Well, a few days ago I was wondering if I was going to write any more blog articles ... and then this came up and I just have to address it in my first article of 2019 ;o}
I know people want to think that because Moses was one of the two seen at the mount of transfiguration experience, with Jesus, that he (Moses) was there in a resurrected form. This is not true. It flies in the face of the fact that Jesus is the firstfruits of a new creation, He alone was the -first- of the firstfruits in a newly resurrected immortal body ... followed by those that resurrected AFTER His resurrection. Let's read some of those scriptures first ...
Jesus' resurrection from the dead ...
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." {Matthew 28:6 KJV}
"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." {Mark 16:6 KJV}
"He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee," {Luke 24:6 KJV}
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept." {1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV}
NOTICE that resurrection is something that happens to dead people, as we see with Jesus, followed by those that came out of the graves after His resurrection; not just that they come out of their graves but they did so in immortal bodies. Any other person that has died and came back to life in their mortal body only to die again is NOT resurrected, they are "revived". Perhaps I'll do a more in-depth article on that some other time. For now, the bible witnesses to Jesus' resurrection from the dead and those that came out of the graves after His resurrection, firstfruits of a new creation unto God.
"But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying," {Matthew 22:31 KJV}
"Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." {Luke 20:36 KJV}
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" {John 11:25 KJV}
"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." {Acts 4:33 KJV}
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ... For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. ... So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:" {1 Corinthians 15:12-13, 21, 42 KJV}
"If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." {Philippians 3:11 KJV}
"Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." {2 Timothy 2:18 KJV, this is the scripture they erred over: Matthew 27:52-53 KJV (also quoted below).}
"Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." {Revelation 20:6 KJV}
AFTER His resurrection (not before, as people think about the mount of transfiguration story) ...
"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." {Matthew 27:52-53 KJV}
Moving on ... Moses died. He was not some special form of a man whereby God somehow preserved his body after his death, he was a mortal man and he died. Yes he had that Godly glow about him because he was constantly in the presence of the Lord from the burning bush onward, but he lived a mortal life and he died. There are plenty of scriptures to prove this, and there are some other proof texts for your consideration, see below ...
"And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I [am] an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, [and] he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: [and] Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. ... And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation. ... And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go [to be] among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. ... Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt [yourselves], and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands." {Deuteronomy 31:1-3, 14, 16, 28-29 KJV}
"And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, [unto] mount Nebo, which [is] in the land of Moab, that [is] over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people: Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet thou shalt see the land before [thee]; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel." {Deuteronomy 32:48-52 KJV}
"And this [is] the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death." {Deuteronomy 33:1 KJV}
"And the LORD said unto him, This [is] the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see [it] with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses [was] an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping [and] mourning for Moses were ended." {Deuteronomy 34:4-8 KJV}
NOTICE "he buried him" ... who is "he" that buried Moses? It was the Lord that spoke to him (Moses), told him to go up to the mount where he would die, and ... the Lord buried him. The Lord was with Moses when he died! I say again, the Lord buried Moses!
Moses DIED ...
"Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, [even] to the children of Israel." {Joshua 1:1-2 KJV}
Now on to the next issue, the bible doesn't say -when- the devil and Michael contended for Moses' body, it was likely AFTER he died and AFTER the Lord buried him. It may be the Lord sent Michael to guard Moses' body from satan, that seems more reasonable to me. Here's the scripture that tends to trip people up ...
"Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee." {Jude 1:9 KJV}
This simply says that Michael rebuked the devil when he disputed about Moses' body. It seems clear to me that Moses would have become (or be used by the devil as) an idol to the Israelites who were so use to his leadership during the past 40 years. Also, had they of idolized (idolater-ized) Moses after his death, it would have made it that much harder for Joshua to lead them for the next 30 years.
If satan had gotten a hold of Moses' body, perhaps he would have tried to enter into it himself in the end of days (after the church is raptured) when the devil has full control of the world without God's overruling his evil works. Satan obviously knew where Moses' body was.
I would venture to bet that Moses was resurrected to immortality as one of those that came out of the graves AFTER Jesus' resurrection so have no fear that the devil might yet try to take control of it (Moses' body) for I'm sure that Moses too has risen (AFTER Jesus' resurrection as we see in Matthew 27:52-53 KJV).
Other affirming *extra-biblical* text to consider ...
The Assumption of Moses http://www.pseudepigrapha.com/pseudepigrapha/assumptionofmoses.html
Chapter 1 "The Testament of Moses even the things which he commanded in the one hundred and twentieth year of his life" ... "And now I declare unto you that the time of the years of my life is fulfilled and I am passing away to sleep with my fathers even in the presence of all the people And receive this writing that you may know how to preserve the books which I shall deliver unto you: and you shall set these in order and anoint them with oil of cedar and put them away in earthen vessels in the place which He made from the beginning of the creation of the world, that His name should be called upon until the day of repentance in the visitation wherewith the Lord will visit them in the consummation of the end of the days."
