THE RETURN OF
ELIJAH THE PROPHET

In the second last verse, in the last chapter, in the last book of the Old Testament we find a rather unusual prophecy.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:5,6.

About 2,800 years ago there lived in the mountains of Gilead, east of Jordan, a man of faith and prayer whose fearless ministry was destined to check the rapid spread of apostasy in Israel. This man was Elijah the Tishbite. The word of faith and power was upon his lips, and his whole life was devoted to the work of reform. His was the voice of one crying in the wilderness to rebuke sin and press back the tide of evil. And while he came to the people as a reprover of sin, his message offered the balm of Gilead to the sin-sick souls of all who desired to be healed. When all of Israel was in apostasy worshiping Baal, a Babylonian god, he stood alone as the messenger of God, calling the people to repentance and obedience to God’s commandments. This is the Elijah that this prophecy in Malachi refers to.

What is the meaning of this prophecy? Does it mean that Elijah will appear again in the time of the end? Does it mean that we are to look for a man similar in appearance to Elijah? Or does it mean that someone will arise who will be the reincarnation of Elijah? Many, through recent years, have claimed to be Elijah. In this study we will show that they are incorrect and what is the real meaning of this prophecy.

In Matthew 17 we find the disciples coming to Christ with a question. The reason they had this question is because they had began preaching that the Messiah had come, but the Israelites, especially the Scribes and Pharisees, did not believe them. They said that the Messiah could not be here because Elijah had not come yet. Here is the question that the disciples asked Jesus and His reply.

"And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." Matthew 17:10-13.

(Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah [The New Testament was written in Greek, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew].)

Jesus Himself here first confirms that Elias must come first, then claims that he has already come. The disciples understood that He was referring to John the Baptist. Jesus also makes it clear the fulfilment of this prophecy in His day concerning the return of Elijah, was to be a message, rather then the man himself.

When John preached in the wilderness, he preached with power. He did not preach smooth things as false teachers do, but the straight truth that cuts out the cancer of sin in lives. Individuals went out of those meetings and were convicted of their sins, repented of them and asked God to forgive them. He even preached to King Herod, and told him that he was living in sin, and Herod trembled. Herod’s wife was instrumental in the taking of John life because of his straight preaching and his condemnation of her marriage to Herod. The Jewish leaders didn’t like Johns preaching either, and sent some priests and Levites to question him.

"And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias." John 1:19-23.

John the Baptist said that he was not Elijah, but that he had the same message as Elijah. John was also the voice crying in the wilderness, calling the people to repentance from sins and obedience to God’s laws. In Matthew 11 and Luke 1 we find more texts that say the same thing.

"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come." Matthew 11:13, 14.

"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:17.

In this last text we find that the angel Gabriel repeats the very words of Malachi’s prophecy when telling Zacharias what his son will do. John’s message was one of reformation, of preparation, that heralded the first advent of Christ to the world.

We have now established that the coming of Elijah actually means a message of reformation, a call to repentance, and preparation for the coming of Christ. The fulfilment of the prophecy surrounding Christ’s first advent has given us the key to the understanding of Malachi 4:5,6 with reference to the great and terrible day of the Lord.

The ‘day of the Lord’ is mentioned more than 20 times in the Scriptures. It is described as a day of destruction for the wicked, and is often mentioned with a great earthquake, along with signs in the sun, moon and stars. Jesus, in describing the signs of His second coming to His disciples in Matthew 24:29-31, says that there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. In Matthew 16:27 and Revelation 22:12 we read that everyone will be rewarded for his works at Christ’s second coming, which includes the destruction of the wicked. Putting all these things together we see that the ‘day of the Lord’ refers to the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Therefore the Elijah message of reformation is to be repeated before the second coming of Jesus Christ. In the last days we are to look for a message in the power of Elijah. A plain, pointed, powerful message that is fearless, uncompromising, and yet convincing. We need to look for a message that will stir our hearts, pointing out our defects and preparing men and women to meet their God.

Although the Elijah message was one of reformation, what did it actually call people to reform to? To answer this question we can look in two places, 1) have a look at the text that preceded this prophecy and 2) go back and look at what happened when Elijah was alive.

Firstly let us have a look at Malachi 4:4

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."

