“And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have a more sure word of prophecy, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (vs18-21)

Peter, James, and John were eyewitnesses of His glory, and yet, they have a more sure word of prophecy, something surer than seeing Christ themselves, even the scriptures. We may place ALL of our confidence in God’s word because He infallibly wrote it by the hand of men.

He did speak from heaven. Peter says, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” He does please the Father, obeyed Him, and He honored Him by dying to exalt God’s righteousness in saving sinners (Rom 3:25). He is God manifested in the flesh, and in Him, we please God also. He is so glorious that sinners are saved by trusting Him alone, and our foolishness is washed away be the merit of His obedience, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). Yet, Peter’s face to face contact with Christ on the Mount is not to be envied, not when we have the scriptures giving us a word more sure than personal experience, more sure than if we saw Christ transfigured ourselves. Let men say what they want about Scripture, but Jesus and the prophets always referenced it as God’s word and true in every detail. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Noah and the flood, God creating man, or the whale swallowing Jonah, these are not mere stories and fables: they are the truth that we spend our lives proclaiming.

You are not wasting your life on the gospel. Salvation is according to the Scriptures, and we have God-given instructions to avoid sinking with the ship. You are not following human philosophy, merely trading your opinion for someone else’s, but you’re walking with God, taking Him at His word, and obeying Him as the proof of your election (2 Pet 1:10). Do not grow weary in well doing. Only one Book can give you life, and only One Teacher is to govern you. God’s word teaches holiness by the grace of Christ.

Secondly, God will destroy false prophets who twist the scripture (2 Pet 2:1-4). We read, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” They are dangerous men, and hell will be their portion. Jesus says, “Let them alone. They are bind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matt 15:14). The gospel isn’t a WIDE WAY that lets everyone in; it is the straight gate, the narrow way, and deviating from the truth is damning. God will not say, “You were wrong, but sincere, and I will bless you.” Instead, He punishes those who lie against the truth and mislead others.

False prophets are the most harmful people in the world. Many escape outward sins only to be snared by false religion. They know that drunkenness is wrong, but they’re deceived by the “deliverance” preacher. The false prophet comes as a messenger of light, but he preaches soul damning darkness, “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Cor 11:14-15). Reject and ignore these men, if they don’t match the scriptures. Isaiah said, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this world, it is because there is no light in them” (Is 8:20).

The gospel accepts no human interpretation, and Peter labored to give it to us exactly as it is. It exalts Christ as able to save, not only giving grace, but giving it through the gospel message that reveals God’s righteousness, God’s promises, and God’s direction for our behavior (2 Pet 1:1-4). His grace is unto holiness, so receive it. Do not follow anyone who strays from Scripture. We can’t fight God, so CAST OUT the lying prophet rather than perishing with him. Line up with the truth and worship where Christ is glorified, or suffer the ruin of those deceived by darkness and void of truth. Scripture makes it plain, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble”. Do not be deceived by anything else.

Finally, we don’t need to bring a long list of charges against those rejecting the Scriptures: God rebukes them (2 Pet 2:5-11). Peter says, “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are daring, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of glories, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.” They are liars and leaders in open rebellion, standing boldly against God, not caring what says the scripture. Like Lot’s sons-in-law, they mock and challenge God’s warnings. We read, “So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, ‘Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!’ but to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking” (Gen 19:14). They rebel like Noah’s generation, despise the preaching of righteousness, and they are left to themselves while God delivers those who hate sin, even “righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)”.

I live in Oakland California and frequent a coffee shop near the Lake. I’ve never seen more lesbians in my life. They are not to be hated, but like child abuse, violent crime, and pimps prostituting young girls, it burns within us to see the wicked in rebellion, sinning as if there is no consequence.