Why Moses and Elijah were at the transfiguration.

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Radius

Senior Member
Feb 11, 2013
1,171
181
63
#21
Moses represents the dead in Christ who will be resurrected and Elijah representing the future raptured who are alive and remain when they are caught up, as he was.

They could be the two witnesses, too.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
113
#22
Folks, please try to think outside the man formed box called Moses. Moses wrote down the laws, but he by no means authored them. Perhaps using the phrase, the la law written down by him, but he never had authority to author.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
7,159
2,174
113
#24
John 5
The Witness of Scripture <<<< this
(Luke 16:19–31)

39You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, 40yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.

41I do not accept glory from men, 42but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. 43I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, in whom you have put your hope. 46If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. 47But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
_____
John 10
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication

25“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. 26But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. 27My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
_____
John 15
The Hatred of the World

23Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well. 24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. 25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’

26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me. 27And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

The two witnesses are Scripture, the OT and the NT, and they agree, they are one just as the Father and the Son are One. They testify of Him. They are the Living Word of God.

Revelation 11
4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.a (referenced Zech 4:14

Zechariah 4 details the Vision of the Lampstand and the Olive Trees as one Lampstand with two Olive trees beside it, which are the two 'anointed sons.'
14So he said, “These are the two anointed onesd who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”e (references Rev 11:4)

Yet, although there may seem to be a discrepancy in number of lampstand(s), there is, actually, none.

The Son of Joseph, The Son of Man, The Son of David, The Son of God.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
37,843
13,558
113
#26
I don't understand what you mean by this and how it doesn't fit.Elijah had a spirit of repentance.He stood there as the water and Moses as the blood.
Even though Moses came as the water in the OT.At the transfiguration he is in the image of the blood.
They're as one and the same as the covenants are.I said I don't know how Elijah can be connected to the blood like as Moses can be to the water and the blood,but Elijah did bring a boy back to life in Kings 17:17-24.
I wouldn't doubt there's more scripture to back him up even more.
The transfiguration on Mount Tabor is key to who the Two Witnesses of Revelation are.
Elisha did more recorded miracles than Elijah, including raising the dead - he had a double portion. So why not him?
And Christ said John was the greatest of the prophets. Why not him?

Why not Ezekiel? He wrote more prophecy. Or Isaiah?

Here is a question to ask:
In Revelation two witnesses are described.
What did they witness?
What is being witnessed at the transfiguration?
What can Moses and Elijah testify of that no one else had witnessed?
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,148
5,722
113
#27
So you have half of the answer...can you go deeper?
The law and prophets witness Jesus Christ , the lord. They appeared at transfiguration to show that Jesus is the truth. There really isn’t alot of depth to Toni to why they appeared when Jesus was transfigured because they both witness of Jesus glory in the gospel tbey always have

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
Matthew‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

( I’ve come to fulfill the law and prophets )

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:44KJV‬‬

“For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:13‬ ‭

The law and the prophets were until John:

since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬



“Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:45‬ ‭

It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6:45‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Search the scriptures; ( law and prophets ) for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”( Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

‭‭John‬ ‭5:39-40, 46-47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:27‭

“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬



To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:43‬ ‭



“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:23‬

God is one is the message the prophets and law foretold and witnesses the truth of Jesus Christ all along and we’re manifest as his two witnesses at the transfiguration with Moses who wrote the law and Elijah who is considered the greatest old testsment prophets who also preceded Jesus Christ appearing in the form of John the Baptist being a witness to his glorious light

the law of Moses has a hidden witness foretelling the messiah to come later and the prophets including psalms also witness of the same the messiahs birth , life , ministry ,miracles , power over life and death his suffering and resurrection his ascention tonthe throne of David at Gods right hand

The law and prophets are two witnesses of Jesus Christ and the everlasting gospel
 

F2F

Member
Dec 12, 2022
170
7
18
#28
Why not try speaking to the text.

