Typically, the new pope selects the name of his favorite saint or a former pope whom he admires. Of the 265 popes, Pope John Paul I is the first pope to choose two names. No pope previously had taken more than two names. If I were elected pope the name I would choose would be Pope Peter James John. The relationship these disciples had has many lessons to teach us as we continue our own growth in God.

They were eyewitnesses to the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain and they heard directly from God the Father, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. In this portion of scripture, we note that it was on the seventh day that the transfiguration occurred. It was after the sixth and before the eighth day. How significant this is. The number seven represents perfection and rest. There is no perfection without rest. God rested on the seventh day. The feast of tabernacles is the seventh feast. Three feasts expressed in seven ways.

The number seven is the number of completion. In the book of Revelation we see the seven spirits of God, the 7 candlesticks, the seven heads, the seven Churches and the list continues. The number seven symbolizes completion, perfection and rest. We are entering the 7th day from Adam or 6,000 years from Adam for a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. We are in the 3rd day from Christ. The number 7 and the number 3 are often the same in their biblical expression. Jesus brings his 3 disciples with him to the mountain of transfiguration on the 7th day.

Let us rejoice for we are in the 7th day from Adam and the 3rd day from Christ. This event happened 2000 years ago yet it is very significant to us that today and now we are the Christ. We are his body and the expression of his person on this earth. We are realizing our life and destiny as his disciples. We are the living bible and the ministry of Jesus through us, is “His” body. This is a mystery of God in us, the hope of glory. It is God working his will in our earth. His body accomplishes his work. We are his body and he is our head. Let us hear what the spirit of Jesus is saying to us today. Let him arise in us and his enemies will scatter.

The day of the Lord is upon us and we are walking with him. Many need an awakening. We have been asleep waiting for Jesus to return in the clouds. Our church activities have given us a false sense of accomplishment. Destroy this body and in three days I will raise it up. It is time to hear the word of the Lord and wake up to his appearing in us. We are appearing before him and he is appearing in us.

1John 3:2 Beloved, now we are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. This is the second coming. Peter, James and John had no idea what was to occur when the Lord took them up to the mountain, they simply followed him. The other disciples were not invited. There are many disciples but they are at the foot of the mountain.

There are many denominations and churches but they are at the bottom of the mountain. Matt 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart. 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Only Jesus can take us to this next level. It is a high place separate from the normal occurrences of life.

The word transfigured is "metamorphoo" and means to transform (literally or figuratively) "Metamorphose" is the same word used in Roman 12:lwhere Paul implores us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, This is what Moses and Elijah were discussing with Jesus on the mountain--how Jesus would present his whole body as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God, this was his service. Luke 9:31 who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Do you remember when Jesus was walking on the road to Emmaus?

Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

They discussed with Jesus, how he was to save the earth through his death. Moses and Elijah and then confirmed by the voice of God in the cloud. "This is my son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him." When Peter, James and John looked again, they saw "Jesus only,” everything from the law to that time pointed to Jesus only. In addition, everything now points to “Jesus only,” in and through us.

The three disciples represent experiences we go through as we experience our metamorphous. It is the desire of a disciple in Christ to receive transformation (metamorphous) by the renewing of our mind so that the manifestation of the sons of God may take place to set all creation free. I emphasis all creation for some would exclude some of God's creation. We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices. This is our reasonable service. This will begin our transformation. It is how we prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Peter's name in the Greek is Petros (pet'-ros); apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock; as a name, Petrus, an apostle: ithos (lee'-thos); apparently a primary word; a stone (literally or figuratively): (mill, stumbling) stone. Much controversy has risen because of his name. But we are looking at the bottom line of who this man was. Peter is an experience and a type of what God is doing in us now. Simon Barjona was Peter's name. Simon means hearing, to hear intelligently with an attentive ear followed by obedience. This is our experience in this day. The Lord is teaching us to hear and to follow our hearing with obedience. Intelligent hearing is the act of obedience. We do only those things we hear from our Father.

