Matthew Chapter 17 "Glory Foreshown. The Transfiguration; Sufferings and Glory Explained." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org/plough.htm Jesus had just scolded Peter for allowing his love of Christ to leave an opening for Satan to enter in for a moment. Satan will use your love for a loved one for his advantage. We will find out in this chapter just how important it is to know and understand God's plan. This is the chapter that separates the Children from the adults, in the Word of God. It has nothing to do with age, but maturity of the understanding of spiritual things. This chapter also covers things that will prepare you for the Second Advent, which is the end of the this sixth dispensation, when Jesus Christ shall return in His transfigured body. It also covers things concerning the lunar children, which are still very much with us today. Men and women of God should be aware that they are possessed, however they can be changed if they choose to change and leave the ways of the devil. Matthew 17:1 "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart," Jesus is separating these three disciples from the rest of the disciples. This is what you might call a secret mission. It is a documentation of what it will be like at the Second Advent, or coming of Jesus Christ. It has to do with Christ's second coming. Matthew 17:2 "And was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light." Jesus Christ's transfiguration let these three disciples know that through the resurrection the flesh body will be transfigured, rather then left. These three have witnessed before the fact that Christ's body will be transfigured. Meaning that the flesh shall not be left behind, whereby the unbelievers could say, He didn't go anywhere. There is the flesh. Every time a person dies there is an immediate removal of the soul back to the Heavenly Father, and the flesh is left to rot. The unbeliever simply can't understand that because the body is laying there on the slab. The persons beautiful spiritual body returns to God that gave it. In this case, there had to be a transfiguration to stop the talk, and have witnesses to the fact, so no one could deny that He arose. Matthew 17:3 "And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him." Many teach that these two men that were with Christ have been in the grave for quite some time. All souls, including Satan himself, are with God at this time awaiting judgment, or awaiting to be taught in the millennium age. Satan's evil spirit is on earth, but he is the accuser before the throne in heaven. Revelation 12:7-9 tells us that this is a war that will take place, and that war will end with Michael and his angels casting Satan and his angels to the earth. When Satan comes it will mark the end of this earth age, with the great deception of the tribulation. Why would Jesus appear with Moses and Elias? Moses was the law giver. The law that God gave mankind for the sake of living with one another on earth. It was the yardstick to show man that he was not perfect. When Christ dies on the cross, it will pay the price for man's transgressing of the law. These two, Moses and Elias [Elijah] were mentioned in the last three verses in the Old Testament. Malachi 4:4-6; "Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. [4] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:" [5] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." [6] Moses stood for the law, and his presence represents those to be raised from the dead. This will occur when Christ is resurrected and brings the souls along with Him to heaven. Christ's transfigured body was symbolic of that Second Advent. What Jesus is saying to the disciples is that this is the First Advent, these events with Moses and Elijah present do not take place until the end of the sixth dispensation. That is when the hearts of the fathers are turned the children, and the children to the fathers. The "fathers", two of them are Jesus Christ and Satan, and the time is called the Great Tribulation [Deception]. Jesus Christ is the Father of His own, and Satan is the father of his own seed, the Kenites. So these disciples watched as these three stood in their supernatural bodies, showing that Christ was supernatural. This shows the body that Christ would posses after the crucifixion, and after the tomb. Jesus allowed this time of the transfiguration to happen, so people would not run around saying that Christ did not rise from the tomb. He did it in this manner to where there would be no doubt to where His body was. It was changed. Matthew 17:4 "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." Peter watched this supernatural event and he missed the whole point, the first thing Peter wanted to do was to broadcast the event. Peter still doesn't know here that the only reason he was brought was to be a witness to the transforming of Christ's body, following the resurrection. Matthew 17:5 "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." We saw in verse 16:23 Peter had already showed Jesus disrespect, and now he has to mouth off again. Peters excitement in his comments were, however because of his love for Jesus. Then in the middle of Peter's comments, the voice of Almighty God comes forth. Friend, this is God's voice speaking from the cloud, and it is powerful. Have you heard some of these clowns on television lately saying that God spoke to them this morning, and then spew forth how you should sent them money, or some other form of greed and self gratification. Here we are talking about Peter, James and John that walked with Jesus. Do you know what they did when the voice from the cloud spoke to them? Matthew 17:6 "And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid." In reference to those half wits that make that comment today; if and when the true God speaks to them they will not be left standing. They will be exactly as the disciples were when they heard the voice of God. They were face down on the ground, with the fear which is reverence of God in their heart and minds. God is telling these disciples to stop their nonsense and listen to His Son; what He has to tell you is very important. God spoke to get the disciples focused on what was taking place, and what they were to do about it. When the disciples heard it they were "sore afraid", they were scared out of their minds with fear. These men that will play church and blaspheme God will be held accountable for their idle vain words. They put forth their nonsense that God told them to say something that simply goes against His Word. They