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The Prophet Elijah
by Ethel Ashe-Frear Did Elijah have a secret to his ministry? Many years ago I was led to investigate and record information concerning the new coming of the Prophet Elijah with compelling insight regarding the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. One important issue we must remember is that man is not capable of creating a prophet as some religions would have us believe. I will attempt to explain critical scriptures emphasizing the importance that only God alone can create and raise up a prophet. For those folks who enjoy a challenging Bible study this is it. In Bible research a cross-reference with another verse is necessary to establish positive validation. Two verses are good, three are excellent; I did not make the rules, I just follow them. http://www.bible-researcher.com/rules.html This paper is a SUMMARY of a more extensive research in an attempt to explain my analytical and spiritual thoughts. It was condensed to provide the reader understanding, without the complexity of too many scripture references. Several verses are written out, others limited in scope with added verses for the Bible scholar to look up for personal complete study. We first need as a premise for this study a key Bible verse. We begin in the book of Luke 1:17 - "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 the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." I cross-reference to Malachi 3:1, "Behold I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me . . . ." The verse in Revelation 11:3 - "And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy . . . . " I use as a cross-reference, important to this analysis. It involves not only the coming Elijah but Enoch as well. These two prophets never saw death as recorded in the scriptures. Not the same prophets mentioned in the Old Testament, but two which God will raise up in the latter days. In Hebrews 11:5 we read - "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death . . . ." and in II Kings 2:11 - "And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind." I cross-referenced to Zechariah 4:11-14; this verse talks about the two olive trees symbolic of the anointed ones by God. Matthew 17:13, tells us about John the Baptist who, with the "spirit and power" of the Old Testament Elijah is the forerunner for Jesus first coming. This modern day Elijah will be the forerunner of the Second Coming of Jesus and will be accompanied by a new Enoch as well. Can we identify the coming of a person know as the Prophet Elijah? Is it possible this could actually happen in our time, in this generation? I am not speaking of the Elijah of the Old Testament, but of one molded by years of pain and suffering, tested in the fire of life beyond endurance at times, refusing to give up. This prophet, seasoned by hardships of living experiences will come in spirit and power as was the previous prophet John the Baptist. Each year at Passover the Jewish people provide a place setting on the table for Elijah. Next a door is opened a couple inches so that the prophet may enter. I am a Jew born in the body of a believer. I firmly believe tradition can be based on fact. Finding truth in traditional fact sometimes is a challenge. * * * * I begin this study with scripture verses in Malachi 4:5-6. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. . . ." And cross-referenced to, Matthew 11:14-15. "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come." Many believe the verse in Malachi reveals that John is Elijah. But, in fact, it is only John the Baptist in 'spirit and power' from God. Both Malachi and Matthew speak about the prophet to come. The Second Coming of Jesus known as the Second Advent. We can also cross-reference to Luke 1:17. "He will also go before Him in the SPIRIT and POWER of Elijah." Spirit and power are our key words. If we look at John 1:21 we read, "And they asked him, [John the Baptist] what then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." Are you the Prophet? And he answered, "No." We read in John 1:23, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said." John the Baptist knew he was not the Elijah to come again. Many came in spirit and power, but the one foretold for the future would be the coming of the Prophet Elijah, who is to be the second forerunner for Second Coming of Jesus. John the Baptist was the forerunner for the First Advent of Jesus this is clear. In Luke 1:16-17, tells us one aspect of the prophet's mission on this earth. First, we must have people PREPARED for the Second Coming. "And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 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 the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." For the second time, now we will have the re-gathering of Israel in Isaiah 11:11. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his had again the second time to recover the remnant of his people. . . ." * * * Now we will investigate Elijah the Prophet and the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel Passover is called a night of watching. Exodus 12:42 tells us - "It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations." Found in Numbers 9:2-5 we read - "Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it. Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover." In the "The Passover Haggadah" Rabbi Morris Silverman states here that, "Among the waited guests is the Prophet Elijah who, according to tradition, never died, but was carried up to heaven." I think we have this on good authority that it is not just tradition but scriptural as in II Kings 2:11. "Suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." In addition, as noted previously in Hebrews 11:5. Rabbi Silverman goes on to say, "The life of no other character in Jewish History is as surrounded with a halo of mystery and wonder as is that of Elijah." In Jewish legend, Elijah is the champion of the oppressed who will bring hope, cheer and help for those in need as well as many miracles. God will instruct the Prophet to bring deliverance, insight and peace to a hurting world. As stated by Rabbi Silverman - "It is Elijah who can explain all difficult passages in the Bible and Talmud, and will settle all future controversies." He goes on to say, quoting Malachi, "His name is especially associated with the coming of the Messiah, whose advent he is expected to announce." "Encyclopedia Judaic," Volume 13 - states, "It is customary to have on the Seder table a full cup of wine known as Elijah's cup. Reflections on past deliverance awaken hope for the final redemption, and Elijah, being the herald of the Messiah." "The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia" - Passover quote. "The idea of the deliverance became the culminating idea of the festival. After the second destruction of Jerusalem (70 C.E.) this became the sole idea, wherefore this festival is always called, 'the time of our deliverance.' Further significance became associated with the Passover of Egypt as hope for the Passover of the future; the hope for Israel's redemption from exile and dispersion." "The Passover Haggadah," Philip Birnbaum stated - "An old tradition that Elijah will settle every doubtful case shortly before the coming of the Messiah." "Encyclopedia Judaic," Volume 15, "The Lost Tribes consists of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The Southern Kingdom, Judah and Benjamin are the law keepers. Now the tribes are taken captive." As we may read in the following verses. II Kings 17:6. "In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away into Assyria . . . ." II Kings 18:11-12. "And the King of Assyria did carry away Israel captive to Assyria . . . because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them." In summary: Elijah was filled with the spirit and power from God. We have used Bible scriptures quoting many well known Rabbis from their own text and then cross-referencing to validate the new coming of Elijah the Prophet one whom God has chosen to fill with the same 'spirit and power' as like unto Elijah of the Old Testament. Soon to come. We will conclude the Second Segment of this study - Part II with scriptural based facts regarding the "People of Israel Exiled to Assyria the Northern Kingdom." Stating with documented evidence that the Rabbis' speak of the Messiah with proof of the Prophecy of the New Covenant. In the final Bible study we will investigate, Part III - "A Veil over the Eyes of Judah." * * * * Sources: The Passover Haggadah Encyclopedia Judaic The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia Everyman's Talmud Scripture: New King James Version (NKJV) Graduate - Baptist Institute for Christian Workers, Bryn Mawr, PA; NRI McGraw-Hill Center for Writing, Washington, D.C. Studied only Wesley Seminary, D.C. & Asbury Theological Seminary, Orlando, FL (2 yrs). Completed on-line course Jewish Seminary, N.Y. Past student - The Christian Writers Guild. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |