HOW DID THEY KNOW?

With this lesson we are doing something different. We covered the transfiguration yesterday but we are covering a different aspect of the same passage of scripture. Matthew 17:1-13.

And this is one of those bothersome thoughts, one of those ADD/ADHD type of intrusive thoughts that 90% of the time do nothing more than annoy me, but 10% of the time can lead to fascinating studies I never intentionally set out to do but learn something from anyway.

And that thought is this, how did Peter, James and John know it was Moses and Elijah standing there? No, seriously think about it. This was a thousand years plus between Moses and Peter, how did Peter know?

There was no Google to use to look it up. No Facebook, no art, remember these are Jews, a sculpture or painting of Moses or Elijah would not exist for them to reference because “graven image”. Paintings didn't exist and graven images were a violation of a commandment so how did three uneducated fishermen identify people from sight they couldn't possibly have a reference for?

They may have known from the context of the conversation Jesus was having with Moses and Elijah.
Maybe Jesus used their names when He spoke with them. It's possible but I think there's a more accurate and reasonable answer to the reason that can only be contemplated about.
The Beatific theory which essentially takes the concept from Luke 12:3

Luke 12:3
Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

and expands on it while adding the Apostle Paul's words from Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.

So what does it mean? The Beatific theory states that upon our death and being received into Heaven there will be no secrets hidden. That at first sight in eternity we will know everyone's name, we will be fully aware of who they were, how they lived, and what they did in life. This type of knowledge removes any need for or possibility of knowing or keeping secrets.

It goes a long way to explaining another ADD/ADHD thought of mine on will we still have free will? Because honestly, I didn't want there to be any possibility of disobeying God after death, because that's just sometimes that's where my ‘lizard brain’ goes.

If in Heaven we will have that ‘perfect knowledge’ Paul talks about and that we will all each will know each other, there can be no secrets, no lies, no misrepresentation. That is an amazing thought! We will all have pretty amazing knowledge of one another which calms one aspect of me yet does not help the introvert in me at all.

But consider this. This perfect knowledge applies to Hell as well. And in Hell, described as burning incessantly, with the spiritual flesh being melted off and then regenerated only to burn off again, over and over eternally. Where one feels like you can't catch enough of a breath to get relief just enough to keep screaming eternally from the pain. Where thirst is not quenched and hunger not satisfied.

So on top of all the physical suffering, everyone will know your secrets, you will know theirs. There will be no lying, no hiding, no need to hide anything.

So can you see that this knowledge will be a gift for some, but a curse for others. Can you imagine the relief of finally unburdening ourselves with things we just can't out loud?
Can you imagine the horror of being stuck forever suffering in the same place as the person you killed?

You see how these little ADD/ADHD moments can throw you off target and send you down a rabbit hole of information you didn't know you needed? Let's thank God for the time when we won't face temptation to sin, that the struggle we have will be gone and we will just be with God in Heaven.


[1] Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. [2] And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. [3] And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. [4] Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [5] While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” [6] When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. [7] And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” [8] And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. [9] When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” [10] And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” [11] And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; [12] but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” [13] Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.