At the first coming of Jesus Christ, “His star” guided the magi from Persia to Bethlehem, leading them to the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords (Matt. 2:2).
“His star . . . . went on before them” as a forerunner, leading them to Jesus Christ (Matt. 2:2,9).
Just as Jesus had “His star” at His first coming, He will also have “His star” at His second coming. To be clear, I’m not saying He will have a star in the sky like He did the first time. Rather, I’m referring to the morning star—Christ arising in the hearts of His people as light, life, glory, and victory.
In the darkest hour in history, the church will enter her finest hour in history, what David called “the day of [His] power” (Ps. 110:3). Before the Lord returns, He will have an army of overcomers—forerunners who are given the morning star.
Let me explain what I mean.
Christ’s Transfiguration and His Second Coming
Peter said,
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. (2 Pet. 1:16-19)
The transfiguration of Jesus Christ (Matt. 17:1-8) was a snapshot or glimpse of the second coming, when He will return in power and glory in blazing fire with His holy angels.
In Matthew 16:27, Jesus talked about His glorious second coming, when He lights up the sky with His glory. In the next verse (Matt. 16:28), Jesus said that some standing there would not taste death until they saw Him coming in His kingdom.
Though many have been baffled by this statement for centuries, Jesus meant Peter, James, and John were permitted to see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom before He came in His kingdom. In fact, Peter referred to the transfiguration as Jesus’ coming in power and majesty (2 Pet. 1:16).
Notice the transfiguration took place “six days later” (Matt. 17:1), referring to the Lord’s statement in Matthew 16:28, where He mentioned His second coming in power and glory.
Many theologians see the six days of creation as a symbol of the six-thousand years of human history from Adam and the seventh day symbolizing the one-thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem (Rev. 20:6).
Allegorically speaking, then, perhaps Jesus will return at the end of six days to establish His earthly kingdom on the seventh day.
The Transfiguration and the Book of Revelation
Take note of the parallels between the transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-8 and the book of Revelation.
In Matthew 17:2, Jesus “was transfigured before them.” In Revelation 1:1, John received “the Revelation of Jesus Christ.”
In Matthew 17:2, Jesus’ “face shone like the sun.” In Revelation 1:16, Jesus’ face “was like the sun shining in its strength.”
In Matthew 17:3, “Moses and Elijah appeared to them.” In Revelation 11:3-12, the “two witnesses” who “prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days” are likely Moses and Elijah. These two witnesses will prepare the way for the Lord’s return.
In Luke 9:32 (Luke’s version of the transfiguration), the disciples were “overcome with sleep.” In Revelation 3:2 and 16:15, the church is asleep and exhorted to “wake up” and to stay “awake.”
In Matthew 17:5, the Father told the disciples to “listen to” Jesus. In Revelation 2-3, Jesus exhorts the church, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
In Matthew 17:6, the revelation of Christ caused the disciples to fall “face down to the ground” and they “were terrified.” In Revelation 1:17, the revelation of Christ caused John to fall “at His feet like a dead man,” inspiring Jesus to tell John, “Do not be afraid.”
Clearly, the transfiguration prefigured the revelation of Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation and His second coming, when He comes to establish His kingdom fully on the earth.
The Morning Star
All this in mind, it’s interesting that Peter connects Jesus Christ’s transfiguration, which prefigured His second coming, to the morning star arising in the hearts of God’s people.
Christ has certainly arisen in fullness within the hearts of a remnant of His people throughout history. Nevertheless, the greatest fulfillment of 2 Peter 1:19 will take place prior to the Lord’s return.
In the years leading to Jesus’ glorious appearing, the indwelling Spirit will arise in fullness within the hearts of God’s people as they yield themselves fully to Him.
The Dawning of a New Day
The Lord’s second coming, like the dawning of a new day, does not burst forth suddenly. It is not completely black one second and then the next second completely light. The night sky is slowly replaced by the approaching light of dawn.
In the transition from night to day, another event takes place—the morning star shines in the darkness of the night, heralding that a new day is dawning.
The morning star is actually not a star at all. It’s the planet Venus. Right before the break of dawn, Venus is situated in the sky above the eastern horizon.
In a sense, this morning star announces to those who see the darkness that a new day is coming soon. The morning star is foretaste of the radiant light that is soon to come.
What does this have to do with us? The morning star symbolizes what the Lord will do in the overcomers at the end of the age.
What, exactly, does the morning star symbolize? There are at least eight things the morning star points to. I will explain this in my next article.
