Topical Bible: Angel (A Spirit): Appearances of At the Transfiguration of Jesus

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The Transfiguration of Jesus is a significant event in the New Testament, recorded in the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36. This event is pivotal in revealing the divine nature of Jesus Christ and His fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. While the primary focus of the Transfiguration is on Jesus Himself, the presence of heavenly beings, including angels, is implied in the context of this divine revelation.

Biblical Account:

The Transfiguration occurs on a high mountain, traditionally identified as Mount Tabor, where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him. As they witness, Jesus is transfigured before them; His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become as white as light. This transformation signifies His divine glory and prefigures His resurrection.

In this moment of divine revelation, Moses and Elijah appear, conversing with Jesus. These two figures represent the Law and the Prophets, respectively, underscoring Jesus' role as the fulfillment of both. The presence of Moses and Elijah also signifies the continuity of God's salvific plan from the Old Covenant to the New.

Angelic Presence:

While the Gospel accounts do not explicitly mention angels during the Transfiguration, the presence of a "bright cloud" that envelops them and the voice of God the Father speaking from the cloud suggest a heavenly entourage. In biblical literature, clouds often symbolize the presence of God and His heavenly host. For instance, in the Old Testament, clouds accompany divine appearances, such as in Exodus 19:9 and 1 Kings 8:10-11.

The voice from the cloud declares, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" (Matthew 17:5). This divine affirmation echoes the voice heard at Jesus' baptism and serves to confirm His identity and mission.

Theological Significance:

The implied presence of angels at the Transfiguration highlights the celestial acknowledgment of Jesus' divine sonship and His authority. Angels, as ministering spirits, often appear in Scripture to announce significant events or to serve God's purposes, as seen in the annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38) and the resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:2-7).

The Transfiguration serves as a foretaste of the eschatological glory that awaits Jesus and His followers. It reassures the disciples of Jesus' divine nature and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. The event also emphasizes the importance of listening to Jesus, as He embodies the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

In conclusion, while angels are not explicitly mentioned in the Gospel accounts of the Transfiguration, their implied presence within the divine cloud underscores the heavenly affirmation of Jesus' mission and the continuity of God's revelation from the Old Testament to the New. The Transfiguration remains a profound testament to the glory and authority of Jesus Christ, witnessed by both earthly and heavenly beings.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 17:3
And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.
Nave's Topical Index

Luke 9:30,31
And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Harmony of the Gospels.
... 284]208; resurrection of, announced by an angel to the ... in Galilee, [292]221, etc.;
ten appearances of, [293 ... 161, etc.; casting out an unclean spirit, [313]226 ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/the harmony of the gospels.htm

The Five Books Against Marcion
... to the Angels, Overcomes Even the Angel Which Lured ... The Dumb Spirit and Christ's
Discourse on Occasion ... The Manifold Appearances of Christ After the Resurrection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/the five books against marcion/

The Annunciation of St. John the Baptist
... Thus the reply of the Angel to the inquiry of ... appear personally, and not merely in
spirit and power ... tradition represents his ministry and appearances as almost ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iii the annunciation of.htm

The Gospel According to St. Mark
... and having spoken the Gospel by the Spirit, many present ... The women at the sepulchre,
the angel (xvi.1-8 ... Appendix with summary of appearances of the Lord (xvi.9 ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter iv the gospel according.htm

Authenticity and Credibility of the Gospel Narratives.
... Paul, in his enumeration of our Lord's appearances to his ... not in his origin alone,
but in his spirit also that he ... They are not the virtues of an angel in heaven ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter iv authenticity and credibility.htm

Index i. Of Subjects
... Gabriel, angel, how regarded by the Jews, i.142; ... Holy Spirit, the, descent of,
at Christ's Baptism, i.284-287; ... appearances after, 634-651; ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/index i of subjects.htm

On the Resurrection of the Dead
... it, first try their skill upon the various appearances of nature ... as it had been the
face of an angel." How then ... from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, by faith ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 137 on the resurrection.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... His arguments are, that the appearances of nature shew no ... how the new law or
ministration of the Spirit was to ... New Testament by the hands of the angel of God's ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... And presently we discover a strange transfiguration that is ... with the successive phases
of the human spirit. ... of the appearance, but say, Appearances, wait for ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

part ii
... darkness of the heart and intellect, but the Lord Jesus Christ is ... their number and
power, we can guess how powerful a spirit was Satan, the fallen angel. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm