Two quick ones — 226 and 227
These came in a month ago. I’m getting slow in my old age…
1) How did the people know who Moses and Elijah were on the mount of transfiguration? Were they recognizable from “pictures”? 2) For those unfortunate enough to deny God, will they go see Jesus first (for every knee shall bow and every tongue confess), or go straight to Hell do not pass Go?
Both of these require supposition and guess work. Make sure you read the comments to see what others think.
The apostles certainly could not have recognized Moses and Elijah from paintings or sculptures for that wasn’t allowed. The Jews just didn’t do that. The only way they could have recognized them was if Jesus told them or the Spirit gave them that knowledge. Of course, there’s an outside chance that Moses and Elijah introduced themselves, but it seems they were there only for Jesus so that is unlikely.
As for those who deny God, they will not be paraded past Jesus to kneel before being destroyed. I believe that every knee bows as soon as we are taken to that other realm. When we see the reality of God, both those who confessed Christ and those who didn’t will be driven to their (metaphorical) knees. Since time (and knees) will be a thing of the past by that time, it is hard to construct a timeline of events. It seems that, at some point, each of us will be called up individually. God will ask if our name is in the Book of Life and ask Jesus if he knows us. If the answers are affirmative, we are greeted and welcomed into our next life — the eternal one. If not, the angels take us away.
Best get to that kneeling and confessing now and avoid the rush!
November 15th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I think there are some connection points between Moses, Elijah and Jesus that might have helped them “get it.” One thing we sometimes miss out on is the popular sentiment of their day and what they believed would usher in the Messianic age and what it would be like.
Deut 18 talks about a prophet like Moses who was to come, they believed that was to be the Messiah. This is alluded to throughout the gospels as people ask Jesus if he is “the prophet”. So there may have been some expectations that we just aren’t aware of that led them to expect these two to show up.
Another hint at this is that Elijah was supposed to return before the Messiah (John the Baptist seemingly fit the bill as Jesus pointed out).
An additional hint to them was the strange circumstances surrounding the death’s of Moses and Elijah. Elijah never died. Jewish tradition questioned if Moses died. Some believed he never did.
Another commonality between Moses and Elijah was that both of them faced obstacles, both complained and God revealed himself to both men to give them encouragement.
Just some food for thought. It may be that it just made since to them due to Jewish expectation that Moses and Elijah (law and prophets?) would be a part of the Messianic mission. At least that makes more sense than thinking they had the old white and blue “Hello my name is:” name tags on.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I should have included in there that the second question Jesus got a lot on top of the “prophet” question was if he was Elijah. So it makes some sense that they might have had messianic expectations connected with these two figures when you read several times in the Gospels people ask Jesus if he is one or the other.
November 15th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
We can think about the rich man and Lazarus for the second question. The rich man could see and speak to Abraham and Lazarus. Hell is not a place where you cannot see Heaven, but a place that is separated from heaven by a great chasm. The bowing need not be done before, it might take place many millennia after the judgment.
November 15th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I believe Peter, James, and John knew who Moses and Elijah were because God (or the Spirit) revealed it to them without “saying” a word.
God doesn’t have to use words or audible speech of any kind to communicate with us.
November 16th, 2009 at 2:23 am
I’m sure the transfiguration happened just the way Raphael painted it: all three figures hovering over the mountain top; Moses hugging the stone tablets and Elijah clutching a bound volume of prophecy. Who couldn’t know their identities from that?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Perhaps we need a “poetic soul” to grasp the “mystery” element of God’s truth. Compare 2 Kings 6:17.
November 16th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Keith is way off base … they wore those “Hello, My Name Is …” name tags. Only in Hebrew. So it would have looked more like, “s mn m llH” reading right to left and no vowels, of course.
November 17th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
“Hello. My name is Moses. You made a golden calf. Prepare to die.”
“Hello. My name is Elijah. You cut yourself for Baal. Prepare to die.”
They knew Jesus, so he didn’t have a name tag.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Shades of Inigo Montoya, Danny!
November 21st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I’ve always thought it could have been through the conversation M & E had with Jesus.
November 28th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Doesn’t the greek text more correctly say “every knee may/could/should bow” rather than “shall bow?” That could really change some of our theology.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
What is your view on the Lord Supper? When and how often?