Ver. 19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy
Though this word of prophecy is generally understood of the
writings and prophecies of the Old Testament concerning Christ, yet
different ways are taken to fix the comparison: some think the
sense is, that they are more sure than the cunningly devised
fables, (
2 Peter 1:16 ) but as
these have no certainty nor authority in them, but are entirely to
be rejected, the apostle would never put the sacred writings in
comparison with them: and it is most clear, that the comparison
lies between this word of prophecy, and the testimony of the
apostles, who were eye and ear witnesses of the majesty and glory
of Christ; but how prophecy should be a surer evidence of Christ,
and the Gospel, than such a testimony, is difficult to understand;
and is a sense which all agree to reject, by different methods:
some think that a comparative is used for a positive, and that the
meaning is, that besides the testimony of the apostles, prophecy is
a very sure evidence; and this is countenanced by the Syriac
version, which renders it, "and we have also a firm", or "true word
of prophecy"; to which the Arabic agrees, "and we have a word of
prophecy very true": others choose to retain the comparison, and
which indeed ought not to be thrown out; but these are divided
about it; some are of opinion that it is to be understood of the
Jews to whom the apostle writes, and he himself was one, and the
sense to be this; not that prophecy in itself was surer than an
apostolical testimony, but that it was surer to the Jews, and more
valid with them, who had been trained up in, and long used to the
prophetic writings; and who had a greater esteem for the prophets
of the Old Testament than for the apostles of the New; but it is
scarcely credible that the apostle, who had been an eye and ear
witness in the holy mount, would put himself in among them, and
say, "we have" for whatever prophecy was to them, it could not be
surer to him than what he had seen with his eyes, and heard with
his ears. Others suppose that the meaning is, that prophecy was
"now" surer to the Christians than it was "before", it being
confirmed and established by facts and events, and also by
miracles, and even by the attestation of this voice heard on the
mount, and by the majesty of Christ seen there; but if this had
been the sense of the apostle, he would have used these words,
"now" and "before"; and besides, this puts the comparison quite out
of its place, which manifestly stands between former prophecy, and
the present testimony of the apostles: but the truth of the matter
is, that this word of prophecy is not to be understood of the
prophetic writings of the Old Testament; for though these are the
word of God, and do testify of Christ, and are to be taken heed,
and attended to, as proofs and evidence of Gospel truths, and are a
light to direct and guide in matters both of faith and practice,
yet they are not the only light, and are far from being the
clearest, and what are only to be attended to; for the Gospel that
came by Christ, and is preached by his apostles, and is contained
in the writings of the New Testament, is a much clearer light, and
at least equally to be attended to: nor are the prophecies of the
Old Testament, which particularly relate to Christ, designed; there
are many of this kind, which, put together, may very well be called
the word of prophecy, and which were to the Jews a light in a dark
place, until Christ came in the flesh; and though they are to be
attended to, and compared with facts, to show the truth of the
divine revelation, yet they are not a surer evidence, nor so sure
an evidence, as the evangelical testimony is, which is of facts,
and these supported by miracles; for now the dayspring from on high
hath visited us, and Christ, the bright and morning star, has
appeared: but the word of prophecy, concerning Christ's second
coming, is here intended, whether it lies in the words of the
prophets of the Old Testament, as in (
Psalms 96:13 ) (
Daniel 7:9
Daniel 7:10
Daniel 7:13 ) or
in the words of Christ, (
Matthew 16:27 Matthew 16:28 ) (
Matthew 24:3
Matthew 24:30
Matthew 24:44
) , which latter is most likely. The Ethiopic version understands
this of some particular prophecy, and as if the words were a
citation of some prophet, rendering the words thus, "and we have a
voice more ancient than this of a prophet, saying, ye do well who
take heed" Sir Isaac Newton is of opinion, that the apostle refers
to the book of the Revelation of St. John, which would not be
unlikely, could it be proved that it was then written. Now this
prophecy or prediction, concerning Christ's coming again with power
and great glory, was a surer evidence of it than what the apostles
saw with their eyes, and heard with their ears upon the mount;
nothing was surer to them, nor could anything make it surer to
them, that he was honoured and glorified, than what they saw and
heard: but then this did not so certainly prove that he would
hereafter be glorified, or come again in glory. What they saw and
heard was a presumptive proof that it "might" be so, and was a
confirming pledge and evidence to them that so it "would" be, and
was a glorious representation of it; but Christ's prophecy or
prediction, that so it "should" be, more strongly ascertained it,
since he said it, to whom all things were known from the beginning,
and whose counsel shall stand, and not one word of his shall ever
fail.
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.
The prophecy concerning Christ's second coming is as "as a
light"; it is a revelation of that which was in the dark, lay hid
as a secret and mystery in the heart of God; and which could not
be known by men, had it not been foretold by God; and it is made
as prophecy in all other cases is, by throwing light, as to this
affair, into the mind of him, or them, to whom it is revealed;
and is a light to them to whom it is delivered, and which they
should attend unto, as to a lamp or torch to guide and direct
them; though in some sense it is but a feeble one, and is as a
light "that shineth in a dark place"; meaning not the world,
which is a place of darkness, ignorance, and error; nor merely
the state of the saints in general in this life, who, at most and
best, see but through a glass darkly; but has a particular
respect to the darkness which attends the saints, concerning the
second coming of Christ, and which will especially attend them a
little before that time. Prophecy holds out clearly that Christ
will come again; that he will come in great glory, in his
Father's, and in his own, and in the glory of his angels, and
with great power, to raise the dead, and judge mankind; and
though it gives hints, that, upon this, the saints shall be with
Christ in the air, on earth, and in heaven; and that there will
be new heavens, and a new earth; and that the saints shall reign
here with Christ a thousand years, after which the Gog and Magog
army will attack them without success; yet these are not so
clear, as for saints to be agreed in the sense of them; and much
more are they in the dark about the time of his coming. Now
prophecy is the surest evidence and best light the saints have
concerning this matter, "until the day dawn"; not the Gospel day,
so much spoken of by the prophets, that had dawned already;
rather a more clear knowledge of Christ, and Gospel truths, which
will be in the spiritual kingdom and reign of Christ hereafter;
or else the latter day glory, at the personal coming of Christ,
when the light of the moon shall be as that of the sun, and that
of the sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven days; yea,
when there will be no need of sun or moon, but Christ shall be
come, and be the light of his people; see ( Isaiah 30:26
) ( Isaiah
60:1 Isaiah 60:2 ) (
Revelation 21:23
Revelation 21:24 )
after which will follow the everlasting day of glory, when all
darkness will be gone, and saints shall see face to face, and
know as they are known:
and the day star arise in your hearts;
or "the sun", as the Syriac version renders it; not Christ, the
morning star, the dayspring from on high, and the sun of
righteousness, who was already risen upon them; nor the grace of
God implanted in their hearts, by which they were already called
out of darkness, and made light in the Lord; but as the day star
is the bringer of light, as the word used signifies, or the
forerunner of the day, so it here intends the immediate signs and
forerunners of the coming of Christ; which when observed in their
hearts, and by their understandings, as being come to pass, they
may lift up their heads with joy, because their redemption draws
near, ( Luke
21:28 ) and so the Ethiopic here renders it, "and redemption,
arise for you in your hearts". Now till this time the sure word
of prophecy concerning Christ's second coming is to be "taken
heed unto", as a lamp, light, and torch, to direct us to it, to
encourage us to love it, long for it, and hasten to it: and in so
doing we shall "do well"; it will be well for the glory of God
and Christ, this being setting our seals to them as true; and
well for ourselves to keep up our faith, hope, and expectation of
it, unmoved.