JESUS SAID; “ELIJAH IS COMING AGAIN,” – ARE YOU READY? What is walking obediently with Christ?
JESUS SAID; “If you care to accept it, John the Baptist is Elijah, who was to come.” He is coming back to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Math 11:14, 17:11, Luke 1:16,17, NAS Bible throughout).
All are called to be prepared for the Lord. Some turn away, but some respond and become a disciple of Jesus by disciplining their life to match Jesus’ life (Math 10:24-39). It depends on what we are looking for in life.
JESUS SPOKE to the disciples in Math 11:7-19. He said;
:7 What did you go out to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
:8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?
:9 but why did you go out? To see a prophet?
The spirit of Elijah came during different periods of history. How do we know this? We find prophets who came with the same message, and the same spirit and power of Elijah, as Jesus taught us in Holy Scriptures. Notice four periods;
I. In 879 B.C., THE LORD SENT ELIJAH to King Ahab. Here are the main points of his message;
To King Ahab; “You have troubled yourself and your father’s house because you have
forsaken the commandment of the Lord and you have followed the Baals (other
gods),” (1Kin18:18).
“How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, then
follow Him,” (1Kin18:21).
II. In 870 B.C. the Lord also sent Elijah to Ahab’s successor, King Ahaziah in 2King 1:3 asking, “Is it because there is no God in Israel that you inquire (of another god or person)?”
III. In 397 B.C. the Lord said in Malachi 4:5, “I am going to send Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord.”
Why is the day of the Lord terrible? The Lord warned in Malachi 3 and 4;
Mal 3:2 “Who can endure the day of His coming?” “Who can stand when He
appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap.”
Mal 3:3 “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of
Levi, and refine them like gold and silver –
so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.”
Mal 3:7 “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My
statutes, and have not kept them. Return to Me and I will return to you.”
Mal 4:1-2 “Behold the day is coming…every evildoer will be chaff. But for you
who fear My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his
wings.
Mal 4:4 “Remember the law of Moses, My servant.”
Elijah returned, as John the Baptist. In Luke 1:16,17, Zacharias was told that John would
“turn the disobedient to THE ATTITUDE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” The Lord told Malachi, “I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord…to restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers,” (Mal 4:5,6). Read about two of the forefathers – Abraham and David, (Gen26:5, 1Kings 14:8, Ezekiel 18:5-9).
WHY DID THE LORD NEED TO SEND A FORERUNNER?
When the Lord’s people forsook the commandments of the Lord and followed other
gods and other ways of worship, the Lord sent His people into bondage or exile for disobedience and unfaithfulness (Lev 26:14-39, Isaiah 7:9, 20, Jeremiah 1:1-7:20).
Because of God’s love for man, this Good News was sent to give the people HOPE– and
a way out of bondage to sin – that is, from lawlessness and rebellion to God’s ways (2 Chronicles 7:13-15). This call to return is the same message taught by Moses and Jesus (Lev 26:40, -45 and Luke 24:49).
Examples of man’s self-righteous attitude can be seen in the prophet Jeremiah’s
warnings to God’s people;
“Because you say ‘I have not sinned,’ I will enter into judgment with you” Jer 2:35,
“Ask for the ancient paths,” Jer 6:16,
The Lord finally told Jeremiah, “Do not pray for this people,” Jer 7:1,3,7, 16.
The same comments and descriptions can be used of our SOCIETY TODAY. Whenever
we look for the Reformation message after Jesus, we must with all certainty expect the same message – and the same main points as Elijah’s message – because of the same needs among us.
IV. Year 1516 - REFORMATION TIMES Most people today are familiar with the names of great reformers like Luther, Calvin, Glait, and Tyndale, and Zwingly. But Andreas Carlstadt came in the spirit and power of Elijah. He taught Martin Luther in college and posted 155 thesis the year before Luther posted his 95 thesis. As Elijah, Carlstadt taught to return to the Lord and His teachings.
We should do this too (see Math 10:24-42 and Luke 1:16, 17). Pay attention to similar passages of scripture that have the same teaching. This is the same message as Elijah and John the Baptist taught.
Reformer Andreas Carlstadt taught scripture only should be used in Christian churches. Therefore, he:
-saw large scale corruption in the Roman Catholic Church doctrines
- taught the bread/wine in the Lord’s Supper were symbols, not magically turned into
Jesus’ actual flesh and blood.
- eliminated the period of Lent before Easter as not bible based
- authorized removal of imagery and idols from churches
- pursued removal of the Mary pictures and shrines and use of idols in churches
- wrote 155 thesis to call for church reformation
- he wanted to turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers, and
the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous (faithfulness in God’s laws)
Finally, CARLSTADT WAS CHALLENGED by contemporaries – if only scripture was to be used, the seventh day Sabbath of scripture must be kept Therefore, Carlstadt changed from the Roman Catholic Sunday back to the seventh day bible Sabbath of rest on Saturday, (search “ROME’S CHALLENGE” on the internet for an explanation of this subject). Many of these men from times of Reformation such as John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, and others, died for proclaiming these scriptural truths. It is tragic that so few heed the sacrifices of these men of the Reformation!
GOD WORKED IN HISTORY. The Romans’ system of roads made it possible to take the Gospel message of Jesus Christ all over the known world. Similarly, in 1456 Gutenberg invented the printing press and the first type-set whole bible was printed. In 1516 Andreas Carlstadt brought the Elijah message to Europe – to return to the Lord’s commandments and covenant. His ideas could then spread to the world through printing.
