Ⅱ
"We have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts"—2 Pet. 1:19:
A
Peter likens the word of prophecy in the Scripture to a lamp shining in a dark place:
１
This indicates that this age is a dark place in the dark night (Rom. 13:12), and all the people of this world are moving and acting in darkness.
２
The prophetic word of the Scripture, as the shining lamp to the believers, conveys spiritual light that shines in their darkness (not merely knowledge in letters for their mental apprehension), guiding them to enter into a bright day, even to pass through the dark night until the day of the Lord's appearing dawns.
３
Before the Lord as the sunlight appears, we need this word as light to shine over our footsteps.
B
The day dawns (2 Pet. 1:19) is a metaphor illustrating a coming time that will be full of light, as a bright day dawning, with the morning star rising, before its dawning, in the hearts of the believers, who are illuminated and enlightened by giving heed to the shining word of prophecy in the Scripture:
１
In the time of apostasy the believers do well to give heed in this matter, that the prophetic word, as a lamp, may shine through the darkness of apostasy until such a day dawns upon them.
２
This will cause and encourage them to earnestly seek the Lord's presence and be watchful so that they will not miss the Lord in the secret part of His coming (parousia), when He will come as a thief.
３
This metaphor must allude to the coming age, the age of the kingdom, as a day that will dawn at the appearing (the coming) of the Lord (v. 16) as the Sun of righteousness (Mal. 4:2), whose light will shine to break through the gloom of the dark night of this age.
４
Preceding this, in the darkest hour of the night the Lord will appear as the morning star (Rev. 2:28; 22:16) to those who are watchful and looking for His dear appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).
５
They have been enlightened by the shining of the prophetic word, which is able to lead them to the dawning day.
６
If we give heed to the word in the Bible, which shines as a lamp in a dark place, we will have His rising in our hearts to shine in the darkness of apostasy where we are today, before His actual appearing as the morning star.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 2:28 And to him I will give the morning star.2 Tim. 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing.
We love the Word by giving heed to it until something within is dawning and rising in our heart—not the knowledge, not the written code, but the breaking through of day, the rising of the shining star.
Sometimes we may take the Bible, read it, and feel that we receive nothing. Other times, however, when we open our heart and give heed to this prophetic word, something within is shining, rising, dawning, breaking through. While we are pray-reading the verses of the Bible, there is a sense deep within of enlightening, of shining, and this shining creates a love toward the Lord Jesus…We could say, “O Lord Jesus, I love You; I do not have words to express how lovely You are!” Many times by this shining we are beside ourselves with love to the Lord Jesus. That is Jesus coming to us as the dawning day, as the morning star rising in our hearts…Oh, it is wonderful! The situation may not be bright, the surroundings may be full of darkness, but something within is enlightening, shining, filling with glory. (CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, “New Testament Service,” pp. 288-289)
Today’s Reading
In 2 Peter 1:19 Peter is speaking both of a spiritual day and the day of the Lord’s coming. Many times we were in darkness and came to the prophecies in the Bible. As we studied the prophecies, a lamp began to shine within us. Spontaneously, we had the sense that no longer were we in the night but in the day, for a spiritual day had dawned within us…How pleasant it is for the morning star to rise up in our hearts! Although there may be darkness all around us, within us there is a morning star.If we give heed to the prophecies of the Bible, we will experience a lamp shining within us, enjoy the morning star rising in our hearts, and have a spiritual day dawning within us. We may remain in this condition until the actual time comes when the Lord Jesus appears as the morning star and there is the dawning of day with Him as the Sun of righteousness.
Not long after I was saved, I began to read books on prophecy. During the years I was with the Brethren, I heard many messages on the prophecies in Daniel, Revelation, and other books. For more than half a century, my Christian life has been enlightened by these prophecies. Through Watchman Nee I became familiar with the writings of Pember, Govett, and Panton on prophecy. I can testify that the knowledge of these prophecies has helped to enlighten me. Although great changes have taken place in the world during the past fifty years, I have not been surprised, because of the light from the prophetic word in the Bible. I can also testify that, according to Peter’s word, I enjoy the morning star and the inward dawning of a spiritual day.
Outwardly, we live in an age of darkness, but inwardly, we are full of light. We may continue to enjoy the morning star and the dawning of a spiritual day until the time the Lord appears as the morning star to the watchful ones and dawns as the Sun of righteousness.
In these verses Peter seems to be saying, “Brothers, as Jewish believers, you have much knowledge of the prophecies in the Old Testament, and you have heard our testimony concerning the Lord’s coming. Now some heretics are trying to tell you that this is a superstition, that it is a tale, myth, or legend. Don’t listen to them, and don’t accept heretical teachings. You have our testimony, and you have the prophetic word shining within you. This prophetic word should shine within you until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (Life-study of 2 Peter, pp. 69-71)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, “New Testament Service,” ch. 6