(11/14/2016) The Transfiguration of Christ

The Transfiguration of Christ (oil on panel),
Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (c.1488-1576)

Today, points are shared on the faith of Jesus, prophecy, and the Savior’s preparation for crucifixion.  The transfiguration of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest divine mysteries (i.e., events from the life of the Lord upon the earth).  At a time when Jesus was being followed by crowds, yet, knew the days of cruel suffering swiftly were approaching, Jesus would be acknowledged openly by emissaries from the kingdom of heaven, further reinforcing and strengthening his faith, and unveiling his divine glory and majesty.  The early prophets received the Savior in ways his apostles and living witnesses on the earth could not do.  Living as a man in the flesh, Jesus had to acquire sacred knowledge gradually the same as you and I; and the Lord would be given evidence for the truth of eternal life for mankind.  The appearance of the two prophets after thousands of years was also evidence of divine forgiveness, mercy in judgment, and reconciliation.  More than this, the Father would speak, and proclaim his continuing love.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” whose ID is “2.718281828459045235360287471352662” (Level 7 with 124,902 points, a member since February 26, 2006) posted the following:

Matthew 17:1-8. Do you ever suspect the story of Jesus being visited by two dead prophets may actually be false?

I mean look at this this way. When did anybody in the Bible ever get visited by two dead prophets before or since? Could it be that Jesus made up this story just to make himself look holy? What are your thoughts on this?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  (2nd Peter 1:  16-21, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Baptist and The Tishbite? (02/18/2015); The Body of Moses (05/11/2014); GOD Permits Evil? (05/12/2014); To Live As a Sacrifice (03/08/2014); A Perfected Body (03/09/2014); Immutable GODhead (03/10/2014); Prophetic Demonstrations (09/06/2013); Why GOD Prayed to GOD (09/07/2013)

“2.718281828459045235360287471352662”, most mature Christian believers acknowledge that there are many points of sacred truth presented through the account of the transfiguration of the Lord.  Jesus approached his crucifixion having many concerns and was in need of assurances by the Father more than evidence from the apostles, or the multitudes that now followed him.  Consider again some of the following:

(1.)  The active presence of divine Spirit (also called, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth) is first described in the account of the Creation.  In the beginning, Adam (the first pair) had direct access to the Creator.  The use of prophecy, prophetic demonstrations, and sacred events (e.g., angel visitations, dreams, miracles) first became necessary when Adam transgressed divine law, violated trust, and sought to hide, rather than confess, seek forgiveness, or ask for mercy.

(2.)  The provisions of GOD where the offspring of Adam do not complete mortality by death include translation (described with Enoch), and being taken up (described with Elijah).  Healing and restoring life to the dead (e.g., Lazarus) are practiced and demonstrated by Elisha and Jesus.  Resurrection is a temporary restoration of life specifically so that one may appear alive in judgment.  As many of the prophets before him, Just as John and many of the other prophets were slain through disbelief, injustice, and persecution, Jesus would also die as the memorial of their deaths.  Jesus is called the “firstborn from the dead” to set him apart as preeminent, not because he is the first person resurrected from the dead.

(3.)  Until John the Baptist appeared, no authentic prophet operating in the manner and style of Moses and those who followed him had been provided to Israel since the days of Malachi, more than 400 years earlier.  In the same way rule by anointed kings and consecrated priesthood became corrupt and vain (i.e., lacked spirit substance from GOD), prophecy became defiled and profane through human error, imagination, and sentiment.  The divine use of prophets as spokespersons sent from divinity, who also could petition GOD and serve as spokespersons on behalf of mankind (we say, mediators) was restored specifically to introduce the ministry of Jesus Christ as a further revelation of divinity, the satisfaction of all demands from the divine law, and the fulfillment of all prophecy.

(4.)  The birth of John the Baptist to elderly parents was accounted as a miracle demonstrating that the immutable, unchanging GOD who had blessed Abraham was continuing both in covenant and in word of promise.  John was endowed with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.  He was fed with the tithes and holy things from the altar in the Temple at Jerusalem.  Yet, moved by the Holy Spirit, John surrendered his inheritance as the son of an Aaronic priest to serve as the herald who would announce and prepare the way for the Anointed One (we say, Christ), the coming King.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  In the same way men receive only an earnest or “good faith payment” of their divine inheritance while upon the earth, while Jesus was still upon the earth, he received only an earnest of the glory and perfection that later would be restored to him.  The apostles who were eyewitnesses represent the mixed multitude that left Egypt with Moses and the remnant of Israel as well as and those belonging to Christ and taken out of death.  The voice of acknowledgment heard was the same as that at his baptism, and at the Temple during the feast of Tabernacles (Booths, Ingathering). )  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC