Transfiguration is an experience and a noble change of state, which we shall undergo during the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. This Christian belief is associated with the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. When Lord Jesus Christ comes the second time, those who are dead in Christ will rise first gloriously. The living saints who are perfect will then be taken up. Ap.Paul said about this as follows: "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying, "Death has been swallowed up in victory" will come true. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:51-57)(NIV).

Transfiguration is the noble and final experience of Christian living. In this world we are being transformed in spirit and mind. In 2Cor.3: 18, we read thus: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit". When our Lord Jesus Christ comes again, the children of God who lead a true Christian life will be transformed (I Thes.4:16,17; Phil. 3:21).

The first instance of transformation that comes to our mind is the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. This event of transfiguration is recorded in Matt.17:1-9; Mark 9:1-9; Luke 9:28-36. Apart from these three portions of Scripture, in some other places too, the event of transfiguration has been recorded. The saints Moses and Elijah were seen talking with our Lord Jesus Christ on the mountain when He was transfigured. More than what is mentioned in Mat 17th chapter and Mark 9th chapter, there are some special words mentioned in Luke 9:28-36. In Luke 9:29, it is written that, as He was praying, His face changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning and that the two men, Moses and Elijah appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. Of transfiguration, the Scriptures (in the original tongue too) mention that Lord Jesus Christ was transfigured by God the Father.

We read that Jesus Christ did not transfigure Himself but was transfigured by God the Father. Moses and Elijah were the saints of the Old Testament who conversed with God. As we read Ex.34:29 onwards, we understand that as Moses came down from mount Sinai after speaking with God, his face was radiant. In 35th verse, we read that the Israelites saw the face of Moses to be radiant. It is God the Father who glorifies the Son. The Son was given glory by God the Father (John 17:22,24). Therefore it is correct to say that it was God the Father who transfigured Jesus. God the Father, even testified of the Son (Mark 9:7). Therefore we can say that our Lord Jesus Christ was glorified or He received glory or transfigured by God the Father. Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "I am one who testifies for Myself; My other witness is the Father who sent Me" (John 8:18). Moreover the account of Apostle Peter too conforms to this.

In the first chapter of 2Peter, Ap.Peter recalls the above event of transfiguration. In 2Pet.1:17,18 he has emphatically said: "For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from Majestic glory, saying, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased". We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain". Therefore Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father. Much later, Apostles had recalled this event of Jesus receiving benediction from God the Father and pointed out that this was an unequivocal prophecy signifying how the Lord would appear in His Second Coming.

Transfiguration:

Generally Christians sing and talk that Jesus would come and they would be transformed into the likeness of God, transfigured and taken up to fly away with Him. However they generally do not know either about transfiguration or about the likeness of God.

Let us first understand what is meant by the likeness of God. The Scriptures refer to the likeness of God in Eph.4:24 as the creation of a new self to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. We read in Col.3:10 of putting on a new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Therefore the likeness of God or the image of God means attaining true righteousness, holiness and perfect knowledge.

Many people do not seek righteousness, holiness or knowledge. With their blind beliefs they do not want to gain knowledge or wisdom. They do not yield to the Spirit of God. Now they do not grow in the likeness of God. If they fail to grow in the likeness of God to a great degree of perfection, their hope to get transfigured and fly away at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be in vain. You should offer your body as a pleasing sacrifice to God. The Scriptures warn against conforming to the pattern of this world and embellishing this body in worldly fashion. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom.12: 2). Only those who are so qualified will be transfigured at the coming of Lord Jesus Christ.

The credentials to be found in people to qualify for transfiguration:

1. They should be in Christ (I Thes.4: 14,16; IICor. 5:17,18). In II Cor.5: 17,18, we read that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! The apostle said that those who died in Christ would rise to life first and we too would be transfigured. Thus only those who are in Christ will be transfigured first. If a man were in Christ, the old customs would disappear. All the old practices of caste, customs, old habits, false beliefs and obsolete principles shall be discarded. If a man were in Christ, the old would be gone.

2. One should be found belonging to Christ. In I Cor.15: 23, we read the words "belong to Him (Christ)". "All will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him" (I Cor.15: 22,23). In Gal.5: 24, we read that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Some do not live in Christ though Christ might be in them. Christ might have come to live in their hearts, as they believed in Christ. However they may not live in Christ. Secondly many do not belong to Christ. Belonging to Christ would imply a relationship between a bride and a bridegroom, the bride belonging to the bridegroom and she is the property of the bridegroom.

