Lessons from Elijah

Elijah Intercedes for Israel

Khen Lim




Image source: quotesgram.com

There are times in the Bible where we learn how prophecies may have multiple fulfilments. Prophetic lessons from Scripture lead us to another Elijah-like work that will come of age as we approach the End Times just prior to God’s outpour of wrath upon the earth (Mal 4:5-6).

Herein lies Malachi’s declaration, “…I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives” (Mal 4:5-6) just like John the Baptist’s uncanny parallel, in which he was said to have also come in ‘the spirit and power of Elijah’ (Lk 1:17). 

Malachi’s end-time fulfilment features a commission not unlike the one of the first Elijah. The Bible tells us quite clearly that there will be one Elijah-type message calling for repentance and obedience to God that will be preached by the Church (Mt 24:14, 28:19-20)

What God wants of us is to learn, Elijah’s story provides us the setting. We can also learn about the prophet’s message by parallelising with the mission of John the Baptist. Gabriel brought forth a message from God that a prophet was coming to declare the arrival of Christ, the long-awaited Messiah called Jesus. 

That prophet, as we know, turned out to be John the Baptist and he was the one referred to as ‘Elijah-like figure’ (in addition to one who would come later) who declared the coming of Jesus (Mt 11:14, 17:12). In declaring John’s mission, the angel reinforced the likeness ‘in the spirit and power of Elijah’ (Lk 1:16-17).

In fact messages by Elijah and other Old Testament prophets contribute significantly to the founding of the New Testament Church. In Ephesians 2:20, Paul said to first-century church members that they were part of God’s household, ‘built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets’ with Christ Jesus Himself the ‘cornerstone.’

Malachi’s End Time message in 4:5-6 indicates that an Elijah-like work will be undertaken before Christ’s return and as the world steps further into the final time of judgement, there would be two witnesses who would be vested with the authority to halt rain for 3½ years. Unlike Elijah’s time, the rain would not be local but global (Rev 11:3,6).

“And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap* and will prophesy during those 1,260 days… They will have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.”

* ‘sackcloth’ in other translations

God seeks no pleasure in despatching such judgements but His purpose for all the disobedient nations in this case is a stark reminder wrapped up in uncanny rhetoric questioning: ‘Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? … Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live’ (Ezek 18:23). Interestingly, God repeats this in 33:11 although in stronger tones. Jesus’ message concerning the two witnesses will echo Elijah, calling to repentance and obedience while He prepares the people for His Second Coming.

Of all the prophets of the Old Testament, Elijah ranks among the most important for very good reasons. He didn’t just carry out God’s mission faithfully in the sight of great personal danger and hardship but he was also the lone voice who cried in the wilderness in rebuking sin in the land and exposing the false prophets and religions who, during his day, preyed on God’s people. 

It was also Elijah who, through his story, revived true worship and therefore set the wheels in motion for God’s people to return to Him. And the Lord would continue on the same course with Elisha, the next prophet He would despatch to Israel.

Through his entire life, Elijah dedicated himself to the restoration of true worship by interceding in Israel. It was certainly his intercession that brought God’s people to once again faithfully serve Him with all their hearts. And this alone is enough to remain a centrepiece of our Christian faith today.