Rapture and End Times

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them, and His clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.

A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud:

This is My beloved Son;
listen to Him!

Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone. (Mark 9:2-8)

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As we immerse ourselves in the pages of Scripture, we are blessed to see the incredible ways in which Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all that was foreshadowed in the lives of Moses and Elijah. These two great prophets of the Old Testament were powerful witnesses for God, performing miracles and calling people back to faith in the one true God. And in their lives, we see beautiful parallels to the life and ministry of our Lord and Savior.

Just as Moses was miraculously delivered from death as an infant when Pharaoh ordered the killing of Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:22), and spent time in Egypt before returning to his homeland (Exodus 2:15), so too was Jesus protected from the evil intentions of King Herod (Matthew 2:16) and took refuge in Egypt with His family before beginning His earthly ministry (Matthew 2:19-21).

Both Moses and Jesus spent time in the wilderness, being prepared by God for the great tasks ahead of them (Exodus 3-4, Matthew 4:1-11).

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And what great tasks they were! Moses delivered God’s law from Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-20), while Jesus delivered the new covenant from the mountain in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

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Both men demonstrated the power of God through miracles, with Moses providing manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16) and Jesus feeding the five thousand (John 6:1-14).

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Similarly, Elijah faced opposition from the religious establishment of his day, confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40), just as Jesus faced opposition from the Pharisees and Sadducees who questioned His authority and sought to discredit His teachings (Matthew 23:1-36). Yet, both men remained steadfast in their faith and obedience to God, trusting in His provision (1 Kings 17:1-16, Matthew 4:1-4).

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Elijah and Jesus both performed incredible miracles, demonstrating the power of God. Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24), while Jesus raised Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:36-38), and Jesus showed His power over nature by calming the storm (Mark 4:35-41).

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Moreover, both Moses and Elijah had unique encounters with God on mountaintops. Moses spoke with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19), while Elijah heard the still, small voice of God on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:11-13).

And at the Transfiguration, recorded in Mark 9:2-8, we see a stunning moment where Jesus Himself is revealed in His divine glory, speaking with Moses and Elijah on a mountaintop. As Peter, James, and John looked on in awe, they saw Jesus transfigured before them, His clothes becoming radiant and intensely white. And there appeared with Him Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. This incredible moment powerfully demonstrated that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah), and that He is the Son of God, the Messiah who would bring salvation to the world.

Tragically, many rejected the messages of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. The Israelites grumbled against Moses in the desert (Numbers 14), and many of Jesus’ followers turned away from Him when His teachings became too difficult (John 6:66). Yet, all three men remained faithful, interceding for their people before God (Exodus 32:30-32, Hebrews 7:25).

Ultimately, Jesus is the greater Moses and the greater Elijah, the one who leads us out of the bondage of sin and into the promised land of eternal life. He is the prophet like Moses that was prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15, and the one whose coming was foretold by Malachi as the return of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6). Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, who came to earth to redeem us from our sins and reconcile us to the Father.

As we reflect on the lives of Moses, Elijah, and Jesus, and the incredible moment of the Transfiguration, let us be inspired by their faithfulness, their trust in God’s power and provision, and their unwavering obedience to His call. May we, like them, remain steadfast in the face of opposition, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

In this Transfiguration that happened during the Feast of Tabernacles, we see a perfect representation of the future Rapture. In the original Greek, the word was metamorphothe, which was translated into Latin as Trans Figura, the changing of appearance or of the body itself.

Notice who is present:

• The Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• The Old Testament believers, represented by Moses as the law-giver and Elijah as the first prophet
• The New Testament believers, represented by Peter, James, and John

The Rapture representation is complete when considering the word Mark uses for the transformation: stilbein. This is the Greek word used for the glistening gleam of burnished brass or gold, or of polished steel, or of the golden glare of the sunlight. This radiance is the natural state of Jesus the Messiah. At the Rapture, we will also shine with this radiance.

Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

And may we look forward with hope to that glorious day when we will see our Savior face to face, joining with all the saints in eternal praise and worship. For in Jesus, all the promises of God find their “Yes” and “Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), the one to whom Moses, Elijah, and all the prophets point.

May God bless you richly as you seek to know and follow Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

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If you are not sure that you are a member of the family of God, you can accept Christ into your life right now, by praying:

“Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life.  I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior.”

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