The Transfiguration

[Resurrection Priest]

Why did Jesus tell the three disciples not to tell anyone about the transfiguration, until after He was risen from the dead?

Answer:  Because it would have appeared that Jesus was talking to dead people - a death penalty offense. 

But He wasn't.   Elijah and Moses were both alive.  

Elijah was taken up in a chariot to Heaven.  Elisha saw him go.  Elijah did not "see death".  

Moses did die, but he was resurrected.  That is why the argument over his body (Jude 1:9).  And that is why Paul says that "death reigned from Adam to Moses" (Rom 5:14).  Moses was the first person to be resurrected from death. 

I personally believe that Michael was the name of God's Son, prior to His incarnation.  Michael means "like unto God".   It seems blasphemous for any created angel to take that name.  I realize Michael was called "archangel", but that just means "chief messenger".   Is not God's Son, also His chief messenger, and commander of angels.

Joshua 5:13 "Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No, rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" 15 And the captain of the LORD's host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so." (NAS) 

And NO.  I am not Jehovah's Witness. 

[Jayne]

47 minutes ago, Resurrection Priest said:

Why did Jesus tell the three disciples not to tell anyone about the transfiguration, until after He was risen from the dead?

It had nothing to do with speaking to dead people.  Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were having a conversation about Jesus' upcoming death.

Even Peter was confused about all of that.  Coming back down the mountain, he asked Jesus why people say Elijah has to come first.  Jesus told him Elijah had already come and suffered.  They knew, it says in one account, that he was talking about John the Baptist.

Before Jesus resurrection, this event would have thrown a monkey wrench into the already confused people - common people and religious leaders.

After he rose again, it would have all made sense.

[enoob57]

From Adam to Moses no law was in effect... yet death reigned is the point. This is the effect of one mans sin Adam who had the law do not eat from this tree... here is the a good treatise:
[snip]

Romans 5:14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

[Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses] This supposes, as Dr. Taylor very properly observes:
#1. That sin was in the world from Adam to Moses.

2. That law was not in the world from Adam to Moses during the space of about 2,500 years; for, after Adam's transgression, that law was abrogated; and, from that time, men were either under the general covenant of grace given to Adam or Noah, or under that which was specially made with Abraham.

3. That, therefore, the sins committed were not imputed unto them to death, for they did not sin after the similitude of Adam's transgression; that is, they did not, like him, transgress a law, or rule of action, to which death, as the penalty, was annexed. And yet,

4. Death reigned over mankind during the period between Adam and Moses; therefore men did not die for their own transgressions, but in consequence of Adam's one transgression.

[Who is the figure of him that was to come.] Adam was the figure, tupos, the type, pattern, or resemblance of him who was to come; i.e. of the Messiah. The correspondence between them appears in the following particulars:

A. Through him, as its spring and fountain, sin became diffused through the world, so that every man comes into the world with sinful propensities: for by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, Rom 5:12. Through Christ, as its Spring and Fountain, righteousness becomes diffused through the earth; so that every person is made partaker of a principle of grace and truth; for "he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world," John 1:9.

B. As in Adam all die; so in Christ shall all be made alive, 1 Cor 15:22. "For, since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead," Rom 5:21.

C. As in or through Adam guilt came upon all men, so, through Christ, the free gift comes upon all men unto justification of life, Rom 5:18. These alone seem to be the instances in which a similitude exists between Adam and Christ. 
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
 

[JustPassingThru]

The Transfiguration story shows us Jesus passed the "test," ...as the Second Adam!

We are told He was clothed in a white raiment, symbolizing that as a Man He was/is the righteousness of God, He was talking with Moses and Elijah, who symbolically represent the Law and the Prophets, ...He passed all of the "requirements" of the Law and the Prophets, ...they "found" no fault in Him, ...that means He could of ascended to Heaven as a Man, the "first" Man in Heaven who "had" accomplished ALL of the Law and the Prophets, ...but, ...He told them He was staying, ...to die for mankind, ...how shocked they must of been, ...talking to God about dying! 

