I'm ready!
well i guess we've already heard the '
standard answer' that i feel doesn't really answer. so here goes!
for this we need some scripture, and i'm going to do a poor job of explaining, so take this and go study it all out; let's start here:
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
(1 Corinthians 10:1-4)
they drank from a rock at Meribah - but that rock didn't follow or '
accompany' ((a more literal meaning of the word)) them. but something
did accompany them, never leaving them, all through the wilderness: a pillar of cloud and fire, called "
The Angel of the LORD" in Exodus 14. we ought to know already who "
The Angel/Messenger of the LORD" is -- we could go many places, even Exodus 3 ((go have a look)), where He is identified as the I AM Who speaks to Moses saying He is the God of his fathers. here too, in Corinthians, as yet another witness, "
The Angel of the LORD" is identified as Christ -- '
the cloud' -- rather, the One Who is
in that cloud.
have a look here:
on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night
(Numbers 9:15-16)
this cloud covered the tabernacle, and it had the appearance of fire -- a bright cloud of glory, just like we have at the transfiguration.
now look here:
And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.
(Exodus 33:9)
Moses spoke with the LORD in the tabernacle as the bright cloud of glory came to the door. Moses went in, the bright cloud of glory went in. the LORD in this way spoke with Moses -- and Who is in the cloud? "
The Angel of the LORD" who is, from Exodus 3, I AM THAT I AM -- who is, from 1 Corinthians 10, Christ -- Christ who is , from John 8 & John 18 & lots of other places, I AM THAT I AM. another place to see this is putting Exodus 14 together with Exodus 40; the cloud is the cloud of "
The Angel of the LORD" and it is "
the cloud of the LORD" ((Exodus 40:38)) -- they are identified as equal; the same thing the pharisees try to stone Jesus for saying in John 8 ((among other places)).
so Moses knows Who is in the cloud of shekinah glory; Moses is an eye-
witness of Christ glorified
& now look here:
Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
(2 Kings 2:11)
Elijah doesn't go up on a chariot of fire -- the chariot & horses of fire separate Elisha from him.
Elijah goes up in a "
whirlwind" -- just as the LORD spoke to Job out of "
the whirlwind" ((Job 40:6)).
what do you imagine that whirlwind looks like? maybe it has the appearance of fire? =]
i am going to say that just like Moses, and like no other person in all the scripture, Elijah is a witness of
who is in the center of the Shekinah glory cloud that led Israel through the wilderness, that descended on the tabernacle, that filled Solomon's temple, that spoke to Job, and Who will return again to destroy the wicked ((Jeremiah 23:19) -- it is the LORD ((Exodus 40:38)), the King of Israel, ((1 Samuel 8:8, John 1:49, Revelation 19:16)) -- it is Christ, the visible manifestation of the invisible God.
TLDR:
Moses & Elijah are two witnesses that Christ is God, the very God who brought them out of Egypt and dwelt in the temple in Jerusalem. and that is why, they are present, specifically them and no one else: because they are testifying that this, this is the same Christ who has always been in the center of that bright cloud of glory. and so Christ told them,
do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead
He
hides Himself ((Isaiah 45:15)) -- and speaks in parables, so that those who do not have ((i.e. those who do not believe or know who He is)), even what they have is taken away: but those who do have ((having been revealed and believing Who He is)), to them more is given. this is why i said to Mssr. Wrangler, who rejects His Person, that it is impossible for him to understand or correctly interpret scripture. all he can do is anthropomorphize, projecting his own weakness and blindness on God, as tho He were a man. Christ is
perfect, sinless humanity: in Him there is no sin; no doubt and no fear. we need to
believe this and cling to it in order to comprehend what we are reading.
and yes, this gives a great deal of credence to these two being the '
two witnesses' of Revelation 11
if that makes sense... ?
♥