3. We read in Rev.20:4-6 and Heb.12:14, that their lives should be holy and pleasing to God. Those who please God by doing His will, those who do not put on the mark of antichrist, those who are holy will be transfigured when Jesus Christ comes again. The Holy Spirit has mentioned that before he was taken up, Enoch was commended to have pleased God (Heb.11:5). Therefore one should lead a life pleasing to God.

4. We should be good (John 5:28,29). The righteous will be raised to life and receive eternal life. Generally Christians means good people. Most of the people do not heed this. They hold on to all kinds of craftiness, deceits and crooked ways. Such persons will not qualify for transfiguration.

5. They should be watchful. Watchfulness is required in spiritual life. Jesus Christ warned that we should not be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life but be watchful and pray always to be able to stand before the Son of Man when He comes. Generally dissipation (indulgence), drunkenness are counted among the killing sins. God has forbidden all types of liquors. All those people whose hearts are weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life will not be found watchful at the advent of Christ. Therefore let us avoid all forms of indulgence and drunkenness. Let us avoid drugs. Not getting trapped in the anxieties of life, let us pray and commit everything to the Lord and progress happily in the Christian life. Let us be ever watchful in order to be able to stand before the Lord in His advent!

6. They should be members of the church (1Cor.12:13; Eph.1:20; 4:4-6; 5:27; Col.1:18,24). What we see in these verses is, only a Christian is obliged to be a member of Christ's body. It is his duty to remain a member of the true church shown to him by the Lord. God gave a revelation about a minister of God who rose from India, did ministryand passed away thus: "During his days of life on earth, I advised him to join any church conforming to the gospel. However he did not do so, but ministered as an evangelist and passed away. Therefore he will not be taken up or transfigured in My Second Coming". Some people do not want a church. Some others say that wherever they are they remain members of the church. In Eph.4:4-6, it is mentioned that there is only one church and one doctrine and one should become a member of that church.

7. Purity: We should be pure. It is written in 1John 3:2,3 that when He appears we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is and that everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. To be pure, one should be purified. He should cleanse himself by confessing his sins. He should purify himself in this manner. The Holy Spirit has beautifully written in 1John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

8. Faultless life: We read in Eph.5:27 of the qualities of a bride. It is written that, "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Eph.5:25-27).

In these last days, a modern doctrine prevails claiming that it is not necessary to repent, or to pray, or to seek the Lord or to worship Him but it is sufficient to believe in Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness of sins and to be taken up in His advent. This is a crafty doctrine of satan. Many Pentecostals believe this and continue in their sins thus proceeding to hell. Some say that there were some faults in the early church; Therefore some faults are bound to be there in all churches. They have a false hope that when Jesus Christ comes, they will be perfected and taken up. The Scripture shows the state of the early church not to condone or justify its faults but to indicate that ideally the church should without such faults. Indeed there were some faults and problems in the early church. The apostles wrote their epistles only to correct them and they were corrected. As expected by God, in these last days, the church is established and grows to perfection.

9.The experience of living in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit: As we read from Gal 5:16 onwards we read of living in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit. In Rom.8: 14, we read that those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Those who are led by the Spirit think spiritually. Those who live in the Spirit put to death the misdeeds of the body. In other words they are being led by the Spirit 9Rom.8: 5,13).

10.Walking in the light (1 John 1:7): Christians should be in fellowship. To be in fellowship with one another, they should speak the truth and walk in the light. Everything exposed by the light becomes visible. Walking in the light is the utmost necessity of Christian life. In Col.2:6, we read that one should be built up being rooted in Christ and strengthened in faith. One should be strong in faith and carry out the duties pertaining to the faith. Therefore it is necessary to remain a member of the church, follow the commandments of the Lord, observe the Holy Communion and to wait for His Coming (I Cor.11:23-26; Heb.9:28).

Those who are to be transfigured should possess all the above ten qualities. Therefore man should keep his body pure, strong, healthy and honorable and commit his body as a living sacrifice pleasing to God. Man should not conform to the pattern of this world (II Cor.7: 1; Rom.12: 1,2) but should prepare his body for the transfiguration. As the transfiguration is a bodily process, one should get transfigured daily in mind, should grow in Christ, should keep his body holy and pure in accordance with the will of God, get spiritual training and wait for the coming of the Lord. Only such saints will be transfigured and taken up. We declare: "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body" (Phil.3: 20,21).

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Heb.5: 14).