Yes SHOCKED, ...we must remember they had been in the presence of of the Son of God, the Word, in Heaven, ...for Moses 1,500 years and Elijah 700 years, ...Earth time, ...add to that the Jews believed that their Messiah would come again and set them free from tyranny and He would be the King of the Earth, ruling from Jerusalem...

The rest of the story, ...for God the Father loved me more that His only begotten Son, that when He asked that this "cup" pass from Him, Father turned away from Him when He could of put and end to His suffering, ...Jesus could of gone to Heaven that day, His Transfiguration proved it, "This is My Beloved Son, ...hear Him!" (with so many voices today telling us to listen to them)  ...but He chose to stay and suffer torture and crucifixion for me, ...one of the many "chief" of sinners... 

THANK YOU JESUS, ...Happy Birthday Jesus, ...Merry Christmas to all who see and understand the significance of His birth, death and Resurrection, ...THE best "gift" we can ever receive,  ...ALL Praise, Glory, Honor, Dominion and Power to Him, ...God Almighty, ...El Shaddai!!! 

 

[Resurrection Priest]

13 hours ago, enoob57 said:

From Adam to Moses no law was in effect.

I think "the law of sin and death" was in effect.   IMO (Rom 8:2) 

Not sure what that has to do with Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah.

I just thought the transfiguration was a good conversation starter.  So many aspects to it.  

5 hours ago, JustPassingThru said:

He was talking with Moses and Elijah, who symbolically represent the Law and the Prophets, ...He passed all of the "requirements" of the Law and the Prophets, ...they "found" no fault in Him

I can agree.   Jesus fulfilled the terms of the Covenant with Adam, with Noah, with Abraham, with Israel.  He fulfilled them perfectly.  Therefore He can receive the promises of those covenants.   We can receive them only if we are "in Him".   The Son of God came to recover the dominion which Adam lost, because of his disobedience.  

That being said,  "we do not yet see all things put under Him" (Heb 2:8).  That will have to wait for the heavenly court, which will take "the dominion" away from Satan, and give it to Christ.  That's Daniel 7:26-26.   That doesn't happen til the last hours of this age.  Right now, Satan is still "god of this world". 

13 hours ago, enoob57 said:

From Adam to Moses no law was in effect

There must have existed a law in Eden - a law which Adam violated.   If there was no law at that time, then Adam never sinned.  

Paul says, "where there is no law there is no transgression either" (Romans 4:15).   

And people today still sin.  Right?  Which means there must still be "a law" - still existing today. 

13 hours ago, enoob57 said:

men did not die for their own transgressions, but in consequence of Adam's one transgression.

I thought "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23).

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-- (NAS).

Sin entered the world - resulting in death - which spread to all men - BECAUSE all sinned. 

Hence there must have been a divine law in Eden, and in the world.  If there was no law, then no one sinned. 

I think the KEY is in how God deals with sins.  There are sins committed in ignorance.  There are sins committed because someone is is trying just fails.  And there are sins of rebellion - committed knowingly and arrogantly.   God does not deal with these tree TYPES OF SIN, the same. 

Acts 17:30 "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent."  (NIV)   Paul says he was forgiven because he sinned "ignorantly".   Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would have no sin."   If I'm remembering correctly,  the daily sacrifice "covered" all sins of ignorance until such time that the sins were "known" to (understood by) the sinner.  That would seem to indicate that Christ's blood "covers" all sins committed in ignorance.  

So it wasn't that there was no law. 

It was that the "moed" covered sins of ignorance committed during those times. 

 

[Resurrection Priest]

5 hours ago, JustPassingThru said:

The Transfiguration story shows us Jesus passed the "test,"

Yes - Jesus had passed every test up to that point.   But He had another test in front of him.   The Cross. 

Philippians 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (KJV)

I personally doubt that Satan actually wanted to kill Christ.  I think he wanted to force Him to bail out - to cry out for angels to rescue Him.   THAT would be against the Father's will.  Satan would WIN.  Christ could not recover the dominion of earth that Adam lost.  He could not receive the promises of all the covenants - if He refused the Father's will even once. 

