The Coming of Elijah

While some are content to get their end-time signs from newspaper headlines, others seek to understand the signs listed in the Bible. There are six signs of the end mentioned in Scripture.

One of those signs is the coming of the Elijah the prophet. Elijah was a 9th century B.C. prophet who lived during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah. He greatly influence the moral climate of his date with a legacy that continued for centuries.

The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord

Elijah's "second coming" precedes the day of the Lord. God promised an appearance of Elijah within the last days. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Malachi 4:5)

Elijah's mission, serves to assist in properly identifying him. When he arrives, he turns the hearts of fathers to the children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. This is a message of repentance. So important it was that God threatened a curse upon the land of Israel were he to fail.

Elijah's Identity Revealed

Addressing the multitudes, in Matthew chapter 11:7-13, Jesus raises questions about John the Baptist. Interestingly, he weaves in his comments about John, a connection with Malachi's prophesy of a coming messenger. Compare Matthew 11:10, with Malachi 3:1.

What is even more striking is the emphatic declaration, "And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come." (Matthew 11:14) The mystery evaporates. John the Baptist is the subject of Malachi's prophesy. He is Elijah, propesied in the prophets.

Elijah's Appearance With Moses

In the transfiguration scene of Matthew chapter 17, Elijah, the ancient prophet, appears with Jesus, Moses and the disciples. However, as he and Moses fade from the scene, Jesus again takes up the subject of Malachi's prophecy, carefully explaining the details of Elijah.

In response to the disciples question, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? Jesus answer and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him wbut did to him whateever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.

Well aware of the details of a recent violent event, The disciples then understood that Jesus spoke to them of John the Baptist. John, an uncompromising moral reformer characterized Elijah in spirit, hence he is styled, the second Elijah. (Matthew 17:10-13)

John's Mission Fulfills The Prophecy

Zechariah the priest, John's father receives a message from Gabriel the angel regarding the child to be born of Elizabeth. Gabriel emphasized the moral character of John. He would would great in the sight of God, would abstain from wine and strong drink and would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

Specifically, Gabriel quotes the prophecy of Malachi. "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 teh wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

There can be no doubt that John is the messenger, the Elijah of whom the prophet spoke. Jesus' and angels testify that he fulfilled the prophecy.

The Meaning of the Sign

The message of Elijah given to Israel in the first century, defined and delineated the nearness of the end. John's presence as Elijah confirmed the near and soon arrival of the kingdom of God and the end-time. He preached a message saying 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matt. 3:2)

That message always concluded with God's wrath upon Israel in which he would burn them with fire. (Matthew 3:8-12).

In summary, John, as Elijah, fulfills one of six signs of the end. John's arrival in the first century, shows how near the end was. The coming of the dreadful day of God, i.e. the return of Christ in judgment was near in the first century. The signs are there to confirm it. That is why Jesus said, his generation would not pass till all those things were fulfilled. (Matthew 24:34)