Grosey's Messages

The Triumph of the Transfiguration A Birds Eye View of The Second Advent  by  John G Ridley

Reading Luke 9:27-36  2Peter 1:15-21  Deut 34:1-6   2Kings 2 :9-14  Matthew 16:28  2 Peter 1:16

Introoduction

The Lord Jesus Christ  laid aside His glory when He came to earth for our Redemption, and in the main, His life was one of sacrifice , Service and Suffering Sorrow. He was the object of much criticism and censure -"despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." it was an expression of humiliation that none of us could have endured. His kingly garments had been laid aside and His unfading glory cast off for a time: but once, in the comparative greatness of this earthly night of weeping we see a flash of that morn of song which is after to be His in all its fulness of glory and power.

He told His disciples that  there were some standing with them who would not taste of death until they "saw the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." mark it my friends, "coming in His kingdom." then couple it with Peter's words "for we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

Then Peter defends the doctrine of Christ's coming in power as the basis of his personal witness of it.  Now where did Peter witness such an event? He tells us himself :"on the holy mountain."

So the transfiguration is a bird's eye view of that blessed triumph of Christ called the second advent.

1. The Triumph of the Suffering Saviour.

"The man of sorrows: beset by foes and forces of opposition on every side. 'despised and rejected" climbs up a high mountain with his three special friends and there turns to the solace for all suffererers, - prayer.

"take it to the Lord in prayer." As we so often sing. Yes and "prayer changes things."  Even here it changed gloom to glory and it changed earth to heaven.

"His countenance was changed." Matthew says "it did shine as the sun." Ah, prayer gives the radiant face but deeper still the face we shall see at last will be as the ball in the heavens. In my first battle I was wounded in the neck and  my face was disfigured with blood -staggering back to the Aid Station I asked some comrades the way and will remember the exclamation of distressed disgust "just look at his face!" 

We read in Isaiah's prophecy chapter 52 that our Saviour's face was more marred than any any man's " Disfigured and distorted by Calvary's cruelties. - Yes but when He comes His face will be changed!

The sun that set in blood at Calvary will rise in gold at His Coming. Sometimes we have risen early to see the sunrise and what a sight it is!  So when our Sun of righteousness arises at last I fancy 'the glorious sight will dazzle Each waiting centered eye, for the crowning day is coming bye and bye."

His clothing was changed.

Mark says "His raiment became shining, exceedingly white as snow, so as now laundry on earth can whiten them. Ah friends, the garments once rent and gambled for at Calvary will be replaced by radiant raiment, the clothing of a great King. The shame of His suffering over, he will wear the garments of Glory. They stripped Him at Calvary. God will gird Him with royal robes at the His Coming.

"In garments glorious He will come to open wide the door. And I shall enter my heavenly home, to dwell forevermore."

Ah truly the Coming will reveal Christ's triumph! As Peter the eyewitness puts it: "He received honour and glory from God the Father." Yes

The Cry was heard.  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice "Why hast Thou forsaken me?" But now God cries out. Hear Him> The Sovereign speaks to His Saving Son . "hear Him."  "Hear Him!" Have you heard? Are you willing to hear  One day when he comes you will have to hear! What will He say to you?  Will you hear Congratulations or condemnations?

The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout!"  Psalm 50:1-6,.

There were seven cries from the cross in his suffering. But One shout of triumph

2. The Triumph of the Sleeping Saints.

With the Saviour's triumph there will synchronise the triumph of the sleeping saints. Paul tells us in 1Thessalonians 4 that "the dead on Christ will rise first." Where do we see this view in the transfiguration? In Moses.  Deut 34:1-6. Moses died in an alien land Moab. But from a mountain top Nebo I.e. "A lofty place" from whence he viewed the promised land.  He saw the glories afar, but did not enter in. He died in faith not having received the promise but having seen them afar off and was persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed he was a pilgrim and stranger on earth.  He died in the enemy's country and God buried him in a valley. Mark it. God was his undertaker. -grave digger, and no man knew his grave. Bit the devil knew it, and fought for it, to get the body of the saint . So God faced the devil with Michael the archangel (Jude 9) and Moses was not stolen away, but is raised in glory to talk in company with Elijah to Jesus and share His triumph.  So every saint of God  believer in the Lord Jesus, who looks for Immanuel's land and is a pilgrim and stranger in the world, dying here is buried by God and will rise at the last day. When men fell in action they would stick something in the ground and stand it up as a monument or sign.  Once I had to dig up a body to identify it,  God will  know all in every place. The devil will not capture one,  "the dead in Christ will rise first."  "I shall sleep sound in Jesus filled with His .. rise. To live to adore Him, to see Him with these eyes."

