The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301-J, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 12."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

What is the significance of Moses and Elijah being on the mount of transfiguration with Christ, and by that I mean, why was, of anybody to be there with Him, why was it Moses and Elijah? And why did there have to be somebody there?

Answer

The Bible tells us that when the Lord was transfigured, you remember, in the New Testament, that there appeared with Him in the mount, Moses and Elijah. And normally, the reason that most scholars feel they were there is because it is a representation of the Kingdom; in other words, Jesus was giving them a preview of His coming Kingdom. And in the coming Kingdom there will not only be Peter, James and John, who I believe, are representatives, as it were, of the New Covenant, right? Because they were redeemed, certainly they were true Israelites, but after the cross and resurrection, they became part of the church of Jesus Christ. So they represent the church. Moses and Elijah represent the Old Testament saints. And it gives to us the picture that in the Kingdom, there will be the combination of the church—the redeemed church—and the redeemed out of the Old Covenant. And of course, in many ways, the two leading individuals in the Old Covenant, were Moses and Elijah, one representing the Law and the other what? The prophets. So I think that’s probably the best way to look at that. But they are representative of the Old Testament saints who will appear in glory in the coming kingdom which Christ was portraying there, or previewing, and that they represent the Law and the Prophets.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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