3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Why did Jesus require Moses and Elijah to talk to him in the mount and what was the substance of their conversation?

F2F
 

F2F

Member
Dec 12, 2022
170
7
18
#29
I also put a thread on this a couple of years ago too.

Speculating on what they symbolize doesn't give us the answer to why exactly these two specific people are there.

Any number of people could have represented 'prophecy' or 'water' or 'blood' etc - that's a superficial wild goose chase imo.

We need to sort out what is unique to Moses and Elijah that no one else in all of history could have been chosen to be present.
That's the right question to ask - why did Jesus require specifically Moses & Elijah to talk with him. The answer is a difficult one to find but its there in the record.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,005
8,373
113
#30
Why not try speaking to the text.

3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Why did Jesus require Moses and Elijah to talk to him in the mount and what was the substance of their conversation?

F2F
Yes, those passages have me convinced that Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses.
But if anybody around here can add some refreshing and brilliant insights that will
dazzle us it would be @posthuman ....:geek:

Luk 9:29
As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
Luk 9:30
And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Luk 9:31
who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
 

F2F

Member
Dec 12, 2022
170
7
18
#31
Yes, those passages have me convinced that Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses.
But if anybody around here can add some refreshing and brilliant insights that will
dazzle us it would be @posthuman ....:geek:

Luk 9:29
As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.
Luk 9:30
And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Luk 9:31
who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
You would need to provide some context to Rev 11 and its events and explain how they relate to Moses and Elijah. While you think about this I will put together a few reasons why Rev 11 has nothing to do with the Law or the Prophets.
F2F
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
23,005
8,373
113
#32
How about the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah)? These two will also be the two prophets who will preach during the Tribulation as per Revelation 11. Their miracles will correspond to those already performed on earth by them.
Furthermore, the 70th week of Daniel is prophetically Israelitish in nature, purpose and content.
So you would certainly expect Israelite witnesses.
 
Feb 21, 2016
848
196
43
#33
Elisha did more recorded miracles than Elijah, including raising the dead - he had a double portion. So why not him?
And Christ said John was the greatest of the prophets. Why not him?

Why not Ezekiel? He wrote more prophecy. Or Isaiah?

Here is a question to ask:
In Revelation two witnesses are described.
What did they witness?
What is being witnessed at the transfiguration?
What can Moses and Elijah testify of that no one else had witnessed?
God used Elisha as the blood in the story of Elijah and Elisha.You see it after he receives the double portion and him doing things like raising the dead, and filling up jars of oil,like Jesus did with the wine.
The significance of the cloak of Elijah is that whoever had it, had God's authority.
Authority to what?his word. And you see it again.The water and the blood.
Elijah the water,Elisha the blood.If God were to double anoint you,it will be a anointing of the water and the blood, so you can be his witness and testify of his Two Witnesses.
Elisha was given a double portion of the anointings.
So the cloak of Elijah is in the image of the covenants.The water and the blood.

What did the Two Witnesses witness?They witness/testify of the Word.
What is being witnessed at the transfiguration?Moses and Elijah are at the transfiguration as the water and the blood.
At your transfiguration you need to be of the water and the blood to be transfigured.
Moses and Elijah testify of the Word.It's not that they witnessed something no one else had.
 

Bruce_Leiter

Active member
Feb 17, 2023
427
192
43
#34
The reason they were there was to represent the water and the blood.
Elijah, the water, and Moses, the blood.They were standing along with Jesus as The Two Witnesses.Which are the covenants.
So on Mount Tabor you have the Spirit(Jesus) water(Elijah) and blood. (Moses)

The first shall be last,and the last first.
Moses(blood) was before Elijah.(water) Get it?

Matthew 17:5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Some people say "so and so are the Two Witnesses because they represent the Law and the Prophets"
At the end of that road it all leads to his covenants.His Two Witnesses.They were there at the transfiguration of Jesus.And will be there at the transfiguration of the 144,000.Who will give the testimony of The Two Witnesses.And those who hear,and believe will be transfigured.
If you have any passages that connect Moses with the blood of the old covenant and Elijah, the water, your argument would persuade me more. However, I think the traditional interpretation makes more biblical sense.
 

