1. Grace Fellowship Church
Sunday August 19, 2012

2. A Glimpse of the Age to Come
2 Peter 1:15-21
A Glimpse of the Age to Come

3. Introduction:
In last weeks study we looked at the importance of remembering or being reminded of the truth. In many ways this study will still be about remembering… what is still to come. In these verses Peter is recalling his experience on the mount of transfiguration, where he received a glimpse of the kingdom age to come.

4. 2 Peter 1:15-18
“And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure, you will be able to call these things to mind. 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 eye witnesses of His majesty. 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.

5. And we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”

6. A mountain top experience
Peter comes back to this time with Jesus on the mountain to confirm the reality of his message. This wasn’t some wives tale. He was saying, I was there, I was on the mountain, I saw it, I heard it.
The Father speaking to Jesus!!
Believe it!!

7. Mathew 17:1
“After six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother and lead them up on a high mountain by themselves.”

8. Peter, James and John are about to get a very real mountain top experience; literally and figuratively. Of the 12, Jesus picked these three. The inner group of those closest to Him to see a coming attraction that was definitely worth seeing.

9. Mathew 18:16b
“by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.”
1 John 5:7
“For there are three that testify.”

10. Mathew 17:2
“ There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His garments became as white as light.”

11. English: metamorphosis.
Transfigured
Greek: METAMORPHOO
English: metamorphosis.
To change form, shape or structure, the transformation resulting in such change.

12. Jesus was changed in their presence to show them who He really is
Jesus was changed in their presence to show them who He really is. The power and beauty and glory of the Lord of lords and the King of kings! This is the Jesus John would see many years later when he recorded what he saw in Revelation 1:14-16

13. What the disciples saw on the mountain and what John would see again in Revelation; Jesus as He will be in His Kingdom reign on earth.

14. Mathew 17:3 & 4
“And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

15. Why Moses & Elijah & the disciples
Why Moses & Elijah & the disciples? It suggests the three categories of people who will be with Jesus in His coming kingdom. 1. Disciples represent those who will be present in their physical bodies ( tribulational believers) 2. Moses represents saved individuals who have died or will die. 3. Elijah represents saved individuals who will not experience death. (rapture generation) 1 Thes 4:17, Math 16:28

16. Do not lose your focus Mathew 17:5-8
“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud over shadowed them, and behold a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came to them and touched them. ‘Get up,” He said. Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus alone.”

17. Peter was very excited to have these great OT saints around
Peter was very excited to have these great OT saints around. While it will be fantastic in eternity to be able to sit down with Abraham, Isaac & Jacob as well as the 12 disciples and others from the Bible, it is the Lord Jesus Christ that should be our focus. This is why God cut Peter off mid- sentence and changes his focus.

18. Peter was starting to get off track and as it says “when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.’ At this point their only focus was on Jesus. The whole point of the return of Jesus is for Him to establish His Kingdom on earth. Revelation 21:3

19. After recalling the awesome experience on the mountain with Jesus, Peter says something we should pay attention to.

20. 2 Peter 1:19 & 20
“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.
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,”

21. He tells us to: 1. Pay attention to the words of the prophets “made more sure” (This gives us light while we travel through a dark place.)

22. 2. He also tells us to do this until “the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”

23. The word of God written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit gives us understanding as to what is happening in the world. It also gives us confidence of what is yet to come.

24. It is made “more sure” when one is able to see prophecy fulfilled as Peter experienced on the mountain. We are fortunate in this generation to be able to see fulfillment and partial fulfillment of prophecy which should make your faith, “more sure.”

25. For hundreds of years the Hebrew prophets had spoken of the Messiah
For hundreds of years the Hebrew prophets had spoken of the Messiah. His kingdom and the glory of His reign. Peter had been given a glimpse of it’s fulfillment. To him it was more than just prophecy at this point. To him it was certainty. He had seen the Kingdom and the King in His majesty.

26. God’s word, including all prophecy, is “a light in a dark place
God’s word, including all prophecy, is “a light in a dark place.” This should cause you to be “more certain” about what you believe. Peter says to keep your eyes on them. “ you will do well to pay attention to it”

27. “Until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart”
How long should we pay attention to prophecy and it’s fulfillment?
Until the day dawns.. The return of Jesus.
At that time the morning star will arise in your hearts.
REV 22:16

28. 1 John 3:2&3
“Beloved, now we are children of God and it has not appeared yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”
And everyone that has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

29. Col 3:2-4
“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God
When Christ who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

30. 2 Peter 1:21
“For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoken from God.”

31. Conclusion: Finally Peter reminds us again of how certain these things are! The prophecies of Christ’s coming. His future Kingdom. The Holy Spirit tells us these things through the prophets.

32. Imagine that God has given no prophecies concerning the future
Imagine that God has given no prophecies concerning the future. Imagine you had no real idea of what was to come and why things in the world are the way they are. That would be darkness!

33. The Word of God, through Bible prophecy is a light which shines light to our paths and give us understanding of what is happening in the world and what is yet to come.

34. We should have confidence in what we believe regarding the Word of God
We should have confidence in what we believe regarding the Word of God. We should be motivated to know more and more about that which is our confidence. This is what Peter was saying, “pay attention.”

35. Grace Offering

36. Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, August 12, Tape # A Glimpse of the Age to Come Guest Speaker Stephen Rickard 2 Pet 1:15-21  James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012