Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, up on a high mountain by themselves.2 While they watched, Jesus' appearance was changed; his face became bright like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.3 Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus – Matt. 17:1-3 NCV
In the closing days of World War II, a trainload of 2,500 Jews, many of them children, were en route from Bergen-Belsen to another Nazi concentration camp for “termination.” Fortunately for them, the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division found the train, rescued the starving prisoners, and evacuated them to safety. This stirring episode was forgotten until a few years ago, when a high school history teacher sent his students to interview World War II veterans for an oral history project. When the class posted their project on the Internet, including photos taken by the soldiers, the survivors from that train contacted the school and arranged for a reunion with their rescuers. The long-delayed reunion took place at the high school.
Rescue and justice inspires great joy, so does the company at Jesus’ Transfiguration. Have ever wondered why Moses, Elijah and Jesus’ disciples were present to see Him glorified? What was the Holy Spirit seeking to show us?
Let me offer some thoughts. Verse 3 starts out with “behold.” This introduces to us something very amazing. It is used with a verse that tells us who were present: Moses and Elijah. Now why them?
Matthew probably mentioned Moses first because to the Jews he was the more important figure. Moses was the model for the eschatological Prophet whom God would raise up, namely Messiah (Deut. 18:18). Elijah was the prophesied forerunner of Messiah (Mal. 4:5-6; cf. Matt. 3:1-3; Matt. 11:7-10;Matt. 17:9-13). Both prophets had unusual ends. Perhaps Moses represented those who will be in the kingdom who had died and Elijah represented those whom God had translated. The disciples may represent those there who had not died.
Here, let me put it this way. When Jesus comes to set up His kingdom, three groups of people will enter – all of which will be saved.
Group 1: Those who have died before the Millennium (Rev. 20) will be bodily resurrected and enter the kingdom of Christ in their new resurrected bodies (Dan. 12:2).
Group 2: Those who have been already raptured before the start of the Tribulation Period, who will already possess their new resurrected bodies. They had been living with Jesus in heaven during the duration of the Tribulation Period of seven years. Now they return with Jesus (Rev. 19:11) to also occupy His kingdom.
Group 3: Those who will be saved and physically alive at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period. In Revelation 19:11 when Jesus comes to set up His kingdom, He separates the goats from the sheep (Matt. 25:31-46). The goats (unsaved) are taken to hell (v. 46), while the sheep (saved) enter the kingdom of God physically alive who have not yet died (v. 34).
Group 1 – Moses (who died first and then entered the kingdom)
Group 2 – Elijah (who did not die at all, but instead got raptured and entered the kingdom)
Group 3 – The disciples (who still possessed their physical bodies and entered the kingdom).
Could this be what the Holy Spirit had in mind? Well, we cannot be sure since Jesus had no direct commentary about His company. But when we think of His company and how each one does represent a different entrance into the kingdom, we can make some holy observations.
My wife (Paula) falls into the category of Moses. If Jesus should come at the Rapture before I die, I will fall into the category of Elijah. Those who are saved during the Tribulation Period and are not martyred and endure to the end (Matt. 24:13), will fall into the category of Jesus’ disciples.
