"The transfiguration isn't the same"
Hey, deceased saints appeared to living men. That is "same" enough for me.
That part of it was similar, but the other part where the apostles saw Jesus transformed is unprecedented from anything I have ever heard or read about. Moses may have come close when his countenance was radiant, and the same with some holy people in this world, but it sounds like Jesus' entire being was transformed and blindingly radiant. Maybe I have read more into the scriptural account than is warranted, but that is my impression. What makes that incident unique to me is that Jesus was still in his earthly existence whereas heavenly beings don't appear lit up like that until after they have departed from this life and I surmise they appear with a "lesser glory" when and if they do.
I just see that particular incident unparalleled and unique. I don't know if any other old testament figures had ever appeared to anyone before except Saul who was called up by the witch of Endor. It doesn't seem that there was anything comparable to the "communion of the saints" in old testament times, and it was forbidden to speak to the dead who may not have been dead after all. It was just forbidden, and I'm not sure we have the reason other than such manifestations, if they did occur, were usually from the evil one or delusions.
Has any other human being ever appeared as a being of light while yet in their earthly existence? Could they? Jesus was the only being who was both human and divine which is what makes what happened to him unique, at least to me.