3. The triumph Of The Steadfast Servants.

With the Saviour's triumph there will also synchronise the triumph of the Steadfast servants. "We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall be caught up with them in the cli=ouds to meet the Lord in the air."

"Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh will find watching."

"The dead shall be raised and we shall be changed." Where do we see this triumph in the transfiguration?

In Elijah. The prophet of Israel's apostasy. Who was steadfast and faithful even when he believed that he was the only one left of the faithful. The man who defied the prophets of Ball on Carmel; and who witnessed

To Ahab of his wickedness face to face.

Look at the marks of a devoted Steadfast Servant.

Elijah was devoted to God and would not turn with the tide of his day to idols and Baal worship.

Elijah was daring for Go and faced Ahab and the prophets of Baal and all Israel on Carmel for the honour of the Lord.  He executed judgement.

Elijah was determined for God and would not waver from the truth to please princes or people. "The God of Israel before Whom I stand"

Elijah was discouraged at the sins of his nation and the seeming little response of his appeals and believed himself the only true servant left he prepared to die, but god did not let him die. 

Elijah was delivered in a day when walking with Elisha, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them and Elijah went up in a whirlwind and "was not for God took him." "those who are alive shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air."

Oh my friends its the picture of the rapture of the servants of God, those steadfast servants who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Baal has many representatives today: "modern thought", "education" "Evolution" "philosophy" "science" "pleasure" "popular opinion" but Jesus Christ is trill worshipped by the remnant. Are you for Him or against Him?

Are you devoted to Him?

Are you daring for Him

Are you determined to follow?

Are you discouraged and depressed .. pray to depart and be with Him.

Hold on and  press on. It may be you are never to see death, but rather the Son of Man coming in His kingdom and you will be caught up like Elijah to be forever with the Lord.

4. Triumph for the Seeking Sinner or awakened saint.

Yes there is the triumph here for you the seeking sinner if you will" hear Him."

Peter gives you his evidence as an eyewitness of the majesty of Christ. But He says you have a more sure word of prophecy that you will do well to take heed to as a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arises in your hears.

Heed Peter! Heed the Word of God! Hear the voice of Christ calling to you "Come unto me:

"Awake thou that sleepest rise from the dead! And Christ will give you light" Will you come? Will you awaken and rise?

Remember when the disciples were awakened "they saw His glory."  So will you. Believe and you shall see.

Samuel heard the voice. And heeded.

Peter heard the call and answered.

There are voices all over the world calling. The bush called her farmers and graziers. The sea calls her sailors and mariners. Duty called many to fight and die in Great Wars. I have seen the picture for many  soldier framed beneath are the words "he heard the call and answered." How many thousands hear Christ's call and do not answer.

Hark my soul it is the Lord

Tis the Saviour hear His world

Jesus speaks and speaks to them

Say poor sinner lovest Thou me?

Thou shalt see my glory soon

When thy work on earth is dome

Partner of my throne shalt be

Say poor sinner lovest thou me?

What will your answer be? Awake! Come! When they awoke they saw his glory."

Travelling to Condo in 1922 Two travellers slept so soundly. The train arrived in Bathurst. The Porter called out "twenty minutes here!"  A boy called out "hot Pies!" We better go get a cup of tea!"  one said to the other "I wonder when we shall get to Bathurst?" The Porter called out "Why man you have been here for twenty minutes!"

He was so asleep he almost missed his destination.  So many will sleep past the station of salvation.   Many are so sleepy that they do not hear the divine voice and sleeping the sleep of death will not see His glory!