The Ministry of Elijah

Read Malachi 3:1; 4:1-6 

Recently we spent several weeks of “Saturday” blogs on various signs of the times mentioned in Scripture that relate to conditions at the time of Jesus’ return.  We did not refer to the strongest sign given to the people of Israel.  That sign is given in the closing words of the Old Testament, the promise to send Elijah the prophet.  Malachi 3:1 refers to him as My messenger who will prepare the way before Me.  His ministry will be followed when the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple.

Malachi 4:5-6 gives the name of this messenger, Elijah the prophet.  He will have a ministry of restoration, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.  Isaiah spoke of this same forerunner as the voice … crying in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3).  These words were, of course, applied to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus in His incarnation (Matthew 3:1-3).  He called the people to repentance and announced that the Messiah would soon be coming (John 1:26-27).

The Jews in Jesus’ day knew about this great sign that would precede the coming of the Messiah (Mark 9:11).  John the Baptist made it clear that he was not Elijah (John 1:21).  And yet, before his birth, it was predicted that John would minister in the spirit and power of Elijah, having a powerful ministry of restoration that would be just like that of Elijah (Luke 1:16-17).  In fact, Jesus would say that John’s ministry was so much the ministry of Elijah that the Jews would be held accountable for rejecting John the Baptist (Matt. 17:12-13).  

What we believe then is that John came as the forerunner before the first coming of Christ.  But Elijah will still come before the return of Christ when He comes to establish His Millennial reign.  Some believe that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-6, a view which I do not share but which I must admit is intriguing since their ministry is very much like Elijah’s ministry.

It is interesting that Elijah’s ministry will be effective in the restoration of family relationships (Malachi 4:6).  This is especially true given the terrible state of those relationships in the end times when …

·        Marriages will be valued lightly (Matthew 24:37-39) and even forbidden (1 Timothy 4:1-5);

·        And children will be in rebellion against their parents (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

 

Elijah’s ministry will be effective as well in successfully preparing the remnant of believing Israelites for when Christ returns they will be ready to receive Him.  God will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested.  They will call on My name, and I will answer them.  I will say, ‘This is My people’; and each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God’ (Zechariah 13:8).  How glorious for our God and His Anointed One in that day!