The Signs of the Times (47): Fairy Tales

‘For we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.’ – 2 Peter 1:16-18

By now, the apostle Peter has grown an old man. He knows that the moment of his passing away is approaching quickly. Tradition says that he was crucified upside down. The Bible says that He would glorify Jesus with his death. And just like so many other elderly people, he wants to give a final message to his ‘children’ and maybe even ‘grandchildren’. To share with them what was and is really important for him.

What will this message be? Will he tell them the story one more time of how he personally saw how Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves on the Sea of Galilee? And how the wind and the waves had to obey Him, and showed that the laws and powers of nature are apparently subject to Him? Or how He made mud with His saliva mixed with dust from the ground and had put this on the eyes of the man born blind, so that he could see? Just as the Lord had made man from the dust of the ground during Creation and had blown life into him? Or how five loaves and two fish multiplied under His hands, creating matter under His hands and feeding thousands of people? With even leaving 12 baskets full of leftovers? Or how He shouted: “Lazarus come out!” – speaking the creative Word, as God had spoken in the beginning –  and how this man who was died already for 3 days stood up from the grave and came out? There was already a bad odour, because the body had started to decompose? Or how he had left Jesus and denied Him and saw from afar how the Lamb of God died His horrible death on the cross? Or how he and John had gone to that grave early in the morning? But He wasn’t there, only the linen as an empty cocoon but still in the shape of the body? So that John saw and believed that He must have risen from the dead with an incredible resurrection body? For it was clear that it was impossible to unwrap the body and then put the linen back in the shape of the body! Or how He suddenly out of nowhere appeared and spoke to them while the doors of the room were closed? Or how He…? No. None of the above.

Peter’s final message, the most important thing Peter wanted to hammer down on the minds and the hearts of the Church – and on all of us – at the end of his life before he was going to die with the death that would glorify his Lord, is this: Jesus is Coming in Glory! These are not fairy tales what we, the Apostles, have told you when we spoke to you about the power and His Coming in Glory.

Apostles had to be ear- and eyewitnesses of Jesus. They had to have lived through everything with Him. When Judas has taken his own life, someone else has to replace him. Matthias takes his place to ‘…take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left.’ The lots are cast and fell to a person, who is chosen from ‘…the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.’ (Acts 1:21-26)

Peter says: This is what I want to tell you one last time before I die. Jesus is Coming in Glory! And in a way I have already seen and heard it myself. I speak as an Apostle, as an ear- and eyewitness. I was there at the time, on the Mount of Transfiguration, together with John and James (Luke 9:28-36). When I was with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration, together with John and James, I saw how the appearance of Jesus was glowing with everlasting life. The appearance of His face changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lighting. And I also witnessed the bodily resurrection of the righteous when Moses and Elijah were there with us. It was so good, and I was so naïve that I said: let’s put up 3 tents! This should never change! This is what it’s all about! Jesus all glorious, the bodily resurrection of the saints, the Kingdom and holy Presence of God, wonderful! ‘“Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)’ (Luke 9:33)

With my own ears I then heard the voice from the cloud that enveloped the Shekinah, the Holy Presence of God, when He said:‘This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.’ It can’t get much better than this. This is where it will all eventually lead to! Jesus is Coming in Glory! Hallelujah!