“And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”
And we heard this voice
Peter appealed to the transfiguration to testify that James and John were “eyewitnesses” of Jesus’ future coming and that He possesses “honor and glory” from God to claim His Kingdom. They caught a “preview” of Christ’s coming.
God’s voice was “heard.” Tie the “heard” of this verse with the “eyewitnesses” of verse sixteen. Peter, James, and John both heard and saw. People have every reason to receive the testimony of Scripture because the Bible is based on factuality and actual history. These three actually and personally experienced the Mount of Transfiguration incident.
Lu 9:27, “But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
1 Jn 1:1-4, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
which came from heaven
Heaven is the seat of God’s presence. We know precious little about heaven. The Bible presents heaven as a celestial abode.
In everyday language, “heaven” meant the sky, the space above the earth. The word “heaven” may mean the vault of heaven, the sky. Ancient people viewed heaven in this sense as a concave hemisphere resting on the verge of earth. The stars were fixed on this. This was also the seat of the gods, a “heavengate,” which lifted and put down like a trapdoor.
The Bible uses “heaven” for both the “sky” (Ac 2:5; He 11:12; Mt 24:31) and the abode of God. Mainly, heaven is where God lives and governs. Paul talks about “the third heaven,” which is also the abode of God (2 Co 12:2).
2 Co 12:2, “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.”
when we were with Him on the holy mountain
The “holy mountain” is the Mount of Olives, where Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured before them. These apostles saw the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’ millennial glorification on the Mount.
Mt 16:27-17:2, “‘ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.’ 17:1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”
PRINCIPLE:
Christians meet the great hope of heaven in Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION:
Are you interested in heaven? The Bible offers only two alternatives where people go after death: heaven or hell. Would you like to go to heaven? Going to heaven has nothing to do with church membership. You cannot go to heaven by joining a church. Neither can you go to heaven by good works (Eph 2:8,9; Tit 3:5).
Whether we go to heaven depends on our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we trust that He died for our personal sins, He did all the suffering necessary to suffer for our sins. If you come to Christ, you will be heaven-born and heaven-bound.
Jn 3:3, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'”
If you would like to know more about how to become a Christ, see our site at http://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/how-to-become-a-christian-2/
