In 2 Pet. 2 we see what an altogether satanic scene the Lord is leading us through. Satan is going about as a roaring lion here below; and if we look upward, not where God is, but in the heavenly places, there are wicked spirits in heavenly places—the subtlety of Satan.
Peter brings before us the kingdom; he does not speak of the mystery, as Paul does. Peter speaks of the promises; the Church was not mentioned in the prophets or any Old Testament writing. In chapter 1, what a comprehensive view the Spirit of God takes: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord"! God and Christ are presented to me as an object outside myself. The God of glory appeared to Abraham, setting before him an attractive object.
Peter had been told by the Lord that he was to suffer martyrdom; he does not speak about it in a sentimental way, as some of us would, talking of our sufferings and saying, "I am going to be a martyr," but he calls it his decease—his "exodus." It was a terrible death at the hands of men, but he was above all that.
"We have not followed cunningly devised fables," he says, as Paul said, "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God." He gave it pure, as he received it. Peter was also an eyewitness. On the mount of transfiguration our Lord's face shone as the sun, and His garments were white as the light; that was the heavenly glory of the kingdom -relative glory—but it paled before the voice, "This is My beloved Son." That was personal, intrinsic. When His face and His garment shone, that was "majesty" and glory too; but He received from God the Father honor and glory when the voice was brought to Him. If we study Scripture we shall soon see that Christ is the Father's all; and to us He is all in that new sphere to which we are brought. In the eternal state, God will be all in all.
We are familiar with the scene in Matt. 3 when Christ, at His baptism, was with the poor people confessing their sins. Here on the mount we have shining garments, but there we have fragrant garments. "All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made Thee glad." Psalm 45:8. The fragrance of His garments penetrated the veil of heaven, and brought down the Holy Ghost upon Him as a seal and a declaration of the Father's love: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. 3:17.