4 Things That Happened After Moses Died.

4 Things That Happened After Moses Died 1. The Fight Over His Body Moses evokes different images in different people's minds when mentioned. The death of Moses is shrouded in some mystery in the Bible. We know he died at the age of 120, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. Despite his age, Moses was still in his prime when he was called home. Moses died alone, but in peace. The account of his passing is contained within the final six verses of the book of Deuteronomy chapter 34. Death puts things into perspective, doesn't it? In the Bible, only Moses is buried by God personally. Do you realize that? The tomb was then hidden by the Lord. What made him do that? Because that grave would have been turned into a shrine. After a death comes a burial, and so it was in the case of Moses. But verse 6 contains one of the most remarkable statements about the whole great career of Moses. Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 6. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. But no one knows his grave to this day. Jude verse 9 refers to an event not found anywhere else in the Bible. Michael had to struggle or dispute with Satan about the body of Moses, but what that entailed is not described. Jude 9. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke you. This event occurs in Jude. Here Jude shares with us an incident that is found nowhere else in the Bible. The question naturally arises, where did he get this information? Some say that the information was passed down by tradition. This may or may not be so. We have no definite knowledge why the dispute arose between Michael and Satan about the body of Moses. It is not unlikely that Satan wanted to know the spot to have a shrine built there. Today people would still be erecting shrines, selling popcorn and peanuts, offering various rides, and maybe even running a tram with banners proclaiming Moses burial place. As a result, it was concealed. This was so crucial to the Lord that it even sparked an angelic confrontation. Michael refused to presumptuously render judgment. Instead, he simply announced the Lord's rebuke. Despite his great power, Michael remains completely submissive to the Lord. The righteous angels have a rank and are submissive to authority. Considering Michael's strength, the archangel's submission to God is all the more beautiful. We can see that submission is never meant to take away an individual's strength, or purpose, or value. The strength of angel Michael was not under dispute, as the last mention of Michael the archangel appears in Revelation 12.7 as Satan is thrown out of heaven. Confrontation is a necessary evil. No one enjoys it, but it must be done in order to rectify, purify, and unify the community. 2. A Great Mourning You can't help but wonder. Did those Hebrews who often grumble about him adore him, or was he just a convenient target who served as a lightning rod for their discontent? Were they inclined to think of him as a distant, profound man of God? The answer is found in verse 8, when he died. Deuteronomy 34.8, NKJV. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended. The Israelites will miss the wise counsel of their late leader. His work among them stirred their emotions to such a degree that it took an entire month for them to mourn his passing after he had left them. As great as Moses was, the days of mourning for him ended. It was time to move on. God's program did not end with Moses, nor did it end with any man. The torch is passed, and God's work goes on. 3. Transfiguration This transfiguration of Jesus is mentioned in each of the Gospel books as an important event in Jesus' life and proof of his divinity. Jesus leads only three of his followers, Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain after performing a series of miracles and foretelling his own death. This is the scene of the transfiguration, in which his appearance is radiantly transformed. Jesus takes the inner circle of followers with him and ascends a high mountain. According to Luke, the goal of this was to pray. However, Jesus is most likely taking the inner circle to provide them with further experience of future leadership responsibilities within the Church. Luke 9.28 NKJV Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. Matthew 17.2 NKJV And he transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. The urgency of the preceding call for the disciples to take up their cross in the light of Jesus' soon-coming glory is now readily understood, because three of them receive an absolute revelation of Jesus' identity. There must be no hesitancy or delay in following Jesus with all one's heart and soul, for unreserved commitment to Jesus Messiah is required for those who have witnessed his glory. According to the Gospels, Jesus is transfigured while on the mountain, to indicate that God is in charge of the transformation. Paul uses the same verb to express the spiritual transformation that believers go through as a result of regeneration. During this transfiguration, two of the most important Old Testament figures, Moses and Elijah, appear. Their entrance symbolizes the law and the prophets bearing witness to Jesus the Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament. Jews view Moses as one of their greatest leaders, but Jesus is even greater. Moses is the one whom God used to give the law, and Elijah the one who connects the earlier charismatic prophecy of the days of Samuel with the later writing prophets. Moses is also regarded as the model prophet, and Elijah as the Messiah's forerunner. Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18, New King James Version. