THE TRANSFIGURATION; OR, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN MINIATURE.
By J. W.
EACH event in the mission and ministry of Christ has a marked significance. The transfiguration, and the words of our Lord relative to that mountain scene, were designed to teach a lesson of vast importance to the church. And for want of a clear understanding of the subject, many conclude that the second advent of Christ occurred in the days of the apostles. The miniature exhibition of the kingdom of God at the transfiguration is designed to show the nature of the kingdom of glory, and that the immortal kingdom is to be set up at the period of the second advent of Christ. Our Lord connects his second coming in glory with the transfiguration in these words: "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily, I say unto you, There be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." Matt. 16: 27, 28. Or, as it reads in Luke, "Till they see the kingdom of God." Chap. 9: 27. This promise was soon fulfilled on the mount. "And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain, apart, and was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." Matt. 17: 1–5. Notice the following points:— 1. Jesus Christ appeared in his own personal glory. His countenance shone like the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 2. The glory of the Father was there. It was a "bright cloud" of the divine glory, out of which came the Father's voice. 3. Moses and Elias appeared; the one, the representative of those saints who shall be raised at Christ's coming and clothed with glory; the other, Elias, the representative of those who will be alive and be changed at the appearing of Christ. 4. The use the apostles made of the scene. Peter was one of the witnesses; and his testimony shows that the design of the transfiguration was to illustrate Christ's second, personal, glorious coming and the future kingdom of glory, and that this kingdom will be set up at the period of the second advent, and the resurrection and change of the just to immortal life. He says: "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 eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor 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." 2 Pet. 1: 16–18.