DO THE LORD’S WAYS EVER CHANGE? Jesus sent His “reformers” to get people to return to Him, His Covenant, and His Ways.
Jesus gives us important clues;
“I the Lord do not change,” Mal 3:6.
The law never changes, Math 5:17,18.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever,” Heb 13:8.
The message of Moses, Elijah, Malachi, John the Baptist, Jesus, Paul, Carlstadt, and God’s people should be constant. Return to the Lord, His ways, and His covenant. "I will put My Laws upon their heart."
JESUS SPOKE to the multitudes in Math 11:7-19:
:7 “What did you go out to see? A reed shaken by the wind?”
:8 “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?”
:9 “But why did you go out? To see a prophet?”
Are you trying to find God’s message by looking for His type of messenger?
JESUS TOLD His disciples:
“..if you care to accept it…John the Baptist is Elijah,” Math 11:14
The Roman tetrarch Herod had John the Baptist beheaded, Math 14:10.
Later Jesus said, “Elijah is coming, and will restore all things,” Math 17:11.
Jesus said, “Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him,” Math 17:12.
Has Elijah returned again after Jesus and most churches did not recognize him?
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
After the Reformation, many “protestant” churches sprang up with specialty doctrines which they “protested” were not taught correctly in the Roman Catholic Church. However, the Jesuit COUNTER REFORMATION of the Roman Catholic Church began after the Council of Trent in 1564. They over-powered the “Protestant” churches into keeping the Roman Catholic rest/worship day of Sunday, and other holidays they promoted other than God’s Ways and Holy Days (search “COUNTER REFORMATION” on Google offers explanation of this).
NEW TESTAMENT MESSAGE: We must repent - seek to purify ourselves from;
1- All defilement of flesh and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1) as the Lord warned His people
through Malachi Chapters 3and 4 before Jesus came.
2- All defilement of the world (Romans 12:1,2).
3- Scripture describes the true church as betrothed to one husband…presented to Christ as a pure virgin (2Cor11:2, Rev12:1,5,6,17).
The opposite activities are pictured in Rev 17:1-6. This is a system of religion,
Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and the abomination of the earth. The woman still symbolizes a church, but one which has committed spiritual adultery with
other teachings than our Creator God, as Adam and Eve did (Gen 2:11,12, 3:1-6).
3- The apostle James reminds us, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?”(James 4:4).
REPENT – “come out” of the apostate church (worldly Christians) as described in Revelation 18:4. The world’s values are backward from the Lord’s (read Rev 18:11-13, Babylon’s list).
4- In Revelation 11:8 dead bodies of the Lord’s TWO WITNESSES lay dead in the streets. It seems that God’s people have frequently ignored the witness of Moses and Elijah, (the two who have power to shut up the sky in order that rain may not fall),
( Ex 9:33, 1 King 17:1, 18:41).
John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ as our Deliverer, Savior, Lord, and Refuge was written to God’s people in all the last days, from His time to now (Acts2:16,17). It is to give them hope during their tribulation, as John writes in Rev 1:9.
Is this where we are today? We have no spirit or power of Elijah in the churches.We have no reformation message to return to the Law of Moses, as it was practiced by Moses. The Law is to be written on our hearts in both the Old and New Covenant (Duet 6:6, Jer 31:31, Heb 8:10, 10:28).
CONCLUSION
WHAT DID YOU GO OUT TO SEE? A preacher with a fancy title, or teacher with worldly pedigree who could speak smoothly and would bend to man's traditions? Jesus warned against those who would use titles to exalt themselves or their ministry. We are all brothers (Math 23:5-12).
But, what did you go out to see? A TV evangelist dressed in fine clothes? These are often found in comfortable denominational mega-churches.
But, what did you go out to see? A prophet? One living like Jesus, teaching like Jesus, acting like Jesus. Someone prepared for the Lord. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE.
We have looked at the unchangeable characteristics of the men of God. He has always dealt with men in the same way, and always expected the same faithful, obedient, loving discipline from us as we try to imitate Him (Lev 26:40-45, 2Chron 7:13,14, 1 Cor 4:16, 11:1, Heb 10:28).
The Old and New covenants both have the Lord as our God and we are His people (Ezek 37:27, 2Cor 6:16,17). Both require the same obedience of faith, (read Rom 1:6-16:26).
Both the Old and New Covenants require that His laws be written on our heart, (Deut 6:6, Heb 8:10). A true sign that we love Him, that we have faith in Him, and we want to be a testimony of exactly how Jesus our teacher and tutor lived.
Jesus told His followers, “If you believed Moses you would believe in Me, for he wrote of Me, but if you do not believe Moses’ writings HOW WILL YOU BELIEVE MY WORDS?” (John 5:46,47).
Our inter-actions with God and our neighbors are governed by the same laws that are in the Old and New Covenants( Lev 19:18, Ezek 18:5-9, John 14:21, Rom 13:9, Heb 10:28).
We are to BE GRATEFUL for the Lord delivering us out of the condemnation from the law, because of our own particular sin. The Lamb of God was sacrificed as a sin offering in the Old and New Testaments so that we could live. In whatever land we live, we are to find peace and salvation in His Covenant (Isaiah 54:10, Ezek 34:25, 37:26). We are to be holy, because He is holy (1 Pet 1:16).
The bible theme of a consistent level of holiness is new to many. Read all the references to see they are consistent, and not taken out of context of the actual scriptures. Let the Lord speak to you through His Scripture.
Psalm 1:1-2
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