will pay for it, and it may be with their very souls. The Holy Spirit is giving warning through the Word to stop, and if this is directed to you, this is the time to ask forgiveness from God. Ask God that the Holy Spirit will give you a deeper understanding in His Word, and get down and do your studying. Matthew 17:7 "And Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Arise, and be not afraid." Jesus came to them tenderly and said, get back up, and don't be afraid. I think He know how mortal man would react, when in the presence of His Almighty Father. Friend when things get tough, and the pressures of life cause you to be afraid; this same tenderness of Christ is offered to you, "Be not afraid." He will take your heavy burden, and place it upon Himself. Remember back in Matthew 11:28-30; "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [28] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [29] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." [30] Matthew 17:8 "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." They looked up into the face of Christ and it was over, it was past. Matthew 17:9 "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." Peter, James and John were ready now to get down to business, and pay attention. They now knew that what Jesus was telling them was far more then idle words. Before when Peter was ready to fight to save Christ's life, he now had the insight that the others, aside from James and John, did not have. Then at the time when Thomas and the others would have there doubts, these three could safely say, Our Lord is risen. Matthew 17:10 "And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?" The words of the scribes, "that Elias must first come" was written in Malachi, as we read above. John the Baptist was dead at the time of the transfiguration, and they are talking about the Second Advent, that they just read. The day of the crucifixion was the day of passion, and not the day of the Second Advent. That is the day that Elijah comes before. So now Jesus is going to give them the reason. Matthew 17:11 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things." "Elias", which is to "Elijah" will come and "restore all things"; that is to say the truth of God's Word, before Jesus Christ shall come and mark the end of this earth age. This will happen just before the great day of the Lord. Elijah will not come like these "one verse" pastors, singing their songs, and begging for money; but he will take the Word of God, and open the eyes of God's people, and there will be no doubt to what the has to say. The hearts, (which is the minds) of the people will be turned to our Heavenly Father, focused on His word, and ready for the coming of the Messiah. Turning to the Father is to "restore all things", restore the love of God's children to their Father. This polarity will also draw the Kenites back to their genetic father Satan, except for those few Kenites that have excepted Christ and repented, they then are sons of the living God, and their Father is the Heavenly Father. It is getting too late to play church, for many of the signs of the end times are history to us today. It is time to get about our Father's business. Jesus is telling Peter, James and John that it is true, Elijah shall come before that Great Day of the Lord. What throws most people is this next verse. There is a separation between the thought of verse eleven and verse twelve. Matthew 17:12 "But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them." When Elias came back the first time no one know him. Remember back in Matthew 11:14-15 where Jesus said; "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. [14] He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." [15] What Jesus is saying is that had the people received Him the first time, then John the Baptist would have been Elias, and there would be no Second Advent. However, John the Baptist was not received, and Jesus Christ was not accepted as the Messiah, in fact, even Christ's disciples did not relate the miracles as coming from the Messiah until later on in the ministry. Had they been aware, they would have known the prophecies, and known that it was the purpose for Jesus Christ coming as a baby. Therefore John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah. Luke 1:17; "And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Today there are some ministries that are in the spirit of Elijah, they teach the true Word of God, and turning the hearts of many back to our Heavenly Father. While on the other hand, turning the hearts of the Kenites, false shepherds, and disobedient to the Word, back to the other father, Satan. The time of the separation of God's elect from the goats, is at the door. For we read in Revelation 9:4, the time is coming when you will be sealed by God in your mind with the knowledge of the truth; or you will have the mark of the beast, you will have the seal of the Antichrist on you. Their is no middle ground then, for God will give you over to Satan, if you are not sealed as one of His. Many will follow false doctrine, such as the rapture doctrine, and other modern day mixes of Christianity, and view the Antichrist as the true Messiah, for they will have been taught so, and their false shepherds will lead them to their father, Satan. They will go gladly, for they will go in ignorance because they think that this first to come is the true Christ. Their actions in this earth age is the reason for the Millennium Age, for that age is the time of learning and discipline for one thousand years. Then comes the judgment, and the rewards then are by works, for the time of grace will end with the coming of the Antichrist. At that time you will be saved or you will not. Matthew 17:13 "Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist." Matthew 17:14 "And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying," Matthew 17:15 "Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water." Pay attention to the word "lunatick". The word in the Greek is "moon struck", another words this boy was a child of the moon, or night, while God's children are of the sun, and daylight. this man is saying then that his son is a child of the devil. Matthew 17:16 "And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him." Pay attention to why the disciples could not heal this lunatic boy. Matthew 17:17 "Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me." Jesus is saying, how many times must I teach you, and you watch to understand from where the healing comes. This relates right back to