Hi,

I believe there is an answer to every biblical question. I have a question about the transfiguration in the gospels. When Jesus met with Moses and Elijah I assume that they had come from Heaven. In the book of Revelation and the gospels it is said that the dead would rise in the second coming of Christ. I was wondering if there is any scripture that can explain how Moses and Elijah made it to heaven before the dead I assume that they also would be considered to be dead.

Your brother is Christ,

Marc

Hi, Marc,

I'm now at work with no Scripture at hand so I'll be unable to give specific references. There are two accounts of transfiguration in the Bible: Moses when receiving the law during his meetings with Yahveh (Exodus) and Jesus in the passage you recount. None of them has to do with the doctrine of the Second Coming.
There are three accounts of raptures to Heaven: Enoch, Elijah and Jesus. Moses died of natural death and was not raptured alive.
I'm not aware at the moment about any Scripture explaining in detail what you are asking.
Revelation hints that there was or there will be a resurrection of the saints who will not taste the second death. Jesus also said that the resurrected ones will be 'like the angels' of Heaven. It is then possible that Prophets like Moses are already living in spiritual form, as the passage of the transfiguration implies, prior to a future massive resurrection.
Another incident of appearance after death is recorded with regards to Samuel when contacted by King Saul through a medium.
The passing of other people in the Old Testament is denoted as sleeping with or joining their ancestors.

God Bless.

Hi Marc,
I have also found Isa 26:19-21.
The interesting thing about this passage is that it has an eschatological character. It speaks about God's coming in judgement against the unjust but also for the redemption of the faithful.
Cheers

Jorge thank you for your response. After reading Jorge's reponse I realize what my true question was. In Revelation 20:13 states "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.". Who are the dead in the sea? Can anyone help with my question?

Your brother in Christ,

Marc

OK 1st question 1st - If the dead are risen from the dead at the 2nd comming of Christ, how did Moses (Elijah never died) show up for the transfiguration?

Remember although the scripture says in 115 Ps 17 that "The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence." (which makes it sound as if after you die you are unconcious), that in the story of Lazarus & the rich man (Lk 16:19-31) we are told that people are concious after death, but before the ressurection. I heard that it is a story & not a parable because all the parables don't mention names.

Now according to my personal doctrine that story didn't happen yet when Jesus told it because I believe that when the scripture says in Col 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." that the firstborn from the dead clause means that Jesus was the 1st concious dead person. So the story didn't happen untill after Jesus died because the scripture says in 1 Pet 3:19 "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;" I take that to mean that after he died he wen't to the Abraham's bosom place mentioned in the story (at wich time all the people there become concious) & told all those people that they were going to heaven.

So how did Moses come back for the transfiguration? Well people were raised from the dead like the other Lazarus, Elisha raised someone from the dead in the old testament & so it is possible that Moses was temporarily raised from the dead to participate in the transfiguration. We just gotta remember that God is sovergn & can do whatever He wants to. Perhaps while Moses was on the mountain for 40 days & 40 nights God had him time travel to the future for that meeting (so he met Jesus while he was still alive, it's not like he had any witnesses as to his wherabouts).

Now to your 2nd question: If death and Hades are not the sea, what dead people is the scripture talking about who were in the sea?

For this I gotta look at 2 scriptures - Isa 57:20 "But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." & Prov 21:16 "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."

So when I look at those 2 passages it looks like when "The sea gave up the dead that were in it" that it could be the people who are alive physically but dead spiritually.

Hope this helps -

We may also ponder around the following propositions.

1- The timing of resurrection:

Jesus appears to imply in Mar 12:26-27 and Luk 20:37-40 that prominent God's servants may have resurrected. Rev 20:4 can accommodate Moses as one who also 'had been given authority to judge.'
Besides, It is very symbolic that Moses, the Legislator, appears with Elijah, the Herald of Jesus' First Coming, in the Transfiguration passage. That was a strong Messianic indicator not to be missed by the faithful.

2- The dead from the sea (Rev. 20:13)

Can the 'sea' be interpreted as nations of the world in view of Rev. 17:1 and 17:15?

God Bless.

Thank you for your answers Jorge and Slade. I have another question if it is OK. In Luke 23:43 "Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise". I feel what this is saying is the robber will be in heaven after the robber dies. Is this how you would interperate this passage? If this is the case then this would tell me that when all beleavers die there spirit is in heaven that day. So this leads me to believe that when the dead of the sea are risen this has to refere to the spirtual dead. Is this how you interprete this.

Your brother in Christ,

Marc

The only other scripture that is comming to mind is the one that says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But where that is located & how exactly it ties in to the ressuerction I am not sure.