The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-11-14

:; Mark 9:2-S; II Peter 1:l6-iS
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR TOPIC-Peter
ana John with Jesus on the mountain
SENIOR AND ADULT TOPIC-Tb.
glory of Jesus Christ.
While 1t Is true that In this lesson
the disciples are witnesses of Christ.
glory, the full truth is that the mani
festation OF Christ in glory was to give
to the discouraged disciples a fore
CLEAN Of the Messianic Kingdom. The
hopes OF the disciples were crushed
when Christ announced his death on
the cross. They were unable to see
how victory could issue from death.
Jesus took with him Peter, James.
and John. and went into the mountain
to pray. His chief aim in retirement
was to get the disciples apart into a
state of receptivity so that he might
show them the method of the Kingdom.
BEFORE going to the mountain he de-
clared that there were some standing
in his presence who would not taste
Of death till they should see the Son
OF Man coming in his Kingdom duke
0:27; Matt. 16 :2S). That their droop-
ing spirits might be revived and their
confidence restored, he is TRANSPORTED
before them. Two men from the upper
world are sent to converse with him
about his approaching death in Jerus-
alem ". 31)-the very thing about
which the disciples refused to talk.
Then, too, Gods own voice was heard
In words of approval of Christ's course,
directing them to hear the Master.
Surely they cannot doubt his ability
now to carry into execution his king
dom plans. The purpose then. of the
TRANSPORTATION is to give the disciples
a foregleam of the coming Kingdom,
to enable them to see the Kingdom in
embryo. That this is true is not only
shown by the context and circumstance
es, but by the inspired Interpretation
Of one who was with him and knew
all that happened. Peter said. For
we did not follow cunningly devised
fables when we made known unto you
the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but we were eye witness
es of his majesty, for he received of
God the Father, honor and glory when
there came such voice to him from
the excellent glory. This is my below
ed Son In whom I am well pleased:
and this voice we ourselves heard come
out of heaven, when we were with him
In the holy mount. And we have the
word of prophecy made more sure:
whereunto ye do well that We take heed,
as unto lamp shining in dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day-star
arise in your hearts e Peter 1:16-19
r. W. To those who believe in the
inspiration of the Bible these words
are final. Let us therefore note the
outstanding features of the Kingdom
as displayed in the TRANSPORTATION.
|. Jesus Christ the GIoriHed King
on Mount Zion ". 29).
The glorified King on this Mount
was intended to symbolic the Messi-
anic Kingdom when Christ returns to
the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem
Czech. IA AID. This is still in the
future, and will be literally fulfilled.
u. The Glorified Saints With Christ
(vv. 80. 3D.
1. Moses, who was once denied an en-
trance into Palestine, appears now in
glory. representing the redeemed Of
the Lord who will pass through death
into the Kingdom. Many thousands Of
the redeemed have fallen asleep and at
the coming of the Lord shall be awak-
ened to pass into the Kingdom.
2. Elijah. now glorified, represents
the redeemed who shall pass into the
Kingdom through translation. Many
shall be living upon the earth when the
Lord shall come, and shall without dy-
ing be changed and thus pass into the
Kingdom Il Cor. Is :5O-53; Thess. A.
14-1S).
8. They talk of the very thing which
the disciples refused to believe, name
ly, the death of Christ
Ill. Israel, In the Flesh, in connec-
tion With the Kingdom, Represented
by Peter, James and John ". 2S).
Israel shall be called from their hiding
place among all nations of the earth
and shall be gathered to Jesus Christ
the King, as the central people In the
Kingdom (Ez. 81 :21-27).
l. Peter proposes to build three tab
ernacles ". 33). The Feast of Taber-
nacles looked forward TO the glorious
reign of Christ. Peter caught a
glimpse of the Significance of the trans
figuration. His proposition showed
that he thought of the Feast of Taber-
nacles, and therefore of the Millennium.
2. The divine voice ". $50, At this
time God himself uttered his words, as
surfing them that this one in glory was
his son Jesus Christ.
~. The Multitude at the Foot Of the
Mountain wv. 37-43).
This is representative of the nations
which shall be brought into the King
dom which shall be established over
Israel (see Isaiah II :10-12). The peo-
pie here were grievously oppressed by
the devil There are times when the
devil is especially active in his op-
preston of men. About the time Of
Christ's first coming he did his best
TO harass men. Just before Christ's
coming again he will be especfally ac-