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...They were frightened and this may have been simply REASSURANCE that Jesus was not a GHOST - for Heavenly visions seem COMPLETELY REAL to us. When Moses and Elias appeared with Jesus on a high mountain they seemed so real that Peter asked Jesus if they should build a shelter for them to stay in This, of course, was not necessary, for Jesus later explained that it was a VISION: "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. (mat 17:4 and 9)
...And Paul must have had a similar experience, because he afterward said: "I knew a man.. whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell.." (2cor 12:2)
...Here is the HARPER'S BIBLE DICTIONARY explanation of these appearances: "From 1 Cor. 15:3-8 we learn that faith in the resurrection was based not on the empty tomb, which Paul does not mention, but on the appearances of the Lord. The word used for 'appeared' is the same Greek word used elsewhere for visionary experiences. We may today characterize these experiences as revelatory disclosures from the transcendent realm. No distinction was drawn between the resurrection and ascension. The appearances are manifestations of the resurrected and already ascended Christ from heaven." [See Main section of website for more information].
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