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 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.”

Continuing with Peter’s epistle, verse 19, he writes, “we have a more sure word of prophecy” or more correctly, “the word of prophecy made more sure,” meaning the OT prophecies have been confirmed in the Person of Christ. When He had appeared, He was re-

peatedly identified and honored by His Father throughout His ministry and in an outstanding manner at the Transfiguration. By means of His first advent, the whole of prophecy was made more sure…to this prophetic word we still do well to take heed in our hearts, as unto a lamp that shines in the dark, until the day of Christ’s return dawns.

Finally, Peter writes in vs. 20 and 21 to recognize a principle which is of utmost importance, i.e., that no prophecy is of any private interpretation. The last two words have been variously understood, and that which we favor is “prophecy is not self-originated by the writer or speaker,” which is supported by Peter’s words that follow (vs. 21,) “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit!”

Peter continues the theme of the future “parousia” in 2 Peter 3^rd chapter. His expressions in chapter 1 show that he and his fellow apostles were meeting with opposition as is also recorded in chapter 3. He calls these opponents scoffers walking after their own lusts (desires), paying no heed to words of the prophets or of his fellow apostles. On the contrary, these opponents are saying, “Where is the (fulfillment) of the promised parousia?” reasoning that from the earliest days of creation, there has never been divine intervention in humanity’s affairs. Peter’s answer is that these opponents are willingly ignoring Divine intervention by means of the Flood in the days of Noah which caused the kosmos then on the earth to perish, pass away. It was not the earth that perished. Noah and his family when they emerged from the Ark were on the same planet earth as before, but without its antediluvian hybrid inhabitants (See Gen. 6). As the perishing of “the world that was” was not annihilation of the globe, so neither will the ending of this kosmos that now is, and called by Peter “the heavens and earth which are now,” involve the destruction of the planet earth and the solar system.

Peter uses lurid language when referring to a general dissolution particularly in verses 7, 10-12 which only the future will interpret. He

makes one very important observation in verses 8 and 9. God’s calculation of time is different from man’s. Since Peter’s writing, less than two of God’s days have passed into history and this is a further commentary for the scoffers to note. The Lord is not slack concerning

His promise of the parousia of His dear Son! In verse 11, Peter has introduced a word for us all. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (conduct) and godliness.” Vs. 12 indicates that we should earnestly desire the dissolution of everything that is evil and even now in spirit partake of the “powers of the coming age” (Heb. 6: 5).

At the beginning of the chapter we have been considering, Peter urges that we be mindful of the words previously spoken by the prophets concerning the great changes, which are the forerunners of the new heavens and earth wherein righteousness will have come to stay. (See Psalms 148: 3-6, 89: 35-37, Ecclesiastes. l:4; Psalms 104:5; Isaiah 45:18; Daniel 7:27; Zephaniah 3:8, 9).

Peter continues to exhort his beloved brethren and urges them as they look forward to be diligent so that when the Lord comes they are found to be ready, “in peace without spot and blameless.” Thank God he does not say “faultless.” And finally, he urges that in the meantime as we await the parousia of the Saviour, we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him.

Bible Student Magazine

What Would He Say?

If He should come today

And find my hands so full

Of future plans, however fair,

In which my Savior has no share,

What would He say?

If He should come today

And find my love grown cold,

My faith so very weak and dim

I had not even looked for Him.

What would He say?

If He should come today

Would I be glad, quite glad?

Remembering that He died for all

And none through me had heard His call,

What would He say?

~ Selected ~