This morning, we should not anticipate any event more than the return of our glorious King and Redeemer. He promised that He would come again and receive us unto Himself. That promise is no more lacking than any of the rest seeing it is not yet manifested, for our Lord declares the end from the beginning. His counsel shall stand, and He will do all His pleasure. Therefore, even if our eyes have not seen it yet, it is as good as done because of the One who spoke it. That day will mark the beginning of the never-ending eternal day in the heavenly Jerusalem where death is remembered no more. 

This event upon the mountain when Christ was transfigured was a brief glimpse into the 2nd coming of Christ. His raiment shone as white and glistering like no fuller on earth could ever white them. His face shone as the sun, and there was such awesome magnitude on this occasion that the disciples (Peter, James, and John) had to fall prostrate upon the ground in fear. Two persons appear with Jesus (Moses and Elias), which bear a very important significance to understand this event.  While many applications can be drawn from this lesson, we will attempt to look at one in particular.   

Moses did not go up to the land of Canaan. For his disobedience, the Lord showed him all the land, but did not allow him to enter. So, after viewing the land of milk and honey from the mount, Moses died, and the Lord buried him. No one knows where his grave is, and the Lord only knows where his body is. Elias (Elijah) never saw death. After Elisha began following him, Elijah was caught up to heaven on a chariot of fire. Elisha, viewing the scene, cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." This statement manifested that Elisha would be granted a double portion of his spirit, but it also left witness of what transpired.   

So, these two men are representative of all the men that will come forth when our Lord returns. There are those that have gone on before us in death. Some of them have been put in graves where no one knows their location. Their remains may have been scattered over the portion of this globe by war or other means, so that no man could possibly recover them. However, when our Lord comes back, they will come forth in the same body, but changed. There will also be those that are still alive here on this earth when He returns. They will be changed (translated) in that moment and never see death. All will come forth together, and the change (whether resurrection or translation) will happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.   

Finally, these two men spoke on the mount of the death that Christ would die in Jerusalem. One might inquire, "Why would that point to the 2^nd coming?" On this side of the picture (before Christ's death), that is the way it would be worded. However, in the anti-type (2nd coming) we will be saying the same thing with different words. No longer will it be the death that He would die, but it will be the redemption that He made. It will be the new song, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Revelation 5:9) Our endless joy and song will be the story of His perfect work and glorious resurrection. All eyes will be centered upon Him. And, while the disciples knew who Moses and Elias were (showing knowledge of identity in the resurrection), the importance must always be on Jesus Christ, as the voice from heaven thundered, "This is my beloved Son, hear him."

In Hope,

Bro Philip