Did Moses and Elijah actually appear with Jesus at the transfiguration, or was it only a vision?
Read Time: 2 min
After Peter, James, and John saw the transfiguration, Matthew writes, “As they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ‘Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead’ ” (Matthew 17:9). Some people have wondered what is meant by the word “vision.” Did they really see Jesus with Moses and Elijah, or was it simply a dream?
We have reasons to believe this was a literal event. First, Matthew says that Moses and Elijah “appeared” to them and spoke with Christ. Second, we can find in the Bible that these two prophets are not sleeping in their graves, but are alive in heaven. Jude 9, for instance, speaks of a dispute over the body of Moses, which could only mean Satan wanted to prevent Christ from resurrecting him from the dead. And 2 Kings 2, 1, 11, and 12, clearly show us that Elijah did not taste death but was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire.
It’s helpful to remember that English words have been translated from the Greek (in the New Testament) and that the word “horama” rendered as “vision” in verse 9, can also mean “spectacle” or, literally, “that which is seen.” In other words, Jesus was saying, “Tell no one what you saw.” It was wise counsel, since it would have only raised curiosities and not served a good purpose as much as it did after Christ’s resurrection.
Moses and Elijah were religious leaders who suffered terrible onslaughts from the devil and from God’s own people. They understood what Jesus was passing through and came to encourage Him and remind Him of all who would be brought into the kingdom. Some, like Moses, would experience death but be resurrected. Others, when Christ comes, will be like Elijah and not taste death. These two men were the perfect representatives of heaven to give support to Jesus, who was about to face the greatest tribulation of anyone through all time.
Key Bible Texts
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (Matthew 17:3 KJV)