What was the law commanded to Moses on Mount Sinai along with the statues and judgements? It was none other than the Ten Commandments, God’s Holy Law. This law cannot be changed or there would have been no need for Jesus Christ to come to this earth and live a sinless life and die on the cross, God could simply have changed the Law, forgiven Adam and Eve and everyone could live happily ever after. But this simply is not the case. The Ten Commandments are the immutable, moral Law of love. It tells us how we will act and treat God and our fellow men IF we love them. Jesus said, If ye love me keep my Commandments (John 14:15). Turning this statement around, if we do not keep God's Commandments (Jesus was God with us therefore His Commandments are also God’s) then it shows that we do not love Jesus. Note also the very first word of this text "Remember". We are never to forget this law, or as David put it :-

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Psalms 119:11.

If we do not hide God’s Law in our hearts, or in other words remember it, how can we know if we are sinning against God? We cannot, for sin is transgression of the Law (1 John 3:4). So God tells us to remember His Law and keep it to show that we love Him.

To confirm that this is what the message of reformation was that Elijah preached, and the message that we are to look for just before Jesus Christ returns the second time, let us have a look at what was happening when Elijah lived.

The King of Israel, Ahab, had married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians and high priest of Baal. King Ahab worshipped and served Baal, and along with his wicked wife caused nearly the whole nation of Israel to give up God’s Laws and statutes, and worship Baal.

"And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the Kings of Israel that were before him." 1 Kings 16:31-33.

"Under the blighting influence of Ahab's rule, Israel wandered far from the living God and corrupted their ways before Him. For many years they had been losing their sense of reverence and godly fear; and now it seemed as if there were none who dared expose their lives by openly standing forth in opposition to the prevailing blasphemy. The dark shadow of apostasy covered the whole land. Images of Baalim and Ashtoreth were everywhere to be seen. Idolatrous temples and consecrated groves, wherein were worshiped the works of men's hands, were multiplied. The air was polluted with the smoke of the sacrifices offered to false gods. Hill and vale resounded with the drunken cries of a heathen priesthood who sacrificed to the sun, moon, and stars." Patriarchs and Prophets by E.G.W. Page 115.

Ahab was not the first King of Israel to do wrong, but he did more than all the other Kings to anger the Lord God then all the others. So God finally decided that some punishment was due to try and get these people to turn from their apostasy and worship Him again. He sent His prophet, Elijah, with a message to King Ahab.

"And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 1 Kings 17:1.

These people had turned from worshiping the true and living God, to worshipping a man made god, the sun god Baal. Now they were going to have the sun day after day for three years, without the refreshment of dew or rain. Draught and famine soon came upon this land, even the once evergreen groves planted for their altars to Baal became dusty, dry brown places. Even after all of this, the people of Israel had not turned from their false worship, back to the true God. So God told Elijah to go stand before King Ahab with another message.

"And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel." 1 Kings 18:17-20.

Here we see the King of Israel accuses Elijah, a simply dressed man, of being a troublemaker. Does Elijah shy away because of the King’s authority, or try to smooth things over with the King? No. He stands his ground and places the blame squarely where it should be, on the King. What had the King and his father’s house done? They had forsaken the Commandments of God. Elijah does not stop there, he goes on to tell the King that he is to gather all the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal upon Mount Carmel. That’s right, one man, dressed in simple clothes, the only one standing up for the true God in all of Israel, is telling the King what to do! What is even more amazing than this, is that the King obeys without a question. The Elijah message that goes out just before Christ comes a second time is given out by people with this same sort of authority, truthfulness, and simplicity that God alone can give.

Upon Mount Carmel there are gathered 850 prophets off Baal, all the people of Israel, plus King Ahab, and standing all by himself to one side is Elijah. With unswerving faith and commitment to God he says:-

"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21.

These people could answer nothing, for the god that they worshipped, Baal, had not helped them one bit over the last three years, yet they were still not ready to forsake this false worship and worship the true God and keep His Commandments.

A similar condition prevails in the world today. People everywhere have turned from worshipping the true God and keeping His Commandments, to worshipping false gods of every description. There is a great need for a reformation message to go out calling all back to worshipping God and obeying His Commandments. This call to obedience comes ringing down through the ages. God has ordained that it be given to the world in the last days. For if ever there was a time when the Commandments of God seemed to be replaced by the commandment of men, a time when men teach that God’s Commandments don’t matter, a time of great yet futile attempts for law and order on the one hand, and of the increase of crime and violence on the other, if ever there was such a time in the history of the world, it is now!

This situation that we face in the world today calls for a special message. God calls it the Elijah message (Malachi 4:5). That message is outlined in Revelation 14:6-11 under the symbol of the three angels flying through heaven.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." Revelation 14:6-11.

