> Matthew 17:3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, > talking with Jesus. > > 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you > wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one > for Elijah.” I am wondering how Peter recognized that the men were Elijah and Moses? Photographs and portraits didn't exist back in those days. If they did, Peter being a fisherman wouldn't have been to school to see them. And I doubt Moses and Elijah began their conversation by saying - "Hello Jesus, I am Elijah and this is my buddy Moses." So how would Peter know it was Elijah standing there?

During a Bible discussion for seekers last week, one of them asked a question that led me to ponder this questions. As I understand it, the body of Moses (not Elijah since he never died) should still have been in the grave at the time of the Transfiguration of Jesus--and would be pretty decomposed at that point. However, his spirit (and probably souls) would have been in Paradise at that time--still separated from his body until the resurrection at the last day. > And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his > brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was > transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his > clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them > Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Matthew 17:1-3 ESV If that is true, then what exactly did Peter, James and John see on the Mount of Transfiguration? Did they see the spirit of Moses? Can our spirits be seen with physical eyes? Were the disciples perhaps allowed to see spiritual things as Elisha appears to have done in 2 Kings 6? > When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went > out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. > And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, > “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who > are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open > his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young > man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and > chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17 ESV As a side note, the rich man and Lazarus presumably "saw" each other as well. I'm looking for the Protestant understanding of this.

According to the author of this article who is from White Throne Ministries, he teaches that the spirits of the dead are not in heaven but sleep in the sands awaiting one of the two resurrections. He quotes the following verse which was written by Peter under the influence of The Holy Spirit. *Acts 2:29* >"2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. *Acts 2:34* >For David is not ascended into the heavens:" Jesus talked of a **separation of believers and non-believers at death** through the parable of the rich man and Lazarus and reinforced that teaching on the cross when He told him that he will be with him in paradise that same Friday. *Luke 23:43* >Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise He then says that a different meaning would be conveyed if that comma were to be removed and also that from other events that happened on that Friday we learn that Jesus did not go to paradise on that Friday because of the words Jesus said to Mary after rising from the dead. *John 20:17* >Jesus saith to her, Touch me not: for I have not yet ascended to my Father: According to that author, the words above prove that Jesus did not go to paradise on that Friday, hence justifying the need for a comma in the promise to thief verse. He backs it all up with all the verses from Acts that none of the Fathers have ascended to heaven but my question is, The Book of Revelation says there are martyrs under the altar who cry out to God for revenge against the inhabitants of the earth. These are the spirits of those martyrs that are spiritually in heaven. *Revelation 6:10* >the souls of martyrs who were killed for their faith in God cry out from under the altar, asking God when he will judge and avenge their deaths: The verse above is the first proof that the saints spiritually unite with God in paradise but their flesh await a re-union in the resurrection. The second proof is the presence of Elijah and Moses during the transfiguration for we know Moses died and the angels buried him, Elijah went to heaven with a chariot of fire. Where did their spirits come from during the transfiguration if the spirits of the righteous do not inherit paradise after death?

Why Moses? Why Elijah? Why not Enoch? I say this because Elijah was taken up into the heavens, same for Enoch, but it is mentioned in scripture that Moses clearly died What made the disciples think that it was, Moses and Elijah, that were with Jesus during his transfiguration if they had never seen Moses or Elijah before then? Is there more to it than an explanation such as divine revelation? I am recently reading the New testament vigilantly and this part really captivated me for some reason. I would appreciate a very detailed and holistic answer if possible.

I have a question pertaining to Hebrews 12:22-23, which says: > “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the > heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels in joyful > assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. > You have come to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the > righteous made perfect.” Are the myriads of angels the “congregation of the firstborn enrolled in heaven” and the “spirits of the righteous made perfect”? Is this saying that the chosen of God become angels? Jesus said in Mark 12:25, > “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. > Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.” We see here that Jesus declares that we will be “like the angels”. Romans 8:19 says, > “The creation waits in eager expectation for the revealing of the sons > of God.” Here again, Paul said that the chosen of God are adopted as sons of God; a title shared by angels. Along with the belief that Jesus is the Chief Angel of God, and those who believe in him will become “just as he is” in glorified composition, does Hebrews 12:22-23 thus imply that believers become sons of God (angels) just as Jesus is the Son of God?

