What is the Spirit of Elijah?

It has been long foretold that before the end, God will send the prophet Elijah:

Malachi 4:1-6 - "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty. "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." (NIV)

If you are like me you have heard this scripture quoted a number of times over the years, but what does it mean? Who is Elijah?

The obvious answer is contained in the words of the prophecy, "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers", but I think there is more to it than that.

We also see reference to Elijah in the prophet John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:1-3 - In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" (NIV)

Matthew 11:9-15 - "Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear." (NIV)

Matthew 17:11-13 - Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. (NIV)

And there are other scriptural references to Elijah:

Luke 4:24-27 - "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian." (NIV)

James 5:17-18 - Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (NIV)

When we look at all of the references there seems to be more to the Spirit of Elijah than was first apparent...

• A time of judgement is coming (Malachi 4:1-6)
• Elijah prepares the way for Christ (Matthew 11:9-15)
• Elijah comes to restore (Matthew 17:11-13)
• Elijah’s mission is to turn the hearts of children to fathers and fathers to children (Malachi 4:1-6)
• Elijah’s message is repentance (Matthew 3:1-3)
• Those who revere the Lord will prosper (Malachi 4:1-6)

You need to understand this because it is very important to the times that are ahead of us. As Christians we cannot afford to continue on in our old familiar routines. The signs are everywhere! Something very big is happening in the spiritual realm, something that has never been seen or felt before on this earth. Cling to your faith, and make your hearts right with God. Do not be afraid as the world falls apart around you, because it is not falling apart.

Malachi 4:2-3 "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty. (NIV)

But be warned. Elijah walks among you now...

• Elijah was a man just like us (James 5:17-18)
• Elijah was not recognized by the people he came to (Matthew 17:11-13)
• Elijah was not accepted by his hometown (Luke 4:24-27)
• Those who reject Elijah will be cursed (Malachi 4:1-6)

God might be speaking through the words of a friend, or a young child, or a passer by on the street. Beware so you don’t fail to recognize and reject the message. Although the source may seem ordinary and unimportant, I assure you that the words are not...


James :)