Laboring In The Word & Doctrine

I have been "laboring in the word and doctrine" (I Tim. 5:17) as usual and want to share a brief about my present studies.

I have been studying the doctrine of the second coming a lot (as I have for fifty years now), and particularly as it relates to these verses and their meaning and fulfillment:

1) The "bow" that the rider on the white horse (Rev. 6:2) has and what kind of "bow." Why is there no mention of arrows and a quiver? Or is there?

The Greek word for "bow" is from the Greek word "toxon" (from which we get our word "toxic" i.e. poisonous) and this is the only time the word is used in the NT. Some give the definition of poison (which was often connected with archers shooting poison arrows). Toxon in the Septuagint sometimes referred to the bow as a weapon for shooting arrows, but was also used to denote both bow and arrows, and was even used to denote the "bow" Lord God placed in the clouds after a rain (rainbow). There is much more research to do on the use and meaning of "bow" (toxon) in Rev. 6:2. However, it seems clear to me that the "bow" is a symbol and means for the "conquering" of the rider.

2) What is meant by Peter's words "until the day dawn and the day star (or morning star) arises in your hearts"? (II Peter 1:19) I have no doubt that by "the day" is meant the "day of the Lord" or the day of the Lord's coming again. But, what is meant by Peter's added thought "until the morning star arises in your hearts"? Obviously this is not a description of conversion, seeing that the ones Peter addresses are the ones already converted. Clearly this day star rising in the hearts of believers is something that is anticipated by those converted, something to occur in the future. But when in the future? When after conversion? Later when the believer comes to some greater revelation of truth and doctrine, to some post conversion experience? Or, rather, as I think, is it something to be experienced by those believers who live at the extreme period of this present age of darkness, on the very eve of the day dawning? After all, the analogy between the rising of the morning star and the commencement of the "day" is the focus of the apostle. The morning star arises before the day dawn. It appears in the last hour of the night and is a forerunner of the day, announcing and being a sign of the coming day. Therefore, I conclude that Peter was foretelling an experience that will occur in the hearts of believers who "are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord." They will become aware of the impending day by what is affected by this experience of having the morning star arise in their hearts. I look for it to renew and to empower believers in that day. What think ye?

3) "And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." (Luke 12:36)

What is the significance of Christ, at his return, "knocking" to enter? Since this knocking of the Lord is in conjunction with his coming again, it must be fulfilled in that generation of believers who "are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord." How will Christ "knock" in regard to believers when he comes again? Also, how do the end time believers "open to him"? Does he come into them in a mighty way before he comes to all in the awful judgments of the Apocalypse? Is this knocking and opening, connected as it is to the time when the Lord comes, connected with the day star rising in the hearts of those "faithful and few" at the time of the end?

Am I watching and eagerly waiting for these things? What is the fate of those nominal believers who are not so watching and waiting? What saith the scriptures?

Continue to study other things too, of course. I also stay busy with other things. Pray for us.