Replies

If you are consistent with your previous answers regarding those who are dead, yet, are able to view us on earth, then yes... Last I remember, Moses and Elijah were "dead" when Christ was transfigured. And there they were...Desite your quotes from the OT regarding sorcery and conversing with the dead.

AHhhh.... consistancy. Wasn't there something about hobgoblins associated with this? ;^)

Matthew 17

1. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
3. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
5. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
6. When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
7. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid."
8. When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
10. The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
11. Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
12. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."
13. Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Mark 9

1. And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
2. After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
3. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.
4. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5. Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."
6. (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7. Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"
8. Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
10. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.
11. And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
12. Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?
13. But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

Luke 9:28-36
28. About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
29. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
30. Two men, Moses and Elijah,
31. appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
32. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
34. While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
35. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."
36. When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

We have 'appeared' in all three accounts.

The question might also be, "Were they REALLY here in body, or was this similar to an encounter that Paul records later??

2 Corinthians 12

1. I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
2. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.
3. And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--
4. was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.
5. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.

In two of these accounts, we have Jesus stating that Elijah had already come. Does this mean that re-incarnation is a fact?

Due to some things that are biblical and some are not, many have a confused view of the actual state of dead people:

1. Are they with God NOW,

2. or are they 'sleeping' until the Judgement?

NIV Ecclesiastes 9:4-5
4. Anyone who is among the living has hope --even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!
5. For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.

This illustration is in all thee of the Synoptic Gospels, slightly different in the wording, but showing that the resurrection is something that WILL happen in the future, therefore the 'dead' are NOT with God at the present time.

NIV Matthew 22:30-32
30. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
31. But about the resurrection of the dead--have you not read what God said to you,
32. `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

NIV Mark 12:25-27
25. When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
26. Now about the dead rising--have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ?
27. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

NIV Luke 20:33-38
33. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"
34. Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,
36. and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.
37. But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord `the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
38. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."

NIV 2 Timothy 4:1-2
1. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
2. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

If the dead belivers are WITH God, just HOW can they rise from the dead, to meet Him in the air?

NIV 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
13. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Just because a great many people believe in something is no guarantee of its truth.

~Gandhi