The Transfiguration of Jesus is a pivotal moment in the New Testament that not only signifies the divine nature of Christ but also serves as a bridge connecting the Old and New Testaments, and even pointing towards a future congregation.

This event, rich in symbolism and meaning, can offer profound insights into the way we read and understand the Bible for the rest of our lives.

God Names

3 Dispensations

In the book of Revelation, God proclaims, "I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

This statement serves as an outline for three major segments in time which is foundational for us to understand many of the symbolic time cues in the Bible and especially in the book of Revelation.

The statement also encapsulates the eternal nature of God, who exists beyond time and encompasses all eras of salvation history.

The Mount of Transfiguration

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus is transfigured before three of his apostles:

• Peter

• James

• John

Here, Jesus is transformed into his glorified state, and two other great prophets, Moses and Elijah, appear alongside him, representing the past and future congregations that God would work through, respectively.

Three Prophets

The presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah together symbolizes the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan. They each can be paired with a time as mentioned earlier — who is, who was, and who is to come :

• Jesus (who is) - The Messiah and the embodiment of the New Covenant.

• Moses (who was) - The giver of the Law and representative of the Old Covenant.

• Elijah (who is to come) - Often associated with future events and the coming of God's kingdom.

Peter's Suggestion

In response to this awe-inspiring sight on the mountain, Peter suggests building three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

This proposal reflects the human desire to commemorate divine encounters and perhaps also Peter's misunderstanding of the transient nature of the experience.

Symbolism of the Tabernacles

The tabernacles represent three distinct congregations across time.

The symbolism of these “congregations” seem to be passed on from the prophets to the apostles on the mountain.

• Peter's Congregation: Identified by Jesus as the foundation of the New Testament Church (Matthew 16:17-18).

• James' Congregation: The eldest brother of the sons of Zebedee is the representative of the Old Testament (passed from Moses).

• John’s Congregation: Alluded to by Jesus when he speaks of “other sheep not of this fold” (John 10:16) and represented by Elijah and the apostle John.

The Heavenly and the Earthly

Peter's experience on the mountain also teaches us about the difference between the earthly and the heavenly realms.

Jesus' conversation with Peter about the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven emphasizes the higher spiritual understanding that is revealed by God, not by human wisdom.

Reading these texts on a literal surface level is earthly understanding.

Who is to Come

The third congregation, the future "sheep" who will hear Jesus' voice, is a testament to the ongoing nature of God's revelation and the universality of his call.

Elijah, who is to come, and John, who writes Revelation, embody the anticipation of this future assembly.

The scripture refers to them as a future people but it also speaks to us today who understand our significance in the grand scheme of things.

In conclusion, the Transfiguration story is a multi-faceted narrative that helps us understand the Bible's message about God's eternal plan and the unity of his people across all dispensations.

It invites us to look beyond the literal and seek the deeper, spiritual truths that are woven throughout the scriptures.