We read in Mtt 17:1-3 (NKJV): > Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. It is implied that God the Father ordained Moses and Elijah to be part of the Transfiguration, with a special purpose. Moses had been dead and buried while Elijah was thought to be alive( Mtt 27:49). The former was associated with Law while the latter was considered as one of the greatest prophets. My question is : Whom and/or what did Moses and Elijah represent in the Transfiguration ?

We read in Matthew, Mark and Luke how Jesus took Peter, James and John (last two being brothers) to witness the Transfiguration atop Mount Tabore. Peter would later be named the Rock on which Jesus' Church was to be built. John was the only apostle who stood by the Cross and was 'the disciples whom Jesus loved' according to himself. As for James,he does not find a special mention - favourable or otherwise- in the Gospels. Given that the nine Apostles left out would be prone to human envy, the Lord would have selected the three with utmost care, and with certain yardsticks. My question, therefore is: **Are there any apocryphal writings which mention the yardsticks, if any, adopted by Jesus in selecting the three apostles who would witness the Transfiguration?** Inputs from scholars of any denomination are welcome.

We see the instruction given to the three disciples who accompanied Jesus to the site of Transfiguration at Mtt 17:19 : > As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no > one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from > the dead. But then, we also see at Mtt 26:63-64, Jesus publicly disclosing his divinity to the High Priest during his trial: > But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure > you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” > Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you > will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming > on the clouds of heaven.” Now, it would have been really hard for the three disciples to keep to themselves the secret regarding Jesus' Transfiguration, between the period of his death and resurrection, knowing that such a disclosure would bring a ray of hope to the other disciples who had lost heart at the loss of their Master. My question therefore, is: was there a special significance to the instruction of Jesus to the disciples who witnessed his transfiguration ? What do the teachings of Catholic Church say about it ?

We read in Luke 9:28-32 an account of the Transfiguration of Jesus: > Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Luke is the only Evangelist who mentions that Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, suggesting that the Transfiguration took place late in the night. We also see Jesus praying at Gethsemane late in the night while his disciples were fast asleep (Mtt 26:43). At the Transfiguration the apostles see him in sheer glory and power while at Gethsemane, they see him totally human and helpless. That leads one to believe that Jesus had in fact chosen the timing of both his Transfiguration and the Prayer at Gethsemane with a purpose. My question therefore is: **According to Catholic Church, was there a co-relation between the time of Transfiguration of Jesus and that of his Prayer at Gethsemane?**

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record the story of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Matthew's version is provided below. It seems that each writer simply records that the event occurred, but none of them seem to indicate why it was important. Did it fulfill prophecy? Was it just another authentication of Jesus' divinity? Are Moses and Elijah somehow significant to be the ones speaking with Jesus? According to Protestant understanding (and Catholic if it carries over), what is the significance or importance of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration? > And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his > brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was > transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his > clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them > **Moses and Elijah**, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, > it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents > here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 He was > still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a > voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am > well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they > fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched > them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up > their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. > > 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, > “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the > dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say > that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and > he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already > come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they > pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” > 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John > the Baptist. [[Matthew 17:1–13](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17%3A1%E2%80%9313&version=ESV) (ESV)]

At Matthew 17:4 we hear St. Peter exclaiming at the Transfiguration of Christ: “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli′jah". Was St. Peter acknowledging Jesus as a great prophet, rather than as The Redeemer, while he proposed to make three separate tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah? What are the Catholic Church's teachings on the subject?

I can only find one reference online, which is before Lent. Is there multiple dates? or one definite one?

> **Luke 9:31 (NLT 1996)** [Moses and Elijah] were glorious to see. And they were speaking of how [Jesus] was about to fulfill God's plan by dying in Jerusalem. Shortly before, Jesus had told his apostles about his impending death, and prophecies of it were scattered throughout the Scriptures. Plus, Moses and Elijah were both men that talked with God personally, so He may have told them details about Jesus' death before they joined Him in Heaven. Yet, the tone of the passage makes it seem as if Moses and Elijah knew a good deal about what was to happen and for a reason distinct from the ones I just listed. What did Moses and Elijah know about Jesus' death and fulfillment of God's plan, and how did they know it? What do the writings of the great Protestant theologians (particularly John Wesley) have to say about this?