The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ explained

In Matthew 17 Jesus took Peter, James and John high on a mountaintop. As He prayed His appearance changed and the disciples saw Moses and Elijah with Him. This if often referred to as the transfiguration. What really happened at the transfiguration?

Matthew's account of the events in question reads ". . . Jesus took Peter, James and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold Moses and Elijah appeared with them talking with Him" (Matthew 17:1-3).

The term transfiguration refers to the change in the appearance of Jesus during this event. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white. This same description is attributed to Jesus in the first chapter of Revelation. God was giving Peter, James and John a preview of what Jesus would later become.