Every serious Christian knows the hour is desperately late; that soon our beloved Lord
Jesus will meet His Bride in the air (I Thes. 4:16-17). What most people don’t know is that,
even as John the Baptist foreran the first coming of our Lord, there must come a prophet
having the spirit of Elijah who will forerun Christ’s second coming. Of course, even now
there are many false prophets in the world, leading many astray (Mt.24:11-24). But the
same God who said there would be the false, said there would come a TRUE Prophet.
In Mal. 4, where it talks of the end of the world, God said, “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 the fathers, lest I
come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:5-6) This verse, having a compound
meaning, is referring to tow separate comings of Elijah. An angel said concerning John the
Baptist: (Lk 1:17) “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, (note: Elias
is the Greek word for Elijah) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, (John was to
fulfill this much of Mal. 4:6, but that was all, for the angel goes on) and the disobedient to
the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” The angel said
nothing about John turning “the heart of the children to their fathers”, because that part of
Mal. 4:6 didn’t pertain to him.
Now, Jesus said John the Baptist was Elijah, that’s true, (Mt. 11:7-14), “For all the prophets
and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to
come.” But now turn to (John 1:19-2): “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 answered, No.” That’s odd. Jesus said John was Elijah, and John said he
wasn’t.
Does the Bible contradict itself? Not at all. Remember the Jews were expecting the
Messiah to destroy the Romans and set Israel up as the rulers of the world. They were
expecting an Elijah to forerun a Messiah who would come in power. John said, “No, I’m
not that Elijah,” for he was not sent “before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord.” “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.” (John 1:22-23) John, knowing well who he was,
likened himself to Isaiah 40:3.
Christ himself split up Mal. 4:5,6 as two comings of Elijah. Although Jesus had told His
disciples plainly that John the Baptist was Elijah (Matt. 17:10), some time later they were still confused. “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes
that Elias must first come?
(11) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
(12) But I say unto you that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed ...
(13) Then the. disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” (Matt. 17:10-13)
Examine closely verse 11, where Jesus says, “Elias truly SHALL FIRST COME, (note:
future tense. This Elijah had not yet come) and RESTORE ALL THINGS.” Did John the
Baptist restore all things? John prepared a people for our precious Lord’s appearance, but
he didn’t restore all things. But Jesus said there would come an Elijah in the future who
would restore all things.
Now read Acts 3:19-21, where Peter talks about Jesus Christ,
“whom the heavens must receive until the times of RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS.”
So the Lord whom we love must remain in heaven until all things are restored; and Jesus
himself said Elijah would restore all things. Does 1 + 1 = 2? Then this Elijah’s ministry is
essential.
In Matt. 24:37-39 Jesus said, “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the
Son of man be.”
Alright, how was it in the days of Noah? There was gross blindness in the people concerning the Word of God, which caused them to act wickedly. God sent one man, a prophet, with a Message, “Come into the ark and be saved!” God said that if he didn’t send Elijah in these last days, the Truth would be so watered down and messed up he
would have to “smite the earth with a curse.” This Elijah’s message will be, “Come into
Christ and be saved!” Remember, Christ is the Word, (John 1:1,14; 1 John 5:7). The Word
of God has been twisted and perverted and lost down through the ages until today there are
more than 900 denominations in the world, all claiming to have the correct interpretation
of the Word. But God promised the Truth would be restored.
This, in fact, is what the strange language of Mal. 4:6 says. The angel said John would “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.”
By studying what John later did we can see he turned the hearts of the orthodox Jewish fathers’ faith to the new faith in Jesus Christ, for Christ’s followers at
John’s time were but spiritual children. Those children grew spiritually and became the
apostolic fathers, whom God used to build His church, and to write the New Testament.
But the churches today have strayed from that original foundation, (Eph. 2:19-20) to their
organizational ideas and man-made theologies until the Truth lies hidden before our eyes,
smothered by hundreds of philosophies and millions of opinions. This end-time Elijah will
“turn the heart of the children to their fathers”, that is: he will turn the hearts of us, the
children of the end-time, back to the faith of our apostolic fathers, until our faith, lives, and
doctrine match theirs perfectly.
Briefly we will sketch this Elijah through the Book of Revelation. In Chapters 2 and 3
Jesus Christ is dictating 7 letters to 7 Gentile churches in Asia Minor. If you note the listed
conditions of each of these churches, then study church history, you’ll discover that each
letter was a prophecy, for the letters in sequence correspond exactly to 6 ages the Gentile
church has gone through. Today we are in the 7th or Laodicean church age, Rev. 3:14-22.
