The Scandal of the Transfiguration

My Archbishop (Alexander Golitzin) shares the story of a young man whom he taught some years ago. He was Orthodox from Estonia. He grew up in the Soviet era and had come to hate all things Russian, including the Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, he saw an Orthodox procession in the streets of his city one year, a procession that included the Russian bishop (whom he also hated and believed to be a KGB agent). However, he saw the bishop surrounded by light. It was an experience that led him into the Orthodox faith. You might hate the man, and the Church as well. But the undeniable glory of God revealed what his hatred could not see.

My bishop’s point in sharing the story was not to exonerate the Russian Church from any wrong-doing, or cooperation with wrong-doing. Nor was it to exonerate the bishop involved and declare him holy. It was a story about the glory of God and its place and work despite our faults and failures. The 12 apostles cast out demons, healed the sick and cleansed lepers. We are nowhere told that Judas did none of those things. Doubtless, he did (which makes his betrayal all the greater).

The Scandal of the Transfiguration

Because when opportunity knocks...

I'm quoting the NT because in spite of the severe blindness caused by expert interpretation, insight is light: it's everywhere. Secrets of the universe are just lying about and/or driving around in all sorts of unexpected places, awaiting observation and pickup...

Matthew 17
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured [metamorphoo] before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, namely the original blueprint of Creation before everything became so convoluted and complicated, with no egress mechanism in sight. It's a return to the Spirit of Discovery (revelation, גילוי, 59) which is the Spirit of Elohim hovering over the waters like a dove.

Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Discover the unknown, because... "Where haven't we put a tent."

Also in the NT, Jesus equates Elias with John [ג'ון, gimel-vav + 50]. I mention that because it's all in the timing. Elijah was the prophet famous for ascending into heaven in a whirlwind without seeing death. According to the narrative, he returned safety to earth as a changed man, i.e. a new baby named John. Or like on the National Mall on the 17th of Tammuz, Neil Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) returned from the dead to make an important announcement again, on the day of 50. From the Moon which represents the Kingdom of David.

Actually he was projected from a well known symbol of Egypt, the obelisk, the tallest one on earth. The city of obelisks was Heliopolis, Sun City aka On. Who was in charge of that place? Ten bucks on Potiphera. Solar power is DC.

Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis

Gen 49
1. And Jacob called to his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days:
2. Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and listen to Israel your father:

The simple meaning of the Way of the Patriarchs is that it is the way to GO. Kol hakavod, "Way to go!" Makes sense that the Way of the Patriarchs is the highway numbered 60 and it's going up. In Arial font, sans the serif: 60!