This is very interesting to me. Most teach and believe Jesus before ressurection took Abraham's bosom with Him when He took keys of hell and death. If this is so how was Moses transfigured with Elijah in garden before crucifixion?
Also Peter says gospel was preached to the dead. Which most are taught was Jesus in Abraham's bosom. I am still trying to understand this. Because if this is so, how do you explain Moses with Elijah in garden before ressurection?
Food for thought. God bless.
Greetings Broken Fence, the verse tells us Jesus was the one transfigured not Moses and Elijah. I believe Peter, James and John are given a vision of heaven, with Christ being changed in appearance to that as the Holy One seen in heaven.
Mr 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh
with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
Mr 9:3 And
his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Mr 9:4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
Mt 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Mt 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mt 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead
men.
Daniel 7:9 (KJV) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and
the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne
was like the fiery flame,
and his wheels
as burning fire.
Neither Moses nor Elijah could have been in heaven before Christ was resurrected from the dead. For this reason it can be determined that they are an apparition or vision, but they are not physically present.
After His resurrection it is rightly understood that Christ went to the place of the dead reserved for saints of Old, called Abraham's bosom. The grave/pit is the domain of Satan. Having spoiled the power that Satan had to hold people in bondage to fear and death before the cross, Christ bound Satan, holding him in the grave (pit/place of the dead) until the Kingdom of Heaven is complete through the Gospel going unto all the earth in the power of the Spirit.
Lu 16:22 And it came to pass, that
the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Lu 16:23 And
in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Revelation 9:11 (KJV) And
they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue
is Abaddon, [destroying angel] but in the Greek tongue hath
his name
Apollyon. [a destroyer (i.e. Satan)]
Heb 2:14 ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And
deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Mt 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Mt 12:29 Or
else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (
Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Since both Moses and Elijah died in faith, they too would have been waiting for Christ to literally come and rescue them from the grave, as He promised He would. Now since Christ's resurrection and ascension to heaven, Moses, Elijah and every believer having physically died in faith are residents together in the Kingdom of Heaven, and are celestial or as are the angels in heaven, and in the likeness spiritually of Christ.
Hope this will be helpful for you.