An angel carries the first part of this message called the everlasting gospel, which is to be preached to the world in the last days to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. This message starts by telling the world a message that it so desperately needs to know, which is the hour of God’s judgment is come. If you are not ready when this judgement is pronounced, it will just be too late. Just before Jesus Christ comes this statement is made, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:11,12. If Jesus is bringing the reward with Him, then the judgement has already finished when He comes. There is no second chance for people to change. Jesus Christ came to give mankind a second chance to live forever. This life is mankind's second chance to prove whether or not each and every one of us is worthy to live with God for eternity. "(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" 2 Corinthians 6:2. God in His all seeing providence starts this reformation message in such a startling way as to wake the people up so that nobody can have any excuse for being lost. It is also a message to answer the widespread modernistic evolutionary tendency in the world and many popular churches that say that God does not exist or that He really did not make this earth in six days and rest on the seventh. It also identifies who is the true God, for no other god, angel, or man can create life, they can only destroy it.

The second part of this message continues by stating that a great city called Babylon is fallen because of what she has done. Babylon or Babel is the first place after the flood that instituted a pagan religion and refused to believe anything God said. This false system of worship was based on Nimrod, his wife Semiramis and her son, and it went world wide. Even today traces of it can be seen in all pagan religions and in a lot of Protestant Churches. But it can be seen in it’s purest form in the religion of the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church is the Babylon referred to in this message of reformation. She makes all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication which means she has disregarded the only commandment which points out the true God, and has torn down the Sabbath, God’s memorial of creation. God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh, sanctifying this day, and setting it apart from all others as holy to Himself, to be observed by His people throughout their generations. But the man of sin (the head of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope), exalted himself above God, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself to be God, thought to change times and laws. This power, thinking to prove that is was not only equal to God, but above God, changed the rest day, placing the first day of the week where the seventh should be. And the Protestant world has taken this child of the papacy to be regarded as sacred. In the Word of God this is called fornication. The message "Babylon is fallen" is repeated in Revelation 18:2,3 using even stronger terms to describe this pagan church and her associates, and is followed with a call to action for all of God’s people. They are told to "Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plauges." Revelation 18:4. This again is similar to the message that Elijah delivered when on top of Mount Carmel, "Come out of Baal".

The last part of this message is the most solemn warning contained in the Scriptures. It warns all not to worship the Beast or his image, or receive his mark in their forehead or their hand. The Beast here mentioned is the Roman Catholic Church, his image is the uniting of apostate Protestants with the government to force people to obey on pain of death their uniting mark which is Sunday worship. This can be done in two ways, 1) by believing it is true - in the forehead, or 2) by going along with it to avoid being punished - in their hand. (For more information about this see The Mark Of The Beast.)

The very next text tells us what those who do not receive this mark will be like.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.

What do they do? They keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. If this is the identifying quality of the saints, then it can be said of everybody else that they do not keep the Commandments of God or have the faith of Jesus. Which confirms what we stated above as to the what the mark of the Beast is.

When the Christian church was first formed, after the ascension of Christ, the former rain or the outpouring of the Holy Spirit gave it power, authority and removed all fear from the disciples in the proclamation of God’s saving message. Again, just before the harvest, there will be another outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the latter rain which ripens the grain for the harvest. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit will do to the people living in the last days what it did for the disciples who were in the upper room. They will go forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners, not fearing anything or anybody. They will repair the breach which has been made.

"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Isaiah 58:12.

A breach has been made in God’s law. Almost the entire Christian world bows down in obedience to the Sunday institution which is entirely man made and unscriptural. In these last days on earth’s history before the final doom of the world, God has a message that is restoring the breach. God again sends an Elijah message of warning:-

"How long halt ye between two opinions?"

Will you keep the Commandments of God or will you keep the commandments of men? We cannot look to the masses of the world to accept God’s message for Jesus said:-

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:13, 14.

The fact that only a comparative few respond to the call is not what God wants, for His word tells us "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Unfortuneately, the cares of this life, the influence of the world generally and the love of ease and popularity will influence many a person against the right decision. You cannot halt between two opinions, for in doing this you have actually chosen the wrong side. You must stand for right and do right, not tomorrow, for we do not ever know if we will have a tomorrow, but today.

 

Remember,
now is the accepted time,
now is the day of salvation.

 

© D & S Goeldner, 1999.

   

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