How Does the Prophetic Word in 2 Peter 1:19 Prepare Us For the Lord's Coming?

    During the time that Peter wrote his Epistles, there were ones who mocked the Lord’s second coming.  Especially in his second letter I've noticed that Peter talks repeatedly about the Lord’s coming. He points out strongly in 2 Peter 1:16 that the Lord's coming is not a "cleverly devised myth."   After saying that, he reminds the believers that they need to take heed to the prophetic word of God  because it’s like a lamp shining in this dark age  full of spiritual degradation:

I took this picture while walking on the
 boardwalk with my grandkids.

And 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 hears.  2  Peter 1:19

     Not only is the word of God  a shining lamp, but it’s also the very thing that  prepares us for the Lord’s second coming.  This is brought out clearly on page 71 of chapter 8 of the Life-Study of 2 Peter:

….It is correct to say that the dawning of the day in 1:19 refers to the time of the Lord's coming back. On that day, the Lord will shine as the Sun of righteousness. The time that is is very close to the Lord's appearing may be likened to the early morning, at which time the Lord Jesus will be the morning star to His watchful believers….Actually, in 1:19 Peter covers two matters at the same time. He is saying that the entire world is a dark place and that this present age is a dark night. If we did not have the prophecies of the Bible, we also would be in darkness, for we would not have a lamp.  But the prophetic word is our lamp shining in the darkness. As we give heed to this prophetic word, we receive the shining light. Eventually, this light will shine until a spiritual day dawns within us, and a morning star rises in our hears. Therefore, Peter first is speaking of a spiritual day, a day that dawns within us. He also speaks of a future day, the day of the Lord's coming back (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of 2 Peter. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1982, Print).

       This last week I listened to Programs 37-39 on Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee. One of the brothers highlighted a point from chapter 11 in Program #38 that touched me: Our growth in life will not only prepare us for the Lord's coming but actually hasten it.  And  1 Peter 2:2 makes it clear that we spiritually grow by drinking the milk of the word.  So this fellowship encouraged me to keep coming to the word each morning.

I like to listen to the Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee while I'm cooking or typing. You can listen to live excerpts of these messages that were given in 1982 along with some outstanding commentary. 

What is the Sanctification of the Spirit in 1 Peter 1:2?
What is Obedience to the Truth in 1 Peter 1:22?
How Do Believers Grow According to 1 Peter 2:2?
How Does God Get the Living Stones in 1 Peter 2:5?
What Does 1 Peter 4:1-2 Say About Sufferings?
Why Does 1 Peter 4:17 Talk About God's Judgment?
What Does Partaking of the Divine Nature Mean in 2 Peter 1:4?