of the prophets, has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things.” (Heb. 1:1, 2, NW) Again we have the illustration Jesus gave: “‘I will send my son the beloved. Likely they will respect this one.’ When the cultivators caught sight of him they went to reasoning with one another, saying: ‘This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may become ours.’” (Luke 20:13, 14, NW) It being established then by this record, there is no question that the one identified as God’s Son is heir of the world whose kingdom shall last forever.

¹⁹ Summing up then what is involved in the transfiguration we can see (1) Moses foreshadowed one to come after him who will be a greater leader, law-giver, deliverer and king to Israel; (2) Elijah, who was one of the greatest of the prophets, prefigures an even greater one to come who will accomplish certain works in connection with the king and kingdom of God’s power; (3) the promise of Messiah who is the Christ of God, he whom God has chosen and approved, anointed to be king and priest; and (4) Jesus Christ the Son of Jehovah God and heir to the Kingdom and the new world.

Power and Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ

1. What great truths would these three witnesses recall later as they pondered the transfiguration?

THESE three disciples, Peter, James and John, were well informed regarding the Scriptures, not only in knowledge of the prophecies but their hearts were in tune with the great God of heaven and they had learned much from Jesus. So when they saw his transfiguration it was not like a passing picture. They had climbed a lofty mountain and were tired and sleepy. However, they got fully awake and they gazed at that wonderful scene and also heard some of the conversation. How very often these three men would recapture that blaze of glory, that effulgence which could never be forgotten, and contemplate its meaning, linking prophecy with prophecy, promise with promise, and, to crown it all, the voice of God! In Moses they saw represented the law, the covenant, the theocratic organization, the Kingdom, the deliverance of the nation and being safely transferred to the Promised Land. To them, Moses meant this and much more. In Elijah they would see the faithful advocate of pure and true worship, a real hater of false worship, a champion for Jehovah’s service, a rebuker of kings, destroyer of false priests, restorer of the dead and one taken from earthly service without the determination of men. Then they saw the Son of God in glory, and such glory they knew belonged to the Christ of God. Surely the vision, for such it was, portrayed for them in miniature form, almost in tableau form, though not without life, the Son of man in glory, with his Kingdom power. In what better way or form could they have seen it, for everything was embodied in that vision!

2. Is the conversation of the trio in the vision enlightening? Why?

² Then there was the conversation among Moses, Elijah and Jesus. And what were they talking about? Probably many things not recorded, but we do know they were discussing the departure of Jesus at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:31, NW) Therefore we are interested to learn what was involved. It is necessary for us to remember that only a week before Jesus had openly said to his disciples: “The Son of man must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by the older men of influence and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised up.” (Luke 9:22, NW) The use of the word “departure” is most enlightening, and very important. In the King James Version the word “decease” is used, which does not carry the complete thought. When the word “decease” is used we think only of death, whereas departure carries the thought of leaving, of going somewhere. The Greek word from which the English words “departure” and “decease” are translated is éxodos. When we entertain the thought of exodus it implies more than “decease”.

3. How did Moses have a departure? and were others included?

³ Moses and the typical theocratic nation experienced an exodus and it was obtained on the basis of Jehovah’s promise, the death of the firstborn of Egypt, the slain lamb and sprinkled blood. Death was involved in the firstborn of Egypt and in the slain lamb which stood for Moses. It was their decease, but also the departure of Moses, who foreshadowed Christ. Deliverance came not only to Moses but to at least two million others. It was their exit, their going out, an exodus, a departure. The Hebrew book Exodus gives an account of the first stages in the fulfillment of the promise made by Jehovah to the faithful ones before Moses’ day with reference to the growth of Israel, actually from a family to a nation. Their exodus was the accomplishment of deliverance, during which time they had no permanent city but were on the move from Satan’s world to their inheritance. Jehovah called his people out of Egypt and made them finally a kingdom.

4. In what way did Elijah have a departure, and is he alive in heaven?

⁴ Elijah had an exodus, though his departure was vastly different. The record states: “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!” (2 Ki. 2:11, 12, AS) This departure should not be taken to mean that Elijah is in heaven still active in bodily form, because Paul says in Hebrews 11:13 (NW): “In faith all these died, although they did not get the fulfillment of the promises, but they saw them afar off.” The Lord Jesus said: “Moreover, no man has ascended into heaven but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man.” (John 3:13, NW) Jehovah arranged Elijah’s departure in this way so as to portray and foreshadow something greater concerning the Elijah who was yet future.