Ministries of Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist - From Biblical Scriptures

THE COMINGS OF ELIJAH

ELIJAH THE TISHBITE And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. I Kings 18:30

CHARACTERISTICS OF ELIJAHS MINISTRY Prophesied judgment upon a backslidden nation Held back rain for 3 years Repaired the altar of the Lord on Mt. Carmel In the time of the Divided kingdom, Elijah used 12 stones

ELISHA And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. II Kings 2:9

CHARACTERISTICS OF ELISHAS MINISTRY Continued the ministry of Elijah Given a double portion of the spirit of Elijah Illustrated how the spirit of Elijah would be used later The sons of the prophets still wanted to look for Elijah! Twice as many miracles Significant dealings with Gentiles Naaman Hazael

JOHN THE BAPTIST But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. Luke 1:13

CHARACTERISTICS OF JOHNS MINISTRY Prepared the way for Messiah Turned the hearts of the fathers to the children

JOHN: PREPARINGTHE WAY Matthew 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [cf. Is. 40:3]

JOHN: PREPARING THE WAY Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

JOHN: PREPARING THE WAY Matthew 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. [cf. Mal. 3:1]

JOHN: PREPARING THE WAY Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

JOHN: TURNING THE FATHERS HEARTS Luke 1:15-17 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 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.

FATHERS & CHILDREN IN DAYS OF JOHN The Children were having their hearts turned to the Lord their God, not to the fathers! (Luke 1:16) Incidentally, Jesus often referred to His followers as children. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. (Jn. 13:33) In John s day, the children of the prophecies were characterized by their obedience.

FATHERS & CHILDREN IN DAYS OF JOHN The fathers were opposing the ministries of John and Jesus Part of that day s message was to turn the hearts of a corrupt priesthood to the simple faith of the children and he shall purify the sons of Levi (Mal. 3:3b) except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3) The ministry was effective; according to Acts 6:7, a great company of priests were obedient to the faith

AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE JUST Who were the Disobedient and who was the Just ? Is Luke 1:17 not merely a paraphrase of Malachi 4:6? Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE JUST Who were the Disobedient and who was the Just ? Is Luke 1:17 not merely a paraphrase of Malachi 4:6? Acts 7:51-52 (Stephen before the Council) Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE JUST Who were the Disobedient and who was the Just ? Is Luke 1:17 not merely a paraphrase of Malachi 4:6? Acts 22:14 (Ananias to Saul) And [Ananias] said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE JUST The second part of Luke 1:17 cannot be a paraphrase of Malachi 4:6 The Just = Jesus Christ, not the fathers who were rejecting Christ s ministry! It doesn t make sense for John to turn the hearts of obedient children to disobedient fathers! So a part of Malachi 4:6 still awaited fulfillment

ELIJAH? TO THE GENTILES?!? The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. Malachi 1:1

MALACHI, FOR BOTH JEWS ANDGENTILES Malachi 1:11 specifically mentions the Gentiles Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, quotes from Malachi 1:2-3 in his Epistle to the Romans (ch.9) Remember that Elisha also had a ministry for Gentiles Such a narrow interpretation of a book s introductory verse brings one to conclusions that are plainly wrong (example: Isaiah)

ISAIAH, ALSO FOR JEWS ANDGENTILES Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem . Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . Isaiah 53:5 with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 7:14 A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 65:17 Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth .

EXPECTATIONS OF ELIJAH IN CHURCH HISTORY

And what John was to the first advent, that would Elias be to the Second Advent. As there are two advents of the Judge, so are there two heralds . Elias will be in the second advent what John was in the first. St. Augustine, quoted in the Douay-Rheims Study Bible

For both the Forerunner and Elijah have the same ministry. The one was the Forerunner of the first coming, while Elijah will be the forerunner of the second coming. Then, showing that it is an enigma that John is Elijah, and requires wisdom to understand it, He says: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Mt. 11:15). - Theophylact of Ohrid (d. 1107), Commentary on Matthew, quoted in the Douay-Rheims Study Bible

I know of nothing more to expect concerning the coming of Elijah unless it might be that his spirit will be manifest again in the power of the Word of God, as now seems probable. For I have no longer any doubt that the Pope, with the Turks, is Antichrist, whatever you may believe. -Martin Luther, Third Christmas Sermon , in The Precious and Sacred Writings of Martin Luther, p. 171

TWO FULFILLMENTS OF MALACHI 4:5-6 John the Baptist As first forerunner, preparing the way Turning hearts of fathers to children Later fulfillment As second forerunner, restoring the way Turning the hearts of children to fathers Matthew 17:11-12 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 .

HEARTS OF CHILDREN TO FATHERS Contrast between the church in Revelation 1-3 and in Acts show a need for restoration In the New Testament, fathers of the Church are shown positively, as an example or model. I Corinthians 4:15-16 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

"As John the Baptist was sent forth for a forerunner of the first coming of Christ, so will your message be the forerunning of the second coming. June 1933

FIVE COMINGS OF ELIJAHS SPIRIT Elijah the Tishbite Elisha, with a double portion John the Baptist, preparing the way for 1st Coming William Branham, restoring the way for 2nd Coming With Moses to the 144,000 during the Tribulation (in fulfillment of prophecies in Zechariah)

Matthew 25:5-6 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.