ELIJAH THE TISHBITE – INTRODUCTION
While visiting the Qumran caves, where the books of the Old Testament were discovered, a verse of Scripture came to my mind.
1 Corinthians 10:11,12 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
What are “these things”?
Why is it of such urgency that we study the history of God’s people in Old Testament?
Verse 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Could it be that ignorance about the story of Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel for instance, could cause me to be lost one day?
What would happen if I ignore the warning of a coming tornado?
MALACHI
The last book of the Old Testament contains a final warning and final promises to ancient Israel. But these warning also aply to you and me who lives in the last days of earth’s history
Malachi 4:5,6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY?
Before looking at the gripping story of Elijah, we must know a little more of this expression.
This expression occurs at least 20 times in the writings of the various Old Testament prophets. It is always used in reference to a time of divine judgment upon a city or nation (rather than upon individuals), or eventually upon the inhabitants of the whole world.
As a fallen sinner I appreciate God’s messages of warning as much as His messages of grace, love and forgiveness. They all speak of a God who wants to save me.
Joel 1:14,15 Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. Alas for the day! Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; It shall come as destruction from the Almighty.
What must we do to avoid being lost when God will come to make an end to the wickedness of our planet?
Jesus, Paul and Matthew says: Read and study the types of the Old Testament.
Listen to this appealing warning message of Peter:
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
What did Elijah before he was translated and taken to heaven? Typology?
Why do we warn our children about certain consequences?
We want to save them from the cruel consequences of using drugs.
2 Petrus 3:11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness
Here on the battle field of Ramoth Gilead king Ahab died. Why?
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Is there an alternative reward?
Verse 2 “But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Have you seen young animals joyously performing?
When Jesus comes we will be released from our fallen human nature and the expression of our joys will continue for ever.
How does Jesus explains the Elijah message of Malachi?
Matthew 17:10,11 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
Verses 12,13 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
This statement of Jesus makes the study of the life of Elijah of utmost importance
What did the angel Gabriel said about the reconciling work of John the Baptist?:
Luke 1:16,17 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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.”
For who was Gabriel going to prepare the way?
Will the end time Elijah also preach a Christ centred message?
THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Matthew 11:17 “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
What was wrong during the first Elijah and what was wrong during the second Elijah?
Luke 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
Will the third Elijah warn people about another kind of fornication?
Listen to the courage the first Elijah in reprimanding the king:
1 Kings 18:18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.
Will the end time Elijah’s also call people to obedience to the law of God?
What else besides obedience was preached?
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Will the end time Elijah message also add the good news of salvation after presenting the claims of the law?
What did the first Elijah do after he pointed out the sins of the people?
1 Kings 18:30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
The message of the altar?
The root of our redemption is the spotless Lamb of God. The fruit of my redemption is obedience to the law of God.
The Elijah message does not preach grace at the cost of obedience; it does not preach grace at the cost of obediende.
Listen to the harmony between law and grace in the orchestra of the end time Elijah message:
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
DIE VERBAND TUSSEN ELIA SE BOODSKAP EN DIE EINDTYD ELIABOODSKAP
Let us study the similarities between the three Elijahs:
Revelation 14:14,15 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.”
What is on His head? He is not only a king but also a Jugde because He has what in His hand?
As Elijah and John preached a judgement message, so too will the end time Elijahs preach the same. But something important is mentioned
Revelation 14:6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people
What is this “gospel”?
The most beautiful melody that soothes the sinners heart with hope of eternal life.
But the good news has more good news. God will judge in favour of His children:
Verse 7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
What a message. He is my Creator and He is also my Recreator and He is also my Righteousness Judge.
WORSHIP GOD AND NOT HIS CREATION!
Is this a timely message at a time when the brilliant minds have decided that evolution must replace God the Creator.
Is dit ‘n tydige boodskap? Baie beslis. Soos nog nooit in die geskiedenis van hierdie planeet is sy bewoners met hulle eie godjies besig nie.
In the exaltation of the human above the divine, in the praise of popular leaders, in the worship of mammon, and in the placing of the teachings of science above the truths of revelation, multitudes today are following after Baal. Prophets and Kings, p.170
THREE ENEMIES IN THE TIME OF AHAB?
IN THE TIME OF JOHN THE BAPTIST?
END TIME ELIJAH?
Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
Verse 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Elijah met his three enemies on Mount Carmel. And end time Elijah?
Verse 16:16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.
Karmel becomes a type of a greater antitypical end time battle
What happened to Elijah when He completed his work?
Wat het met Elia gebeur toe hy sy werk op aarde voltooi het? Hy is lewendig hemel toe.
2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven
Elijah’s hill.
Guess what went through my mind when I stood by the hill were Elijah was translated?
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
What is going to happen after everybody has heard that God so loved the world that He gave Jesus to die for our sins?
There will only be two classess. Who would the be?
Where will you and I stand in that day?