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The Doctrine of Christ - The Transfiguration

  1. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
    1. The Time of the Transfiguration
      1. After the preaching of the cross (Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:22)
      2. After a call for followers to carry their cross (Matthew 16:24-28; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-27)
    2. The Audience of the Transfiguration
      1. The disciples (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28)
        1. Peter
        2. James
        3. John
      2. The Lord
        1. God the Father (2 Peter 1:17)
        2. God the Son (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2)
      3. The Old Testament saints (Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30)
        1. Moses
        2. Elijah
    3. The Place of the Transfiguration - Up into an high mountain (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28)
    4. The Arrival at the Transfiguration
      1. The Lord bringeth them up (Matthew 17:1)
      2. The Lord taketh and leadeth them up (Mark 9:2)
      3. The Lord took and went up (Luke 9:28)
      4. Note: Peter, James, and John fell asleep and woke to a glorified Lord (Luke 9:32)
    5. The Purpose of the Lords Ascension Prayer (Luke 9:28)
  2. THE TRANSFIGURATION
    1. The Disciples Fell Asleep (Luke 9:32)
    2. The Lord Transfigured
      1. His countenance
        1. The fashion of His countenance was altered (Luke 9:29; Philippians 2:8; Philippians 3:21).
        2. His face did shine as the sun (Matthew 17:2; Revelation 1:16).
      2. His raiment
        1. His raiment was white and glistering (Luke 9:29).
        2. His raiment was white as the light (Matthew 17:2; Psalm 104:1-2).
        3. His raiment became shining (Mark 9:3).
          1. Exceeding white as snow (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 28:3)
          2. Beyond what any fuller on earth can white them; a fuller cleans cloth
    3. The Old Testament Guests
      1. Their identity (Matthew 17:3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30)
        1. Moses the law
        2. Elijah the prophets
        3. Note: This was a shortened summary of the Old Testament
      2. Their conversation they spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31; see John 19:28).
      3. Their significance
        1. Their ministry
          1. The Lord did not come to destroy the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).
          2. The law and the prophets prophesied until John (Matthew 11:13; Luke 16:16).
          3. The law and the prophets testified of Christ (Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:45; Acts 28:23; Romans 3:21-22).
          4. Note: Moses and Elijah disappeared leaving only Jesus Christ. This signifies that their ministry was accomplished (Matthew 17:8; Mark 9:8; Luke 9:36). Jesus Christ only, what a message!
        2. Their future coming
          1. The prophetic strength of Moses and Elijah is mainly directed at Elijah.
          2. We are told several times in scripture that Elijah has to come again.
            1. By a close look at the scriptures you will realize that John the Baptist could have been Elijah if the Jews would have accepted him (Matthew 11:12-14), but when they did not the Lord told them that Elijah must come again (Matthew 17:11).
            2. It is very important to realize that the Lord had everything in place to establish His kingdom with the Jewish people on earth, but when they rejected Him their kingdom was postponed.
            3. This postponement means that Elijah still must come again for he is to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5).
          3. Characteristics of the witnesses (See the table at the end of this outline.)
          4. Note: It is also interesting as to why the body of Moses was such a hot topic with the Devil (Jude 1:9)
      4. Their departure
        1. They began to depart from the Lord Jesus (Luke 9:33).
        2. Peter spoke up (Matthew 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33).
          1. Perhaps, because he saw Moses and Elijah departing (Luke 9:33)
          2. He stated that it was good for the disciples to be there (Matthew 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33).
          3. He offered to make three tabernacles for the Lord, Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33).
          4. He spoke foolishly out of fear (Mark 9:6; Luke 9:33).
        3. The voice from heaven
          1. Peter was interrupted (Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:34).
          2. A bright cloud overshadowed the disciples (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34).
          3. The disciples feared as they entered into the cloud (Luke 9:34).
          4. A voice came out of the cloud (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35).
            1. The voice was God the Father speaking from heaven (2 Peter 1:17).
            2. The Father gave testimony of
              1. His love for the Son (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35).
              2. His pleasure in the Son (Matthew 17:5).
              3. His authority bestowed upon the Son (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35).
          5. The fear of the disciples (Matthew 17:6)
            1. They were already afraid (Luke 9:34).
            2. They heard the voice and were sore afraid (Matthew 17:6).
            3. The Lord came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid (Matthew 17:7).
        4. Jesus only (Matthew 17:8; Mark 9:8; Luke 9:36)
  3. THE DECENSION
    1. The Order of Departure
      1. Moses and Elijah left first (Luke 9:33, 36).
      2. The Lord and the disciples went down second.
    2. The Charge of Silence
      1. The Lord instructed the disciples to tell no man (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9).
      2. They could tell when the Lord rose from the dead (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9).
      3. The disciples kept it close, but questioned the resurrection (Mark 9:10; Luke 9:36).
    3. The Coming of Elijah
      1. The disciples asked about the coming of Elijah (Matthew 17:10; Mark 9:11).
      2. The Lord explains Elijahs ministry (Matthew 17:11; Mark 9:12).
      3. The Lord explains the correlation between John and Elijah (Matthew 17:12-13; Mark 9:13).
    4. The Victorious Coming
      1. When the Lord descended a great multitude beheld Him (Mark 9:14-15; Luke 9:37).
      2. When He arrived at the bottom a young man was losing a battle with a devil (Matthew 17:14-15; Mark 9:17-18; Luke 9:39).
      3. The disciples of the Lord could not overcome that devil (Matthew 17:16-17; Mark 9:18; Luke 9:40).
        1. Note: This will be true of the Jewish people at the coming of the Lord.
        2. The Devil will wear out the saints of the most High (Daniel 7:25).
        3. The beast will make war with the saints and overcome them (Revelation 13:7).
        4. The saints of God will shed much blood while the Lord is on the mount (Revelation 17:6; Revelation 18:24).
      4. The Lord Jesus rebuked the devil and the devil departed (Matthew 17:18; Mark 9:25-26; Luke 9:42-43; see Revelation 19:11-Revelation 20:3).
Characteristic Moses Elijah
1260 days or 42 months of 30 days or 3 ½ years (Revelation 11:3) James 5:17
Power to devour their enemies by fire (Revelation 11:5) Numbers 16:31-35 2 Kings 1:9-13
Power to shut Heaven that it rain not (Revelation 11:6) 1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17
Power to turn water into blood (Revelation 11:6) Exodus 7:19-20
Power to smite the earth with all plagues (Revelation 11:6) Exodus 9:13-15
Both are called prophets (Revelation 11:10) Deuteronomy 34:10 1 Kings 18:22, 36
Andrew Ray

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