There is a peculiar passage in the book of Jude where “Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.” Now, Satan then had power over death in some way Divinely permitted. Paul says (Heb. ii. 14), speaking of Christ, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him _that had the power of death_—that is, the devil.” When God was translating Moses, passing him by death, Satan fought with Michael, who was God’s messenger, to inflict the sting of death on Moses, and although Michael carried Moses on by death into the presence of God, Satan durst not bring a railing accusation against him.
Jude, in his epistle, probably quoted from one of the now lost books of Revelation, which was entitled, “The Ascension or Assumption of Moses the servant of God.” The Church father, Origen, makes mention of this work, but, like the book and prophecies of Enoch, from which Jude makes a quotation, it has been lost, they having served their purpose. The fairest and most generous interpretation, then, is, that Moses did not die the ordinary death, but disappeared, was, in fact, translated, anointed, and set apart for a special work in connection with his own people, the Jews, in the days of the coming Anti-Christ. Thus, without any trouble, he could appear with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration. And it is worthy of note that before he disappeared in Horeb—the sacred writer is mindful to tell us “Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died—_his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated_” (Deut. xxiv. 7). But, supposing Moses died naturally, there is nothing unreasonable or irregular in concluding that God resurrected him as a mortal for future use. True, he will die again as a witness; so there are in heaven now eight persons who have died twice in this world—namely:
The child raised by Elijah (1 Kings xvii. 21). The child of Elisha (2 Kings iv. 35). The Moabite soldier who came to life on touching the bones of Elisha (2 Kings xiii. 21). The daughter of Jairus (Luke viii. 55). The widow’s son at Nain (Luke vii. 15). Lazarus of Bethany (John xi. 44). Dorcas or Tabitha by Peter (Acts ix. 40). Eutychus by Paul (Acts xx. 10).