Chapter 10 "And I shall go to sleep with my fathers. Wherefore, Joshua you (son of) Nun, (be strong and) be of good courage; (for) God has chosen (you) to be minister in the same covenant."
Jasher 87:10-11 http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/jasher/87.htm
10 And Moses went up as the Lord had commanded him, and he died there in the land of Moab by the order of the Lord, in the fortieth year from the Israelites going forth from the land of Egypt. 11 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, and the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were completed.
Jasher 88:1-2 http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/apo/jasher/88.htm
1 And it was after the death of Moses that the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, saying,
2 Rise up and pass the Jordan to the land which I have given to the children of Israel, and thou shalt make the children of Israel inherit the land.
Moses is NOT one of the two witnesses ... ?why? because he died. Now, he may have been among those resurrected AFTER Jesus' resurrection, true that. But, when he was on the mount at Jesus' transfiguration, he (Moses) was spirit, not resurrected to a new immortal body at that time ... ?why? ... because Jesus hadn't died & resurrected yet. The apostles were permitted to see Elijah & Moses' spirits.
Speaking of Jesus' transfiguration, notice the apostles saw a "vision" ...
"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead." {Matthew 17:1-9 KJV, this likely occurred at the Feast of Sukkot (Booths/Tabernacles).}
"And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves. And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean." {Mark 9:2-10 KJV}
It was Jesus that was transfigured, NOT Moses, NOT Elijah.
So, were Enoch & Elijah resurrected AFTER Jesus' resurrection as seen in Matthew 27:52-53 KJV? NO. Why? Because neither of them died, they are preserved, somewhere, in their natural mortal bodies.
I believe that Enoch & Elijah, the two that have not yet died, are the two that will return and be killed at the end of their 3-1/2 year ministry soon to unfold sometime after the church's departure. These two men are clearly the only two humans that have never died ... if they've never died they cannot be resurrected to immortality as that only happens to dead people. And, as we see above, how they were both caught up in their mortal bodies, they will likewise return to earth to *school* Israel for 3-1/2 years, they will be murdered and then resurrected to immortality after 3-1/2 days of laying dead somewhere in the streets of Jerusalem {NOT Rome}.
Up until Jesus' appearing where He takes His church bride to be with Him where He is {Matthew 25:1-13}, all humans will die, and after we're gone more will die.
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" {Hebrews 9:27 KJV}
NOTICE those that have been revived (not resurrected) only had their spirits return to their mortal bodies and subsequently died at a latter date. Resurrection from the dead is being raised to immortality, it is not being revived in this mortal body only to die again. Lazarus was revived when Jesus called his name and he came forth from the tomb after four days of being dead. Too many people mix these two terms as though they mean the same thing, resurrection is not revived and visa versa. These are two separate things, don't confuse them. Here is the true definition of "resurrection of the dead", which only happens to those that have actually died when spirit & soul leave the body (which is generally buried) and when they come back to their body it is raised incorruptible, immortal. Lazarus will likely resurrect when the dead in Christ rise at the soon appearing of our Lord & Savior for His own.
"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." {1 Corinthians 15:53-54 KJV}
Enoch & Elijah have NOT died yet, but they will ...
Enoch translated ALIVE ...
"And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him." {Genesis 5:23-24 KJV}
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." {Hebrews 11:5-6 KJV}
Elijah taken ALIVE in a chariot of fire ...
"And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if thou see me [when I am] taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be [so]. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw [it], and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." {2 Kings 2:9-12 KJV}
Enoch & Elijah are the two witnesses, not Moses ...
"And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth." {Revelation 11:3 KJV}
"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth." {Revelation 11:7-10 KJV, no this is not Christmas, but ... it may be alluding to a future Hanukkah! Also notice the reference to the "great city" where our Lord was crucified, that would be Jerusalem, NOT Rome.}
"And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven." {Revelation 11:11-13 KJV, Remember, "the city" being referred to here is Jerusalem, NOT Rome, more on this in a link below.}
I REPEAT: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" {Hebrews 9:27 KJV}
How many biblical (and extra biblical) witnesses do you need as proof that Moses DIED and was buried??? Is the bible true or is your theology true? I'll leave that to you to decide for yourselves.
As for me, I believe the bible as well as the other confirming texts!
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." {1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV}
You might be interested in reading these articles I wrote as well ...
https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2015/05/051515-comparing-words.html
https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2015/10/101115-jesus-said-it-is-appointed-unto.html
https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2015/12/122615-moses-and-two-witnesses.html
https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2016/12/120516-where-is-that-great-city.html
https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2018/02/022018-my-revised-biblical-chronology.html
https://thelambswife.blogspot.com/2018/07/070718-revelation-harvests.html
Maranatha Lord Jesus {Yeshua}!
