I saw that many translations use "its". It can still stand for Jesus if the sun represents Him, sine the sun is an "it".
Hooboy, something opened up to me big-time about all of this a few years ago. I do not see it so much as His return, although I would like to hear you elaborate on that some more. I see it about revelation of truth that changes us.
I studied this out and noticed that the Lord on the mount of Transfiguration had his face shine like the sun, and Moses and Elijah were both present, as they are both mentioned in
Malachi 4 with reference to the SUN.
When I studied the transfiguration, I found where Peter noted that experience and referred to it in his second epistle, saying that we need to take heed to Christ's words, as the Father spoke aloud and indicated for Peter to do while on the mount. And Peter likened hearing his words to seeing the lamp shine in a dark place, until the day star arise in OUR HEARTS.
2 Peter 1:18-19 KJV And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
When researching this prayerfully, I felt I was led to understand that Christ's experience in Matt 17 when His face shone was an acting out of the words He said to Peter in Matt 16. Peter got the revelation of Jesus' identity from the Father. But Jesus said, "And I say also unto thee." In other words, now Peter needed an additional revelation from the Son.
Peter learned about the ROCK, Jesus. But Jesus said Peter had to get a revelation OF HIMSELF in association with the Rock. In other words, who Peter was to be in Christ. This is why Jesus spoke of how He would build his church on this Rock of Himself. This is bringing the church into union with Christ. And it involved the cross. Peter rejected this revelation since he did not like the thought of the cross.
So, Matt 17 acts it all out. They actually go on a rock, a mountain. And Jesus' face shines, representing TRUTH HE WOULD SPEAK about the cross.
This next verse shows his face shining represents TRUTH.
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2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.[/quote]
Jesus was even talking to Moses and Elijah ABOUT THE CROSS.
Luke 9:31 KJV Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
And the Father told Peter once again, like in Chapter 16, the identity of Jesus Christ. And He followed that with Peter's need to NOW HEAR JESUS speak of the cross, just as in Matt 16.
Matthew 17:5 KJV While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
We are HEALED, recovered, back into the image of God as we allow the truth of the CROSS to get hold of us. This revelation actually changes us into His image:
2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.