1 Peter 1:12 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves these things but you, which things have now been proclaimed to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit who has been sent from heaven, into which things the angels long to look.
What the prophets saw for the future would impact the human situation. They could not participate in this because it was obviously in the future. They longed for it and, by a very extended faith, were able to join in the stream that led to this salvation. Their message was consistent with what actually came to pass many centuries later. They only saw aspects or a partial picture of the full fulfillment of their prophecies. They did not see the full story but had a deep sense that God had something better planned in the future for all humanity, including Peter’s readers. Peter links the message of the prophets with the message of the apostles and early Christian missionaries. This legitimized what his readers had heard and connected them to the long stream that stretched back through the ages. The message about Jesus Christ is not something made up or brand new, but it was part of God’s plan from the beginning of creation.
The prophetic message has been confirmed by the Holy Spirit. The preaching of the gospel by the apostles and early missionaries was on par and consistent with the Old Testament prophets because all were inspired by the same Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Christ spoke to the prophets in the past and was speaking through the preachers in the first century. Authentic, Spirit-filled preaching will be consistent with this stream of which the prophets and apostles were a part. One of the tests of the truth of a message is if it is consistent with what is found in the Bible.
Peter’s readers had personally experienced the Holy Spirit, who brings confirmation of the truth of the gospel. The angels could not see this because they do not know the future, which is only God’s to know. The opening of this letter confirmed to the readers that they were not alone and that the message they had heard and believed in was authentic and proven by prophetic fulfillment. This idea should have given them assurance in their faith in Jesus amid their challenges and persecution. Their faith in Jesus was deeply rooted to the ancient past. They were blessed to be able to see the whole story ((Matthew 13:16–17). We join with these early believers by trusting in the truth of Scripture. We can now see the full picture and can piece the puzzle together, which should also give us assurance in whatever spiritual or physical battle we may face.