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. Moses and Elijah both saw glimpses of God's splendor on a mountain. Moses on Mount Sinai, and Elijah on Mount Horeb. Exodus chapter 24 verse 15, New King James Version. Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. Both Moses and Elijah of them had special endings. Elijah was taken directly to heaven. Malachi chapter 4 verses 4 through 6 mention the God through God's servant Moses, and the sending of the prophet Elijah before the impending day of the Lord. Their presence on the mountain with Jesus demonstrates Jesus' majesty, as the one who will be called the Son of God transcends them both. The cloud of God's presence appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai. His Shekinah brightness filled the tabernacle. The cloud of God's presence guided the Israelites in the wilderness, and the cloud of the Lord's glory filled Solomon's temple. Jesus has fulfilled both the law and the prophets as evidenced by his superiority over Moses and Elijah, whose revelations eventually point to Jesus. But Jesus is the incarnated Son of God, the ultimate prophet who fulfills Moses' prophecy. The disciples must listen to him in order to understand his messianic mission. When the disciples glance up, they only see Jesus. Their attention is now solely on Jesus, as Moses and Elijah would have preferred, because their ultimate significance was in preparing the way for Messiah, the Son of God, and his redemptive purpose. Although the disciples have had the most explicit revelation of Jesus' identity, they still do not fully comprehend what they have witnessed. Number four, the two witnesses. A description of two people who will assist in carrying out the work that God has for them to do during the time of the tribulation can be found in Revelation chapter 11, verses 3 through 5, New King James Version. At the beginning of the church age, John on Petmos is the prophet. At the end, two witnesses will prophesy in the city of Jerusalem. There is a sense of impending disaster in the spectacular appearance of these two mighty. The sixth and seventh trumpets focus on the human channels through which the divine revelations are communicated. The key word in both chapters is prophesy. Revelation chapter 10, verse 11, New King James Version. Who are the two witnesses? There are theories on the identity of the two witnesses in Revelation, Moses and Elijah. Because John specifically references the miracles the witnesses would accomplish, many people believe that Moses and Elijah could be the two witnesses. Moses witnessed more miracles than Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob combined, with several occurring one after another as God interceded on behalf of His people. The witnesses will have the power to convert water into blood, replicating one of Moses' most famous miracles. Exodus chapter 7, verses 20 through 21, Amplified Bible. So Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. Aaron lifted up the staff and struck the waters in the Nile in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river became foul-smelling, and the Egyptians could not drink its water, and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. And the witnesses will have the power to destroy their enemies with fire, corresponding to event in Elijah's and Moses' life. Numbers chapter 16, verse 35, Fire also came forth from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. Also giving strength to this view is that Moses and Elijah both appeared with Jesus at the transfiguration. Matthew chapter 17, verses 3 and 4, New King James Version. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, let us make here three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Revelation chapter 11, verse 5, New King James Version. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. Some believe Elijah is one of the witnesses because his ministry appears similar to these two witnesses. James chapter 5, verses 17 and 18, New King James Version. Elijah was a man with a nature like yours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. In addition, Jewish tradition anticipates the return of Moses and Elijah. This is based on the prediction of Elijah's coming in Malachi chapter 4, verse 5, as well as God's promise to raise a prophet like Moses, which some Jews think requires Moses' return. Deuteronomy chapter 18, verse 15, New King James Version. The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren, him you shall hear. Malachi chapter 4, verse 5, Amplified Bible. Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. Because of the absence of detail in Revelation 11, two individuals who have not been identified are considered candidates for the roles of the two witnesses. Scripture does not provide a name list for the two witnesses, and no famous person is mentioned in connection with their appearance. It is entirely within God's ability to take two believers considered ordinary and empower them to accomplish the same signs and wonders as Moses and Elijah did. There is nothing in Revelation 11 that compels us to assume a famous identity for the two witnesses. So, who are the two Revelation witnesses? The Bible is silent on the subject. All three of the above interpretations are valid and plausible for Christians, and Christians should not be dogmatic about the identity of the two witnesses. We don't know who these two witnesses are, and all attempts to identify them are pure conjecture. We must wait and see who they are, but it does not matter. What they do and what is done to them are important things. Before leaving this section, two anticipations need to be noted.