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PROPHECY FEATURE Edited by Dr. Charles L. Feinberg Dean of Talbot Theological Seminary
T he incident of the Mount of Transfiguration ex perience is unique in the life of the Messiah. It is unlike anything else in His ministry. In each gospel where it is found, it follows the word concerning the death of the Messiah, and the prediction that some standing by would not taste of death, before they saw the kingdom of the Son o f man. Said the Messiah: “Verily I say unto you, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” (Mt. 16:28 A.S.V.). Then follows this account: “ And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments be came white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only.” See also Mt. 17:1-8; Mk. 9:2- 13; Lk. 9:28-36. Peter was one of the three who saw the Messiah transfigured, and he gives us his testimony thus: “ For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount” (II Pet. 1:16-18 A.S.V.). There is no question as to what the Lord meant concerning the Son of man coming in His kingdom, for the Mount of Transfiguration experience has in minia ture form all the elements of Messiah’s future kingdom. The distinctive features of this important scene are, first of all, those ATOP THE MOUNT Each account deals with fullness of the One who is the central figure in the picture. It is not Moses, Elijah, the disciples, or the crowd, but the Messiah Himself. But it is not the Messiah as pictured in Isaiah 53. Now He is not in humiliation, suffering, and despised. He is in His divine glory. See Mt. 17:2; Mk. 9:2, 3; Lk. 9:29. Ample proof is given of His deity: (1) the glory coming from His Person; (2) the visit of Moses and Elijah; and (3) the testimony of God the Father. The cloud was the Shekinah glory. There were two who appeared and spoke with Jesus on the mount: Moses and Elijah. The first was the founder of the law sys tem; the second was the restorer of it in a time of deep apostasy. Moses represents those who have come through death into the kingdom of the Messiah. Elijah stands for the believers who have entered the kingdom by translation, without death. Compare I Cor. 15:50- 53; I Thess. 4:14-17. There is no question in the ac count as to who is the central Figure. There was only One who was transfigured, the Messiah. It was to Him alone that God gave testimony and concerning Him, God commanded obedience: “ Hear Him.”
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