HIS OBEDIENCE bought our freedom. 

Hebrews 10:7 "Then said I, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.'" (KJV)

[Resurrection Priest]

Moses and Elijah talked with Christ before His great test.  I think they encouraged Him, telling Him that He would be victorious, and that His Kingdom would be glorious and full. 

Moses and Elijah will witness again - just prior to the final test of mankind. 

In Revelation Chapter Eleven, the "two witnesses" testify for 3.5 years (1260 days, 42 months).  They have power to "shut heaven so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy" (Elijah), and power over waters to turn them to blood" (Moses). 

I agree that Moses and Elijah symbolize "the law" and "the prophets".  

I think the message of the "two witnesses" will be the same message given by Moses, and by Elijah.  "Remember the Law" and "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve." 

Malachi 4:4-5  "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,  which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, the statutes and judgments.  v.5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD." 

Personally, I don't see the literal Moses and the literal Elijah re-appearing in the last days.   I believe the "two witnesses" will be people, living in the last days, who give the message of Moses, and the message of Elijah. 

Rev. 11:4 says they "are the two olive branches and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth." 

In the prophecy of the lampstands (Rev Chapter One -Three) the command "repent" is given to 5 of the churches.  The command to "repent "includes the warning, "or else I will come to you quickly and will remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent" (Rev 2:5). 

If you start with 7 lampstands, and 5 are removed, that leaves 2.  Two lampstands still "standing before God".  

You have the Olive Tree with many branches.  If all but 2 branches are "broken off" - that leaves 2 branches - still drawing life from "the tree". 

The 2 churches that are commended (rather than censured), are Smyrna (the martyrs) and Philadelphia (those who love the brethren).  

I think they will also be the "two witnesses" in the last days.  The Elijah and Moses at the end of this age. 

Edited December 26, 2019 by Resurrection Priest

[enoob57]

Τhe law for Adam -do not eat from this tree yet after the first transgression no law was given till Moses
Romans 4:15 (ESV) [15] For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
However God tells us this:
Romans 2:12-14 (ESV)
[12] For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
[13] For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
[14] For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 

 

[JustPassingThru]

17 hours ago, Resurrection Priest said:

I personally doubt that Satan actually wanted to kill Christ.  I think he wanted to force Him to bail out - to cry out for angels to rescue Him. 

I think Scripture tells us he didn't know:

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.   1 Cor 2:7-8

We the "Church" have the Wisdom of God, ...it's referred to in the Word as the "Light"of the world, ...the devil and his minions live in darkness<

17 hours ago, Resurrection Priest said:

The 2 churches that are commended (rather than censured), are Smyrna (the martyrs) and Philadelphia (those who love the brethren).  

I think they will also be the "two witnesses" in the last days.  The Elijah and Moses at the end of this age. 

In the "chronological" order of the 70th Week, the last 7 years, know as the time of Jacob's Trouble given to us by Jesus Himself to John:

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;  Rev 1:19

Chapter 1, ...the things which thou hast seen, 

Chapters 2 and 3 the Church Age, ...the things which are, 

Chapters 4 thru 22, ...the things which shall be hereafter

John was living during the Church Age, then chapter 4 starts with the words, "after these things," meta tauta in the Greek, ...what did he see, ...are door opened in Heaven and Jesus telling him to "come up here" and Jesus telling him He will "show" John what will happen after the "Church" is in Heaven with Him...

That means Jesus is telling us that His Church will not be present on the Earth during the last 7 years yet to be fulfilled of Daniel's prophecy concerning his people, ...the children of Israel:

Seventy weeks are decreed as to your people and as to your holy city, to finish the transgression and to make an end of sins, and to make atonement for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy.  Dan 9:24

Lord bless

 

[Resurrection Priest]

Hi JustPassingThru,

I do not personally believe the Church will be raptured to Heaven, and then the Jews who are left on earth with the unbelievers will go through 7 years of tribulation. 

That's not the scenario I think most closely fits the prophecies.  That's just my opinion, based on my study.  I think a long discussion on the "secret rapture" doctrine would probably best be moved to another thread.