THE ELIJAH MESSAGE

MALACHI 4:5

A. THE ELIJAH MESSAGE
  1. A reformatory message: 1 Ki. 18:19
  2. Directed - mainly to Israel: Mal. 4:5
  3. Accompanied by great power: 1 Ki. 18:30-38
  4. The work of Elijah was symbolic of:
    1. The work of John the Baptist - Matt. 11:1-14; 16:14
    2. The Three Angels' message of Rev. 14:6-12; Mal. 4:1-7
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
  1. The man Elijah:
    1. He was a man of like passions as we are - Jas. 5:17
    2. Those passions revealed themselves on a number of occasions in his ministry. Compare 2 Ki. 1:10-12 with 1 Ki. 18:40; 19:4
  2. He was a man of great power:
    1. Heaven withheld rain for the earth the space of three and one-half years at his petition - Jas. 5:17
    2. Fire consumed the offering, the water, the stone - 1 Ki. 18:37, 38
    3. This power was recognized by his disciples and they desired a portion of it - 2 Ki. 2:9
  3. Secret of this great power:
    1. The presence and indwelling of the Holy Ghost in his life - Acts 1:8
    2. It is the Holy Spirit which energizes human beings to do exploits for God - EXAMPLES -
  4. Joseph - Gen. 41:38
  5. Daniel - Dan. 4:8, 18
  6. Our Lord - John 7:26
  7. The Spirit and Power of Elijah was to be repeated:
    1. In the ministry of John the Baptist - Matt. 3:1-9
    2. In the Second Advent Movement - Rev. 18:1; Acts 2:17
C. NATURE OF THE ELIJAH MESSAGE
  1. A reformatory message: 1 Ki. 18:1-32; 19:1-26
  2. A reform that would affect the family relationship:Mal. 4:6
  3. The work of Elijah was typical of the work of John the Baptist:
    1. That is what Christ said - Matt. 11:14
    2. The work of John the Baptist was a preparatory work, preparing the way for the first coming of the Son of God - Luke 1:17
  4. Of special interest to us today is that the closing work of the Third Angel will be marked by great power: Rev. 18:1-3
    1. This work, too, is a reformatory work - bringing, among other things, the Bible Sabbath to God's people - Isa. 56:1-7; 58:1-14
    2. It will restore to the believers all those gospel truths that the Reformers in the earlier days of the Reformation were either unwilling to preach or were uninformed about it.
    3. The Advent message, too, will affect family life in its truest relationship to godliness and love for the truth - 2 Cor. 6:14-17
    4. God will have a people separated from the world and its defilements - Rev. 18:4; 1 John 2:15, 16
    5. God's people will have come out of Babylon in every word, thought, and action - 2 Cor. 6:17; Rom. 13:11-14
    6. God's ideal for His people will have been brought about through the proclamation of Present Truth - John 8:32-36; Rev. 14:12; 19:7; Eph. 5:26-28
    7. Significant to us is the fact that the closing work of the third angel will be accompanied with great power - Early Writings, pages 277-278.


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