In Matthew chapter 17 we find the account of Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain, witnessed by His disciples.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was transfigured? What purpose did this event serve? And why did Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus when he was transfigured?
The transfiguration was actually a type, or parallel, of Jesus' second coming...His second coming in miniature if you will. What happened on the mountain is a type, or parallel, of what will happen when Jesus returns to earth the second time.
Just as Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, likewise He will appear in His full divine glory when He appears the second time, no longer will He appear as merely a suffering Servant but this time as a divine conquering King in His full glory. His transfiguration on the mountain was a type of the divine glory with which He will appear when He returns the second time.
But what about Moses and Elijah? How and why were they present with Jesus?
Firstly, in order for Moses and Elijah to appear with Jesus they must both have been alive.
In the Bible it is recorded that Elijah was translated to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2). That explains how he could appear alive with Jesus, since he had up to that time been alive in heaven, he had never died and so was not resurrected from the grave.
But what about Moses? In the Bible it is recorded that Moses died and was buried on a mountain just before the Israelites entered the promised land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 34). So how could Moses have appeared alive with Jesus if he was dead?
In the Bible it is also recorded that Moses was resurrected (Jude 9). Therefore, like Elijah, he must have been alive in heaven before he appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration.
That explains how both Moses and Elijah could appear alive with Jesus. But why were they present? What purpose did their presence serve?
They could certainly have been there to offer Jesus comfort and encouragement during His earthly pilgrimage, especially in regard to His suffering and death on the cross. But there was a greater purpose to their presence with Jesus.
Just like Jesus' transfiguration was a type, or parallel, so Moses and Elijah were also both a type or parallel. But of what or whom?
We can answer that question by considering the difference between Moses and Elijah. Moses died and was resurrected and was taken to heaven. Elijah was translated to heaven without dying. Therefore Moses was a type of those believers in Jesus who die and are resurrected at His second coming. Elijah was a type of those believers in Jesus who do not die but live to see Jesus come.
The good news is that believers who die and are resurrected, and those believers who do not die but live to see Jesus come, will together receive new glorified bodies and rise to meet Jesus in the air when He comes again, before being taken to heaven to spend a thousand years there fellowshipping with God, Jesus, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages since Adam and Eve.
"13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV
Sure Word Prophecy
THE TRANSFIGURATION
In Matthew chapter 17 we find the account of Jesus' transfiguration on the mountain, witnessed by His disciples.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was transfigured? What purpose did this event serve? And why did Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus when he was transfigured?
The transfiguration was actually a type, or parallel, of Jesus' second coming...His second coming in miniature if you will. What happened on the mountain is a type, or parallel, of what will happen when Jesus returns to earth the second time.
Just as Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, likewise He will appear in His full divine glory when He appears the second time, no longer will He appear as merely a suffering Servant but this time as a divine conquering King in His full glory. His transfiguration on the mountain was a type of the divine glory with which He will appear when He returns the second time.
But what about Moses and Elijah? How and why were they present with Jesus?
Firstly, in order for Moses and Elijah to appear with Jesus they must both have been alive.
In the Bible it is recorded that Elijah was translated to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2). That explains how he could appear alive with Jesus, since he had up to that time been alive in heaven, he had never died and so was not resurrected from the grave.
But what about Moses? In the Bible it is recorded that Moses died and was buried on a mountain just before the Israelites entered the promised land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 34). So how could Moses have appeared alive with Jesus if he was dead?
In the Bible it is also recorded that Moses was resurrected (Jude 9). Therefore, like Elijah, he must have been alive in heaven before he appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration.
That explains how both Moses and Elijah could appear alive with Jesus. But why were they present? What purpose did their presence serve?
They could certainly have been there to offer Jesus comfort and encouragement during His earthly pilgrimage, especially in regard to His suffering and death on the cross. But there was a greater purpose to their presence with Jesus.
Just like Jesus' transfiguration was a type, or parallel, so Moses and Elijah were also both a type or parallel. But of what or whom?
We can answer that question by considering the difference between Moses and Elijah. Moses died and was resurrected and was taken to heaven. Elijah was translated to heaven without dying. Therefore Moses was a type of those believers in Jesus who die and are resurrected at His second coming. Elijah was a type of those believers in Jesus who do not die but live to see Jesus come.
The good news is that believers who die and are resurrected, and those believers who do not die but live to see Jesus come, will together receive new glorified bodies and rise to meet Jesus in the air when He comes again, before being taken to heaven to spend a thousand years there fellowshipping with God, Jesus, the holy angels, and the redeemed of all ages since Adam and Eve.
"13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV
1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 18