Preview into Heaven but Only Jesus Christ is to Be Glorified

Luke 9:28-36

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

• After some sobering words, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him as He prays.
• The kingdom of God is Revealed.
• Moses, Elijah, and Jesus talk about the soon departure of Jesus.
• In all of Heaven and earth, only Jesus deserves honor and praise.

After some sobering words, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him as He prays. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are living under the government of the mark of the beast which comes against the people of God like a psychotic “lamb”. Jesus has shared intimate words with us about that and takes us with Him as He prays. That is written about here, “Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.” Luke 9:28 The sayings mentioned in this verse refers to Jesus asking who the Apostles and others thought He was. Others thought he was a great man, but Peter declared that he was the Christ. Today, that is our declaration, that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God. Jesus also said that He would suffer many things, be rejected by the Jewish leaders, be killed and then raised from the dead. If we want to follow Him, we have to be willing to deny self and to take up the cross. If a person wants to save their life in this world, they will lose it in the judgment to come, but to lose life in this world is to gain it in the judgment to come. It’s necessary to confidently proclaim His name as the Christ, because if we are ashamed of Him, then He will be ashamed of us when He returns.

The kingdom of God is Revealed. In Luke 9:27, Jesus said there would be some who would not taste death until they see the kingdom of God, now some have seen it. They have seen the appearance of Jesus altered and have seen Moses and Elijah. When we enter the kingdom of God, we will undergo a transformation into an eternal body, we will shine radiantly and be as recognizable as Moses and Elijah. That is a preview into the kingdom of God. “As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.” Luke 9:29 When Jesus prays, things happen and I’m very thrilled that He is making intercession for me at the throne of God. We know what was on the mind and heart of Jesus when He went to pray, His own crucifixion, death, and resurrection, as well as His Apostles who would follow in His footsteps. At this time, Jesus revealed the kingdom of God so that His Apostles would understand their eternal reward for following in the footsteps of Jesus. That is also the eternal reward for all of us who hold to the testimony of Christ.

Moses, Elijah, and Jesus talk about the soon departure of Jesus. Moses and Elijah came to talk with Jesus, which reveals to us that in the kingdom of God we will be recognizable but transformed into an eternal radiance. “And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah…” Luke 9:30 Moses and Elijah also reveal more to us about the purpose of Jesus and who He is. Moses led the people out of Egypt, where they were held captive as slaves, and he led them towards the promised land. Likewise, Jesus Christ leads us out of captivity to sin towards the promise of the New Jerusalem. Elijah lived during a severe persecution of the prophets of God, as they were hunted down and slaughtered. The persecutors were living by the rules of their own god. Elijah defeated their god and was taken up to Heaven by God. Jesus Christ is victorious over the god of the mark of the beast, and while His people go through affliction and persecution, we will be raised into Heaven to live with Him eternally. Jesus gave His life on the Cross to conquer sin and death and to ascend into Heaven, so whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were speaking about His future death on the Cross, “…who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Luke 9:31

In all of Heaven and earth, only Jesus deserves honor and praise. Jesus refers to death as sleeping because we will wake up into the kingdom of God. We are heavy with sleep as we lie in the grave, but when we awake, we will be in Heaven and see everyone who is there. That happened to Peter and those with him, “But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.” Luke 9:32 In the kingdom of God, we are all one and there will be no one put on a pedestal above another. Even as followers of Jesus Christ on this earth, not one single person is worthy of special recognition and praise, “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 9:24

Peter wanted to give special honor and recognition to others on the same level as Jesus Christ, but he didn’t realize what he was doing, “Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.” Luke 9:33 When we put others on the same level as Jesus Christ, we become enveloped in a fearful cloud, “While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.” Luke 9:34 There is only one voice whom God authorizes us to hear, that is the voice of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, “And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Luke 9:35

 “When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.” Luke 9:36

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11