There were no others who could better encourage Jesus in His impending trial and death than those who had previously been His representatives on earth and who had suffered at the hands of those whom they had tried to lead.
“At the transfiguration the Lord sent Moses and Elijah to talk with Jesus concerning His sufferings and death. Instead of choosing angels to converse with His Son, God chose those who had themselves experienced the trials of earth.” Early Writings, 162.
“The Father chose Moses and Elijah to be His messengers to Christ, and glorify Him with the light of Heaven, and commune with Him concerning His coming agony, because they had lived upon earth as men; they had experienced human sorrow and suffering, and could sympathize with the trial of Jesus, in His earthly life. Elijah, in his position as a prophet to Israel, had represented Christ, and his work had been, in a degree, similar to that of the Saviour. And Moses, as the leader of Israel, had stood in the place of Christ, communing with Him and following His directions; therefore, these two, of all the hosts that gathered around the throne of God, were fittest to minister to the Son of God.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 329.
“Elijah had walked with God. His work had been painful and trying, for the Lord through him had reproved the sins of Israel. Elijah was a prophet of God; yet he was compelled to flee from place to place to save his life. His own nation hunted him like a wild beast that they might destroy him. But God translated Elijah. Angels bore him in glory and triumph to heaven.
“Moses was greater than any who had lived before him. He had been highly honored of God, being privileged to talk with the Lord face to face, as a man speaks with a friend. He was permitted to see the bright light and excellent glory that enshrouded the Father. The Lord through Moses delivered the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. Moses was a mediator for his people, often standing between them and the wrath of God. When the anger of the Lord was greatly kindled against Israel for their unbelief, their murmurings, and their grievous sins, Moses’ love for them was tested. God proposed to destroy them and to make of him a mighty nation. Moses showed his love for Israel by his earnest pleading in their behalf. In his distress he prayed God to turn from His fierce anger and forgive Israel, or blot his name out of His book.” Early Writings, 162, 163.
Also we are told that “Moses was present to represent those who will be raised from the dead at the second appearing of Jesus. And Elijah, who was translated without seeing death, represented those who will be changed to immortality at Christ’s second coming and will be translated to heaven without seeing death.” Ibid., 164.
Hakuna mtu mwingine ambaye angeweza kumtia moyo Yesu katika jaribio na kifo chake kilichokuwa karibu kuliko wale ambao walikuwa wamemwakilisha hapo awali duniani na ambao walikuwa wameteseka mikononi mwa wale ambao walikuwa wamejaribu kuwaongoza. <unk>Katika badiliko la umbo Bwana alituma Musa na Eliya kuzungumza na Yesu kuhusu mateso na kifo chake. Badala ya kuchagua malaika kuwasiliana na Mwanawe, Mungu alichagua wale ambao walikuwa wamejionea wenyewe majaribu ya dunia. - Early Writings, 162. Baba aliwachagua Musa na Eliya kuwa wajumbe wake kwa Kristo, na kumtukuza kwa nuru ya mbinguni, na kushirikiana naye kuhusu uchungu wake ujao, kwa sababu walikuwa wameishi duniani kama watu; walikuwa wamepitia huzuni na mateso ya kibinadamu, na wangeweza kuunga mkono jaribio la Yesu katika maisha yake ya kidunia. Eliya, katika cheo chake kama nabii kwa Israeli, alikuwa amemwakilisha Kristo, na kazi yake ilikuwa, kwa kiwango fulani, sawa na ile ya Mwokozi. Na Musa, kama kiongozi wa Israeli, alikuwa amesimama mahali pa Kristo, akishirikiana naye na kufuata maagizo yake; kwa hiyo, hawa wawili, wa majeshi yote yaliyokusanyika kuzunguka kiti cha enzi cha Mungu, walikuwa wenye kufaa zaidi kumhudumia Mwana wa Mungu. - Roho ya Unabii, vol. 2 329 - Ni nini? Eliya alikuwa ametembea pamoja na Mungu. Kazi yake ilikuwa ngumu na yenye kuogopesha, kwa sababu kupitia yeye Bwana alikuwa amewadhihaki watu wa Israeli kwa sababu ya dhambi zao. Eliya alikuwa nabii wa Mungu; lakini alilazimika kukimbia kutoka mahali hadi mahali ili kuokoa uhai wake. Watu wa taifa lake walimwinda kama mnyama wa mwituni ili wamwangamize. Lakini Mungu alimwita Eliya. Malaika walimchukua kwa utukufu na ushindi mbinguni. <unk>Mose alikuwa mkubwa kuliko yeyote aliyekuwa ameishi kabla yake. Alikuwa ameheshimiwa sana na Mungu, akiwa na pendeleo la kuongea na Bwana uso kwa uso, kama mtu anavyozungumza na rafiki. Aliruhusiwa kuona nuru ya kipaji na utukufu wa ajabu uliomzunguka Baba. Mungu kwa njia ya Musa aliwaokoa Waisraeli kutoka utumwa wa Misri. Musa alikuwa mpatanishi wa watu wake, mara nyingi akisimama kati yao na ghadhabu ya Mungu. "Mungu alipowasikitisha Waisraeli kwa sababu ya kukosa imani, kunung'unika, na dhambi zao nzito, Musa aliona kwamba walikuwa na upendo wa kweli.""" Mungu alikusudia kuwaangamiza na kumfanya kuwa taifa lenye nguvu. Musa alionyesha upendo wake kwa Israeli kwa kuomba kwa bidii kwa niaba yao. Katika dhiki yake alimwomba Mungu amgeuke kutoka hasira yake kali na kumsamehe Israeli, au kufuta jina lake kutoka kitabu chake. <unk> Maandishi ya Mapema, 162, 163. Pia tunaambiwa kwamba <unk>Musa alikuwapo ili kuwakilisha wale ambao watafufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu katika kuonekana kwa pili kwa Yesu. Na Eliya, ambaye alibadilishwa bila kuona kifo, aliwakilisha wale ambao watabadilishwa kuwa wasioweza kufa wakati wa kuja kwa pili kwa Kristo na watabadilishwa kwenda mbinguni bila kuona kifo. - Ibid., 164.