the parable of the sower, and that is necessary to understand the powers that Jesus had. God planted His seed in the daylight, and in the night came the evil one, the devil, and planted his seed. Remember the seed are children, and the seed of the night are Satan's kids. Another words, if you don't know what the problem is, you can't fix it; and the problem is not the sickness, but the evil spirits that are within the boy. Those evil spirits must go first then the the healing can take place. Matthew 17:18 "And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured form that very hour." Jesus rebuked the devil first, because the boy was a child of the devil, and then the boy was cured that same hour. Matthew 17:19 "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, "Why could not we cast him out?" These disciples were slow to learn, they simply were not paying attention in the past, and now it all caught up with them. They want to know why the powers that Jesus had given them were not working. In their ignorance they simply did not recognize what they were dealing with. This is the same reason many have problems today. Matthew 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place;' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Many times people take this little mustard seed and compare their faith to it, and they show their ignorance. This is talking about the Kenite nation, Christ identifies it here as well as in the Parable of the fig tree. If you have the faith or the knowledge of a mustard seed, of the mountain, which is the nation of the Kenites [know who they are]. They are the lunar nation, the nation of the night, the nation of Satan the devil. Then the powers that God has placed in His children, in the name of Jesus, you have the power to tell Satan and his whole realm "go" and they must go. This is talking about the power in the name of Jesus, this is why we pray in Jesus name, we are saved in Jesus name, and we rebuke Satan in Jesus name. Satan and his realm, all of it, is that mountain, and the power in the name of Jesus, acting on faith, and belief is what moves that mountain. This is why you must know the parable of the sower and tares of the Matthew thirteen, for through it, you identify the devil, and his children. Blind faith is fine, but when you put understanding behind your faith, then you learn discernment of spirits. There is a nation that shall be removed, at the coming of Christ in the near future, and it will be the Antichrist, Satan, and his tribe of Kenites and their followers. They shall be cast into the sea as a millstone, and this is prophecy in Revelation 18:21; "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." The sea is the peoples of the earth, and the great city Babylon is his one world system, in which the entire world will be as one. When our Lord Jesus Christ returns Satan and every form of idolatry will be gone. Matthew 17:21 "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." "This kind" refers to something special that Jesus is about to teach us. "This kind" is the moon struck. They are the ones that are filled with devils, or demons, who are of the night, or Satan's realm. Jesus is telling us that there is a way that we ought to pray, when certain kinds of things are happening. If you know them and about them then you can with the power of God, cast them out. It is only with the credentials of Jesus name, that is the mustard seed that can make any mountain move. Matthew 17:22 "And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, "The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:" Jesus is now starting to prepare His disciples for the time of His going to the cross of Calvary. Matthew 17:23 "And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again." And they were exceeding sorry." They were sorry, but they are still blind to the great gift that God is giving to all mankind. Matthew 17:24 "And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, "Doth not your Master pay tribute?" Know the difference between customs and tribute. The tribute is paid with the monetary value of Rome, the "didrachma", which is equal to one half of a "shekel". The custom tax is like our sales tax, it is paid on goods and services. The "tribute" tax is a form of income tax, it is paid on the value of the person. Matthew 17:25 "He saith, "Yes." And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, "What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?" Jesus is giving Peter another lesson. Jesus is asking Peter, who do the kings of the earth collect their taxes from, there own children, of the strangers of the land, that is the people that live in their territory? The reason is that the only true king of the earth is standing before Peter, and that is Jesus Christ. What Jesus is trying to say is that He does not have to pay it, for he is the true king, the King of kings. Matthew 17:26 "Peter saith unto him, "Of strangers." Jesus saith unto him, "Then are the children free." Then Jesus said in the form of a question, then I don't have to pay it because I am the King, and you don't have to pay it because you are the child of the king. Anyone that believes on Him is His child. Matthew 17:27 "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast open his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee." Jesus is telling Peter, just to save a bunch of trouble, because they will not understand it if we did tell them, go and pay the tax. The money that will be paid is for both the king and his children. There is a deeper meaning to this then it appears on the surface. Jesus told Peter to take a hook and cast it into the sea, and the sea, according to Revelation, is the people. Go to the sea of people, and take from them, and give unto Rome that which is Rome's. This is given for the ministry of the Word. That is what the tithe is for, to be used to satisfy the worldly obligations to meet the needs of those doing the work of the Lord. The people of God in working in the world and gaining a wage from the world, give their portion to cover the required needs of the ones that are doing the full time work of the Lord. It is given from the heart, not because of some pledge, telethon, or worldly scheme. Then the Lord's work will be blessed, and the hands that gave it.
PLEASE NOTE: These studies may be stored on your
private computer as a library, printed out in single copy
(or
you may print enough for a study group) for private study
purposes provided the Author and Source are included with
each and every excerpt or copy. |