Barjona comes from the root word-meaning builder of the family; a son who is the next generation doing the things of his father, the heir of the father. Upon this rock I will build my church. As we continue to hear, we become a rock on which the Lord can build his church. We are lively stones. We look up to Peter but we realize that in our experience we become like Peter. Can you hear your heart say, "Thou art the Christ?" Is this a revelation to you? Then you will receive the keys to the kingdom and the power to bind or loose on earth. The gates of hell cannot prevail against anything you do.

Our confession is the result of our revelation, revelation leads to obedience and obedience is the rock on which Christ builds his Church. Oh, to be motivated by revelation (and not self-absorption) to work the works of the Father who gives us his motivation and purpose! And many priests became obedient to the faith. Once the Father works in us his will to do his good pleasure, he rests and we also enter into rest. We cease from our own works. Isaiah proclaimed, "Cease ye from Man.” Here is the cry of our heart as we enter into sonship in order to do the greater works. Phil.2:13 for it is God, which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

James represents another experience. The more we enter into the understanding of the spirit of God the more we understand that we are one with Him, and that we are one body all experiencing the same revelation and understanding. The experience of one can be the experience of all of us. We are not separate but we are one body. John l0:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. I love that his sheep hear his voice, and those sheep that hear become one fold following one Shepherd.

The name James is equivalent with the old patriarch, Jacob. Whenever God spoke to the Israelites, the church in the wilderness, He always addressed himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For Jacob is the progenitor of the Israelites. He is the one who bears the twelve sons who become a nation. Through his line comes forth the promised King. This is what we are looking forward to happen in our life. The promise of the returning of Jesus Christ is our maturity--His maturity expressed in a many membered body. Eph.4:12-13 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

This is the experience of Jacob, having his name changed from the supplanter to Israel. A name change signifies a change in character, the partaking of the divine nature. Jacob has the ability to be clever and to come up with schemes. This is somewhat like some of our sheepfolds today. They have great programs, which produce great results but where are the miracles and where is the presence of the Holy Spirit?

Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? This only would I ask of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Yes, many of these groups do wonderful things but they do not set creation free. 11 But I certify you, brethren that the gospel, which was preached of me, is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it by man, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is only by the revelation of Jesus Christ that his sheep are able to do anything.

This change is not only our rebirth but it is the revelation of the body of Christ. Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. But Saul was persecuting the Church. Persecuting the church is the same thing as persecuting Jesus. Jesus and his Church are one. This is a revelation, growing into the full stature of Christ in us the hope of Glory.

This is bringing obedience to his word. It is a collective understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit in us to bring about the full expression of Christ in the earth. This is believers growing into a nation, to bless all nations. Isa 65:8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and thine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there in.

Our hearts long to walk in the experience and ministry of the Apostle John. His name means Jehovah-favored. God looks upon him with great favor. God favors him and God has restored him with much grace and mercy. We are learning to receive and return this same grace and mercy to the world. Freely we have received and freely we give. As we have received his divine attributes because of the supplication of those before we learn to return the same love.

This is the divine nature growing in love. The love of the Father returned to others. We have discovered this as John experienced it. He leaned on the bosom of Jesus. John13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

We love him because he first loved us. Can we think of John without thinking of love? John13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. We are moving with faith-motivated love. The same ministry that the Father gave to this world is the same ministry working in us. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. When we love the world like the Father loves the world we will emanate the Son within us and set all creation free. The ministry of the Father exercised in love through his sons. John was in the spirit on the Lord's day he leads us into the revelation of Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation is opening before our seeing eyes and hearing ears. The revelation that John presented through the spirit of God has been a mystery but now is suddenly opening up to the sons of God. No longer is this message resting on the fantasies of future events. It has become a book of reference and experience of the sons of God.

It is a road map for what our Father is doing in and through us. Our Father gave this revelation to enable us to overcome all obstacles. This book is a window into the heart of our Father. The same revelation that John experienced the Holy Spirit is permitting us to see in this holy hour. We live on "tiptoe" while the whole creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

All of creation waits on tiptoe while others observe the times, subjected to futility and woe. Waiting to see all the signs they look for perfection in the sky. And wonder with a sigh of "why?" But, the sons of God are leaving their graves, as the grace of the third day rises to see the entire world the Father saves. Delivering mankind from their crises to a renewed earth walking in rebirth.