Elijah- Coming Before Christ!
by V.H. Vobes

Editor's Comment: This is a subject sure to invoke differing opinions and each opinion will support its view through Scripture. And it is a confusing bit of Scripture! I personally agree with the writer and credit Charles Hurst, a late Bible scholar, in leading me to this conclusion. I had been involved in my own study when Charles pointed out that Jesus Christ came in the flesh the first time around and His way was paved by John the Baptist, also of the flesh. Yet, when He returns, He will come in all His resurrected glory and it will be Elijah, in His resurrected body, who will precede Him. Since John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus, Charles believed Elijah will precede Christ by six months as well and as Elijah first went to King Ahad, this time around he will first go to the Royal House of David. Some interesting thoughts as we read this very excellent article.

Why has the Vital Prophecy of Malachi, the greatest of Prophecies, second only of importance to the Return of Jesus Christ, been so neglected, so little spoken of or written about? Let us see what the prophet Malachi says: "Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Surely these words are plain enough for the most simple mind to understand, yet there are many Christians in the world and in our own British Israel organizations today that believe and teach that Malachi 4:5,6 was fulfilled in John the Baptist, (in the Spirit and Power of Elijah). John was indeed the Forerunner and Herald of Christ's First Coming, The Saviour to lay down His life for the Redemption of Israel. But Elijah the Prophet is to come as Christ's Herald at His Second Coming, as The King of Glory. Furthermore the missions of John and Elijah are entirely different, John was to pave the way for Christ's short ministry among His Own People, and the road to Calvary for the Suffering Messiah. Elijah's mission prior to Our Lord's Second Advent is to lead Israel , God's Servant Nation, back to God, to prepare a People to meet their King. Elijah's mission can be said to be twofold, first as Leader of the Nation, and secondly as Administrator to proclaim the Law of the Lord to the people, as Malachi puts it - the turning of the hearts of the fathers and the children. Let us reason together and use our own com mon sense, that God has given us. Is there a mortal man in the whole House of Israel that could accomplish the stupendous task that had fallen upon Elijah? A man after God's own heart. Could a Bush or a Blair qualify to take complete control of a Great Nation during the Period of Transition, from the abolition of the old order of things to the restoration of a New Order? Not exactly a New Order, God's Laws are eternal. They existed before the World began and exist today but we do not obey them. Therefore we and the whole of Mankind suffer. When we do turn to the Lord and obey His laws we shall experience a prosperity beyond our wildest dreams, and who would know more about the Laws of God than Elijah who was schooled by the Spirit in the days of Ancient Israel. Let us give God's Word our profound thought and study.