![]() ![]() God used him to bring about a revival in the Northern Kingdom. ![]() Place in history: Elijah was one of the most important and most respected prophets in Israel’s history. Since he was a full-time prophet/servant of God, God used other means to take care of his needs. He was able to move from place to place easily. This suited him for his role as a full-time prophet and servant of the Lord. He had strange dress and appearance (2 Kings 1:8), was fleet of foot (1 Kings 18:46), had a rugged constitution that resisted famine (1 Kings 19:8), and dwelt in caves (1 Kings 17:3). However, from his habits it appears that Elijah was an outdoors type. Training and occupation: No specific training is mentioned. Therefore Elijah, whose name means “Yahweh is God” or the “Lord is my God”, would have stood out from the crowd and faced danger of persecution and death. The people primarily worshiped Baal, partially because of the influence of Jezebel. The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already split off from Judah for a long time. When and where he lived: Elijah lived during the ninth century B.C. The tribe of Benjamin produced several heroes and mighty warriors. He was a Benjamite, son of Jeroham (1 Chro 8:27). John 3:30), yet Jesus credited John as the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy regarding the return of Elijah.Īs the metaphorical Elijah, John called people to repentance and a life of obedience, preparing the people of his generation for the coming of Jesus Christ, the One who had come “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10) and to establish the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).Ancestry and family life: Elijah was a Tishbite from Gilead. There is no contradiction, then, simply a humble prophet giving an honest opinion of himself. John may not have seen himself as the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6. Second, John’s words could indicate a difference between John’s view of himself and Jesus’ view of him. When John denied being Elijah, he could have been countering the idea that he was the actual Elijah who had been taken to heaven. First, because Elijah had never died (2 Kings 2:11), many first-century rabbis taught that Elijah was still alive and would reappear before the Messiah’s arrival. There are two explanations for this apparent contradiction. “And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not’” (John 1:21). Some argue that John the Baptist was not the Elijah to come because John himself said that he was not Elijah. Fifth, both men withstood kings and had high-profile enemies (1 Kings 18:17 and Matthew 14:3). Fourth, both men preached a message of repentance. Third, like Elijah, John the Baptist preached in the wilderness (Matthew 3:1). ![]() Second, he dressed like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8 and Matthew 3:4). Jesus then predicted He would likewise die at the hands of His enemies (17:13).Ī brief look at the ministry of John the Baptist reveals many notable ways that he was “Elijah.” First, God predicted John’s work as being like that of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Jesus clearly stated that Elijah had already come, but, tragically, he was not recognized and had been killed. Peter, James, and John were familiar with their teachings and asked Jesus about Elijah after seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). The scribes were the Jewish religious teachers, mostly Pharisees and Sadducees, who provided commentary on the Jewish Scriptures. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished.’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.” Specifically related to Malachi 4:5-6 is Matthew 17:10-13: “His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. This fulfillment is also mentioned in Mark 1:2-4 and Luke 1:17 7:27. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come” (Matthew 11:13-14). In the New Testament, Jesus reveals that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy: “All the prophets and the law prophesied until John. In other words, the goal would be reconciliation. 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.” To this day, Jewish Seders include an empty chair at the table in anticipation that Elijah will return to herald the Messiah in fulfillment of Malachi’s word.Īccording to Malachi 4:6, the reason for Elijah’s return will be to “turn the hearts” of fathers and their children to each other. ![]() Malachi 4:5-6 offers an intriguing prophecy: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ![]()
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