3 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses or in other words, John the Baptist and Moses: [ Here we see explicitly stated that the Elias on the Mount was John the Baptist. All of the accounts say that Peter proposed only three tabernacles; thus, there only two that appeared. Moses was the first prophet under the Law of Moses; John the Baptist was the last, "bookending" the Law. They ministered to Jesus. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to bear witness to Peter, James, and John that the Law of Moses pointed to the Messiah and that the Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth. This is supported by JST 2 Peter 1:16-19. The JST clarifies what the KJV obscures. ] and they were talking with Jesus.