Now notice that each church age has an angel, (Rev. 1:16,20; 2:1,8, 12, 18; 3:1,7,14). The
word angel literally means MESSENGER, and does not always mean a heavenly being,
(Gal. 4:14; Rev. 22:8,9). Since these are earthly Gentile churches, these are earthly angels.
So each church age had an angel, or messenger, the apostle Paul being the messenger to the
first or Ephesian Age. (Rev. 2:1; Acts 9:15; 13:46-49; Rom. 11:13; 15:15-16; Gal. 1:11-12,
2:6-8; Eph. 3:1-8; Tim. 1:11). Concerning the 7th church age we read, “And unto the angel
(Messenger) of the Church of the Laodiceans write...” (Rev. 3:14a). Jesus then severely
denounces the vast, rich, organizational systems of this age, saying they’re poor, blind, naked and DON’T KNOW IT! In verse 20 we find Christ pushed out of his own church,
making a call to the few individuals who hunger and thirst to go all the way with God.
Since this 7th age is the last church age, and since Elijah must restore all things before
Jesus comes for His Bride, we see that the man who will have the spirit of Elijah will also
be the 7th church age messenger. He will be a prophet-messenger, even as John was both
prophet and messenger. (Luke 7:24-27) Therefore Rev. 3:14-22 will be part of this Elijah’s
message.
Now consider Rev. 10:7 “But in the days of the Voice of the seventh anger, when he shall
begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants
the prophets.” According to this verse, the 7th church age messenger will wrap up all the
loose ends in our thinking. God will reveal to him the mysteries that have been hid in the
Bible pages through the centuries, thus finishing the mystery of God, at least to the extent
that He has declared it to the prophets. This corresponds to what the man clothed in linen
told Daniel, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of
the end:” (Dan. 12:4a, 8-9). So the vision given Daniel must be revealed in our day, and
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth unto his servants the prophets,”
Amos 3:7. Some other mysteries this Elijah will reveal are:
The Mystery of the translation
of the saints (1 Cor. 15:51-54) of the Church as the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:28-32) of
godliness, (1 Tim. 3:16) of iniquity (2 Thes. 2:6-12) of MYSTERY, BABYLON THE
GREAT, MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH (Rev. 17).
Are you beginning to see the necessity of receiving this end-time Elijah and his Message?
Jesus said, “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s
reward.” (Matt. 10:41a) and again, “He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth ME
(John 13:20). How can you say you love Jesus, then reject a prophet whom Jesus sends?
You’re standing on shaky ground. Be careful, lest you have the same spirit as the religious
Pharisees, who believed what God did IN THE PAST, but could not accept what God was
doing RIGHT BEFORE THEIR EYES! They reviled the blind man whom Jesus had
healed, saying, “Thou art his disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God
spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is,” (John 9:28-29.
Jesus said of these hypocrites, “For had ye believed Moses, (really believed him) ye would
have believed me: for he wrote of me,” (John 5:46). Likewise, if we really believe Jesus
Christ, we will believe His end-time Elijah, for Jesus spoke of him. Christ also said to the
Pharisees, “And ye have not His (the Father’s) Word abiding in you: for whom He hath
sent, him ye believe not,” (John 5:38) Oh, Christians, let us believe that Elijah when we
recognize him! Remember, everyone who rejected Noah’s message perished in the flood.
To reject God’s prophet is to reject God, (1 Sam. 8:4-7; Ex. 16:2,8).
However many people will reject this prophet-messenger. It’s always been that way. Most
prophets were never received by the majority of people in their day, (Matt. 5:11-12; Acts
7:51-52). Out of millions, only 7 listened to Noah. The children of Israel continually
murmured and rebelled against Moses; the people rejected Samuel; Elijah was so hated he
thought he was the only one left who loved God; the people constantly laughed at
Jeremiah; Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee...” (Matt. 23:34-37). All the scriptures concerning this end-
time Elijah will be fulfilled, yet so simply and humbly most will miss it. (Example: read the
spectacular prophecy about John the Baptist ministry, (Isa. 40:4), then read in Matt. 3:1-12
how humbly it was fulfilled). But how can we find this true prophet-Messenger, amidst the
multitude of false prophets that swarm the earth today? Jesus said, “by their fruits ye shall
know them, (Matt. 7:15-20). Not only by their gifts and miracles, now, for many will do
signs and wonders in the Name of Jesus Christ, and yet be workers of iniquity, (Matt. 7:22-
23; Mark 13:22; Deut. 13:1-3).
