Comments on: It changes everything… (part 2)

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:07:33 +0000

No. That happens to every believer. When I die, at the very hour that I die, I will come back to life, and be in paradise with my Saviour (just like the thief on the cross). Moses coming back to life was ‘normal’ for the believers. What was unique was (1) the fact that he came back to earth for a temporary visit, and (2) that he had the appearance of a body before the actual resurrection (which occurs when Jesus returns).

By: Steven Carr

Steven Carr — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:29:44 +0000

So Moses died, came back to life and will never die again?

Isn’t that pretty unique?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:14:48 +0000

We don’t know how they recognised Moses. Perhaps Jesus told them. Perhaps they worked it out from the conversation. We’re simply not told.

Peter didn’t know what he was saying. That point is made by each of the writers. He desire to build a tent didn’t make sense.

I’m glad you like the idea that people could return from the grave, never to die again, but in non bodily form. But I think you’re neglecting the fact that there is no indication that this was to be a permanent state. The return of Jesus will bring an end to Moses and Elijah’s lack of a body, as 1 Corinthians 15 makes clear.

By: Steven Carr

Steven Carr — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:49:50 +0000

I love the idea that Jews were quite happy to accept that people could return from the grave, never to die again, but in non bodily form.

I wonder how they recognised Moses?

Peter wanted to build tents for Moses and Elijah. Did he think a ghost needed a tent?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 20:14:55 +0000

Steven,

That is an excellent question. The quick answer is that I don’t know. I’m not sure there is enough information in Scripture to be clear. I think that this was a pre-resurrection appearance of Moses, just as the Christophanies in the Old Testament were pre-incarnate appearances of Christ. In other words, in these very unique circumstances there was an appearance of human form without necessarily being bodily in the sense that we would understand that. Note that (a) The appearance is fleeting, and it is inappropriate for them to stay as the comments regarding Peter’s utterance make clear. (b) There is almost no description of anything physical regarding either Moses or Elijah.

I may change my mind if there is better evidence I have not considered, but for the moment, this seems the only solution.

By: Steven Carr

Steven Carr — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:08:24 +0000

When Moses returned from the grave to Earth at the Transfiguration was he resurrected or did he die again? Or did he never die again?