Luke 9:31
Luke 9:3131They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
JW commentary treats the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah as a symbolic vision rather than a real exchange. Because the dead are taught to be unconscious and non-existent, a centuries- dead Moses cannot actually be discussing Christ's coming crucifixion with him. The content of the conversation is treated as theological commentary on what the Transfiguration "represents," not as a real exchange between conscious participants.
Read the content of the conversation. Moses and Elijah are "talking about his departure, which he was about to fulfill at Jerusalem." The Greek for "departure" is exodos — a Christ-saturated word that points to the cross and resurrection. A non-existent Moses cannot have informed views on a future crucifixion. Either these are real conscious individuals discussing the climax of redemptive history with the incarnate Son, or Jesus is staging a theatrical performance with figments. The plain reading vindicates the intermediate state: Moses died, Moses is conscious, Moses knows what the Son is about to do at Jerusalem. Read alongside (Lazarus carried to Abraham's side) and (the cloud of witnesses) for the consistent New Testament picture of conscious post-mortem existence prior to resurrection.