False prophets will look like seep, (Matt. 7:15). False
prophets will be WIDELY ACCEPTED MEN, LIKED, ADMIRED, AND WELL
SPOKEN OF BY ALL! (Luke 6:26)
False prophets will mislead many because of what
they speak is true, yet they will really be after your money, (2 Pet. 2:1-3).
False prophets will make people trust in a lie, (Jer. 28:15) saying things as, “Be at peace, you’ll be in the
rapture, whether your life lines up with the Word or not,” (Jer. 23:16-17; Ezekiel 13:10a).
False prophets will “Pervert the right ways of the Lord” and though they have power, it will
be nothing compared to God’s true prophet, (Acts 13:6-12; Ex. 7:8-12). Yet their ways are
extremely deceptive, (Jer. 23:9-32; Ezek.13).
False prophets will look and act so close to
the real prophet, that only the elect will not be deceived, (Matt. 24:24; 2 Chronicles 18;
Jeremiah 28).
But there is one final test. God said, “And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the
word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord,
if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken,
but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously thou shalt not be afraid of him,” (Deut.
18:21-22). That is how to tell a true prophet, when he prophesies in the Name of the Lord
and the thing comes to pass, (see also Jer. 28:9). This end-time Elijah will have “THUS
SAITH THE LORD.” When he says “THUS SAITH THE LORD” on doctrine, it will be
perfectly in line with the scriptures. When he says, “THUS SAITH THE LORD, such and
such will happen,” the thing will happen exactly as said. If it ever fails to be perfect, just
once, he’s not a prophet, for every prophet has “THUS SAITH GOD” and God’s Word
can’t fail.
A Prophet's words under the Anointing are not his own; they are God’s words, (1 Peter 1:20-21).
Now, Jesus said concerning John the Baptist, “ But I say unto you, that Elias is come
already, and they KNEW HIM NOT, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed,”
(Matt. 17:12-13). Everyone in Christ’s day was looking for Elijah to come, yet he came
and went and THEY MISSED HIM! Likewise they were looking for the Messiah, yet He
came and went and THEY MISSED HIM! Would it be any surprise if this end-time Elijah
would come and go and the majority of people miss him? That ought to make us fall on our
faces before God in fervent prayer, for we know the hour is late, our Lord’s coming is nigh.
Of course, simply recognizing this prophet-Messenger won’t save anyone, for salvation
comes only through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. However, we must heed this
Prophet’s Message, for he will turn us to the PURE Jesus Christ, free from all man-made
creeds, doctrines, traditions, philosophies, programs and ideas. The Bride of Christ must
be so much like Him, she will be saying the same thing he says, (Rev. 22:17a). She must
have “the mind of Christ,” even as did the Bride in the Ephesian church age. 1 Cor. 2:16,
Paul said, “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: that he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water BY THE WORD (and this end-time Elijah will restore
the PURE WORD for the Bride) that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not
having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing (creeds, traditions) but that it should be holy and
without blemish,” (Eph. 5:25-27). Through this Elijah’s message we will know exactly
what does and what doesn’t please our Lord Jesus. We will be restored.
One more thought. John the Baptist prepared a people for the Lord, even as the angel said
he would. But did he prepare everyone? Though many heard him, there were but a few who
really perceived his MESSAGE and were prepared for the Lord. Likewise this end-time
Elijah will “restore all things,” but not for everybody. There will be relatively few who
heed his MESSAGE, come into the fullness of Christ and are really ready for the Rapture.
Few? “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be
that find it,” (Matt. 7:13-14; also Luke 13:23-24; 1 Cor. 9:24). “For many are called, but
Few are chosen,” (Matt. 20:16; 22:14).
Eight were saved in Noah’s day; three saved in the
days of Lot.
Jesus said both of these were types of His Second Coming, (Luke 17:26-30).
And after the “Rapture”, of course, “There shall be a time of trouble such as never was
since there was a nation,” (Daniel 12:1). “For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the PROUD, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the day that
cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord,” (Malachi 4:1).
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man,” (Luke 21:36; 1 Peter
4:7). For what if that prophet should come and you should miss him as the Pharisees
missed John the Baptist? (Matt. 17:12-13; 21:23-25). Or what if he has already come and
gone?
“Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold ye
despisers, and wonder and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in
no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.” (Acts 13:40-41) In other words, you
must be careful lest you be so high-minded and set in your ways that you can’t receive that
prophet and his Message when it is declared unto you. (Rom. 11:20-21).
It is a serious hour, and this is no trifling subject. Dear Christian, may you be like the people
of Berea, who “were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so,” (Acts 17:10-11; also 1 Thes. 5:17-21)
