The Resurrection of Moses
Read Jude 9 and Luke 9:28–36. What evidences do you find in these
texts for the bodily resurrection of Moses?
Some Greek Church Fathers from Alexandria argued that, when
Moses died, two Moseses were seen: one alive in the spirit, another
dead in the body; one Moses ascending to heaven with angels, the other
buried in the earth. (See Origen, Homilies on Joshua 2.1; Clement of
Alexandria, Stromata 6.15.) This distinction between the assumption
of the soul and the burial of the body might make sense to those who
believe in the Greek concept of the immortal soul, but the idea is not in
the Bible. Jude 9 confirms the biblical teaching of the resurrection of
Moses’ body, because the dispute was “about the body of Moses” and
not about any supposed surviving soul.
Deuteronomy 34:5–7 tells us that Moses died at 120 years of age, and
the Lord buried him in a hidden place in a valley in the land of Moab.
But Moses did not remain for very long in the grave. “Christ Himself,
with the angels who had buried Moses, came down from heaven to call
forth the sleeping saint. . . . For the first time Christ was about to give
life to the dead. As the Prince of life and the shining ones approached
the grave, Satan was alarmed for his supremacy. . . . Christ did not
stoop to enter into controversy with Satan. . . . But Christ referred all
to His Father, saying, ‘The Lord rebuke thee.’ Jude 9. . . . The resur-
rection was forever made certain. Satan was despoiled of his prey; the
righteous dead would live again.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and
Prophets, pp. 478, 479.
A clear evidence of Moses’ resurrection is found at the Transfiguration.
There Moses appeared with the prophet Elijah, who had been translated
without seeing death (2 Kings 2:1–11). Moses and Elijah even dia-
logued with Jesus (see Luke 9:28–36). “And behold, two men talked
with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and
spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem”
(Luke 9:30, 31, NKJV). Moses’ appearance, proof of Christ’s coming
victory over sin and death, is depicted here in unmistakable terms. It
was Moses and Elijah, not their “spirits” (after all, Elijah hadn’t died),
who had appeared to Jesus there.
Moses was not allowed to enter the earthly Canaan (Deut. 34:1–4)
but was taken into the heavenly Canaan. What does this teach about
how God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20, NKJV)?