Bruce_Leiter

Active member
Feb 17, 2023
427
192
43
#35
If God were to reveal something to me,he wouldn't flat out tell me.I'd have to search it.He doe's the same thing to you.
I was stubborn to God sooo much,he would have to discipline me.I thought he was satan himself.No matter what he revealed to me I didn't believe.
Till I picked up the Bible and realized everything he said was the truth.Even spiritual truths.From that very first time I picked up the Bible and found a spiritual truth,there's no way would my carnal mind have picked up on that.
He had my head on cloud nine.It blew my mind.

My favorite subject is the 144,000 and the Two Witnesses because he wanted me to stand for him.But I can't stop being of the world.I'm talking about really letting go of the things of the world and keeping my heart and mind on God continually.
If you had a physical temple for God,would you put your tv or laptop there?The things you like to spend your day on that are not of God,would you put it in the temple?

I don't believe that I'm 144,000 anymore.It's why he revealed so much of these things to me.Because I'm stubborn.
The writer that said your interpretation is "eisogesis" is shown by this description of your experiences. You felt that God revealed some things to you, and then you confirmed them when you looked in the Bible. The term means reading into the Bible's passages our own interpretation rather than letting the Scriptures speak without any prior assumptions about what they say. Can you ever perhaps admit that your interpretations may not be from God but might be of your own making? To interpret the Bible correctly, we need to let God speak to us through many passages that help us interpret the one we wonder about without any prior ideas. God inspired the Bible; let him speak to you what he wants to reveal to you through them.
 

F2F

Member
Dec 12, 2022
170
7
18
#36
@posthuman

In Rev 11:8 you have represented by "And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city" This verse represents the political "bodies" of the two witnesses as lying dead and unburied for all to see.

I’ll resist going into the actual event this is speaking to (for now) as you may hold that false, futurist interpretation of the Apocalypse, however I can say this with total confidence, the 2 witnesses are not 2 literal people, but rather symbolic of a group of peoples who were persecuted for their beliefs.

In no way can Moses & Elijah fit that record.
 
Feb 21, 2016
848
196
43
#37
If you have any passages that connect Moses with the blood of the old covenant and Elijah, the water, your argument would persuade me more. However, I think the traditional interpretation makes more biblical sense.
God using Moses to save his people from Pharaoh.
God tells Moses and Aaron to tell his people to place blood on the door frames of their houses and that night he will spare them and strike down every firstborn.
God instructing Moses to ceremonially clean the Levites.He cleanse them with the water and the blood.(Numbers 8:5)

Elijah preparing the way,making the road straight in the form of John the Baptist.
 

F2F

Member
Dec 12, 2022
170
7
18
#38
Elijah preparing the way,making the road straight in the form of John the Baptist.
An unfinished work
Moses = 1st Exodus
Jesus = The Exodus
Elijah = Final Exodus
So what did Moses and Elijah talk about in the Mount?
 

TheDivineWatermark

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2018
10,887
2,113
113
#39
Why Moses and Elijah were at the transfiguration.
The Transfiguration (Matt17) was a "snapshot" of His Second Coming glory...



... verse 8 says,

Berean Literal Bible
And having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

King James Bible
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.





[so... "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man [referring to Elijah and Moses], save Jesus only."]
 

F2F

Member
Dec 12, 2022
170
7
18
#40
The Transfiguration (Matt17) was a "snapshot" of His Second Coming glory...

... verse 8 says,

Berean Literal Bible
And having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

King James Bible
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.





[so... "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man [referring to Elijah and Moses], save Jesus only."]
They were there to encourage the Lord to go through with taking captivity captive..."the Exodus" was the cup of suffering he had to drink and Moses & Elijahs past and future works all relied on Christ going to the cross.