Part 19: The Coming Of Elijah:
Chapter 4 Malachi
In
the name of God, Master of the universe, Ruler of the earth.
Elijah was one of the greatest prophets
whoever lived. He came in the person of John the Baptist to pave the way for
the Messiah. (See I Kings 17- II Kings 2 for the story of Elijah).
Malachi 4:5.
"Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the Lord”.
With Malachi's death
the voice of Gods prophets would be silent for 400 years. In Matthew 17:10-13,
Luke 1:17 we see the scripture that reveals the coming of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist prepared the people for Jesus Christ by preaching repentance for
their sins. His message was one of unity and peace. However, there was a coming
judgment for those who refused to turn from sin.
Related Scripture
Matthew 11:14. "And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to
come”.
Elias in the New Testament
is the form for Elijah in the Old. Malachi 4:5 had prophesied that Elijah the
prophet was to come in the spirit and power of Elias. John the Baptist was not
Elias in person (Elias had gone to heaven see II Kings 2:11). However John the
Baptist had the same kind of spirit and power as Elias and is called by his
name.
We also call your
attention to several other verses in Matthew 11 that relate to our subject.
These verses give us a better understanding of John the Baptist and his role in
the New Kingdom. Thus, we will note verses 8-13.
Verse 8. "A man
clothed in soft raiment”?
John wore the
clothing and ate the food of the common people.
Verse 9. "More
than a Prophet”.
John was a prophet,
but he also had been especially selected to prepare the way for Christ. Also
John had been the follower of other prophecies, but he was more than a prophet.
Verse 10.
"Behold I send my messenger before thy face”.
Isaiah and Malachi
had both prophesied concerning John preparing the way for Christ (Isaiah 40:3-4,
Malachi 3:1).
Verse 11. "Among
them that are born of women”.
Up to the time of
John's birth there had never been a greater prophet than he. He fulfilled
prophecies and also uttered prophecies of great importance.
"He that is
least in the kingdom of heaven”.
John was not in the
kingdom of heaven, he simply announced the coming of the kingdom. Now that the
kingdom has been established, even the least in the kingdom enjoys greater
privileges than John had. They preach the crucified Savior and have the
complete forgiveness of their sins.
Verse 12. "From
the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth
violence”.
During the days of
John the Baptist the kingdom existed in its preparatory state. Even then men
sought to take advantage of its privileges by the use of force and political
power.
Verse 13. "For
all the prophets and law prophesied until John”.
After Malachi
completed his Book, there was not one word of inspiration from heaven recorded
until the voice of John was heard in the wilderness. Therefore there was
silence until his teaching about the kingdom introduced the new subject.
The law and the
prophets actually ended with the death of Christ (see Colossians 2:14, and
Hebrews 10:9). The benefits of the Old Testament law lasted until the Pentecost
Day of Acts 2, and Hebrew 9:17. John was set to prepare the way for Christ and
beginning with Him the announcement was made that the Old Testament
dispensation was about to close.
Mark 9:11-13
V. 11. "And they
asked him, saying, why say the scribes that Elias must first come”?
Meanwhile the
disciples were confused and found it hard to understand that their Messiah
would have to suffer. The Jews who studied the Old Testament prophecies
expected the Messiah to be a great king, like David. Thus they expected the
coming Messiah to overthrow the enemy, Rome.
Therefore, they could
not comprehend the values of God's eternal kingdom. The present world presented
many problems. Thus, they longed for relief from their problems. However, the
word of God reveals that deliverance from physical suffering, political
oppression is not as important as the relief from sin.
carl@freedomjournalpress.comcastbiz.net