What promise, through the prophet Malachi, does the Lord make concerning Elijah-Study,18/9/2022

                    ELIJAH THE PROPHET
1. WHAT promise, through the prophet Malachi, does the
Lord make concerning Elijah?

Malachi 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the
coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

2. What will this prophet do when he comes?

verse 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children,
and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite
the earth with a curse.

NOTE–Counsel and Foods and Diets,pp.71–John separated himself from friends, and from the luxuries of life. The simplicity of his dress, a garment woven of camel’s hair, was a standing rebuke to the extravagance and display of the Jewish priests, and of the people generally. His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the indulgence of appetite, and the gluttony that everywhere prevailed. The prophet Malachi declares, “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 heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” Here the prophet describes the character of the work. Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ, are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ’s first advent.

3. Whom did Christ indicate as fulfilling this prophecy?

Matthew 17:10-17  And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

NOTE–Signs of the Times 11, 26, pp. 438, pararah 3.july 26—It is well; for Elijah and his times form one of the most interesting subjects that can be studied by the people of the present day.
The very last words of the Old Testament are a prophecy concerning Elijah: “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 heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5, 6.

As they came down from the Mount of Transfiguration the disciples asked Jesus about this prophecy, as follows: “And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” Matthew 17:9-13.
According to these words of Christ, therefore, this prophecy referred to John the Baptist, and Luke gives a fuller view of its application to him.

“But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:13-17.

4. When John the Baptist was asked if he were Elijah, what did he say?
“And he said, I am not.

John 1: 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

NOTE-The Spirit of Prophecy,vol. 2,pp.62–Men were sent from the highest authority in Jerusalem to inquire in regard to the great agitation John was creating. He was calling whole cities and towns to listen to his voice of warning; and they would know the prophet’s authority for thus claiming the attention of the people, and turning the world upside down. These messengers challenged John to tell them certainly if he was the Messiah. John confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us.

What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. John is then questioned as to his authority for baptizing, and thus agitating the people, when he does not claim to be Christ, or Elias, neither that prophet. The words, “That prophet,” has reference to Moses. The Jews had been inclined to the belief that Moses would be raised rom the dead, and taken to Heaven. They did not know that Moses had already been resurrected.

5. Who did he say he was? 
John 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

6. In what sense does the angel Gabriel explain John the Baptist to be the Elijah of Malachi. 4: 5?
“Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him [Christ] in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1: 16, 17.
NOTE.— John went forth “in the spirit and power of Elias,” and, in preparing a people for Christ’s first advent, did a work similar to that done by Elijah the prophet in Israel centuries before. See 1 Kings 17 and 18.
In this sense, and in this sense only, he was the Elijah of Malachi. 4: 5.

7. Near the close of the three and one-half years’ drought in Israel, brought about as a judgment through the intercessions of Elijah (James 5: 17) in consequence of Israel’s apostasy,what accusation did King Ahab bring against Elijah?

James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

NOTE–Prophet and King,pp.120— It was because Elijah was a man of large faith that God could use him in this grave crisis in the history of Israel. As he prayed, his faith reached out and grasped the promises of Heaven, and he persevered in prayer until his petitions were answered. He did not wait for the full evidence that God had heard him, but was willing to venture all on the slightest token of divine favor.

And yet what he was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity in God’s service; for of the prophet from the mountains of Gilead it is written: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” James 5:17.

Faith such as this is needed in the world today—faith that will lay hold on the promises of God’s word and refuse to let go until Heaven hears. Faith such as this connects us closely with Heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness.

Through faith God’s children have “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33, 34.

And through faith we today are to reach the heights of God’s purpose for us. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23.

1 Kings 18:17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?.

8. What answer did Elijah make?
1 Kings 18:18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and
thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of
the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

NOTE.— Israel had departed from God, forsaken His commandments, and gone off into idolatry. Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked and idolatrous wife, had”cut off the prophets of the Lord” (verse 4), was supporting hundreds of the prophets of Baal, and was seeking Elijah to slay him.

Elijah called for a famine on the land, and said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years,
but according to my word.” 1 Kings 17: 1. Elijah’s message was a call to, repentance and obedience to God’s commandments.

9. What plain proposition did he submit to all Israel?
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him.

NOTE–Letters and Manuscripts,vol.21.1906,par.6--When at the end of the three years’ drought, Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” [1 Kings 18:17.]
Mark the answer, “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.” [Verses 18, 19.]
“So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.

And the people answered him not a word.“Then said Elijah unto the people, I even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under; and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

NOTE.— The result of the test by fire which followed on Mt. Carmel,can be read in the remainder of this wonderful chapter. There was a great turning to God, the people saying, “The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.” Verse 39.

10. What was the burden of the message of John the Baptist?

Matthew 3:1-2,8 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying,  Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

NOTE–Colporteur Ministry,pp.3-4–To Prepare a People to Meet God—The publications sent forth from our printing houses are to prepare a people to meet God. Throughout the world they are to do the same work that was done by John the Baptist for the Jewish nation. By startling messages of warning, God’s prophet awakened men from worldly dreaming. Through him God called  backsliding Israel to repentance. By his presentation of truth he exposed popular delusions.

In contrast with the false theories of his time, truth in his teaching stood forth as an eternal certainty. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” was John’s message. Matthew 3:2. This same message, through the publications from our printing houses, is to be given to the world today….

11. What was the result of this message?
Matthew 3:5-6 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan.

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

NOTE– There was a genuine work of repentance and reform. John was not satisfied with a mere profession of religion. He told the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism, to “bring forth fruits” answerable to an “amendment of life.” He wished to see religion in the life, the heart, the home. Thus he prepared a people for Christ’s first advent.

NOTE–Review and Herald,Novermber 28,1907.paragraph 6–“Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

12. But when, according to the prophecy, was Elijah to be sent?
Malachi 4:5 Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the
Lord.
13. How is this great and dreadful day described in this same prophecy?
Malachi 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall he stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

NOTE- This day is yet future. It cannot be, therefore, that the work done by John the Baptist at Christ’s first advent is all that was contemplated in the prophecy concerning the sending of Elijah the prophet.
It must be that there is to be another and greater fulfilment of it, to precede Christ’s second advent, and to prepare, or “make ready,” a people for that great event.

14. What is the burden of the threefold message of Revelation 14: 6-10?
Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. . . .

Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. . . . If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Revelation 14: 6-10.

NOTE-– Like the messages of Elijah and John, this is a call to repentance and reform,— a call to forsake false, idolatrous worship, and to turn to God, and worship Him, and Him alone. The first part of this threefold message points out the true God, the Creator, in language very similar to that found in the fourth, or Sabbath, commandment.

This is the message now due the world, and that is now being proclaimed to the
world. Those who are proclaiming these messages constitute the Elijah for this time, as John and his colaborers did at the time of Christ’s first advent.

15. How are the people described who are developed by the threefold message here referred to?

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

NOTE–These will be the ones who will be ready to meet Jesus when He comes. They have heeded the Elijah-call to repentance and reform.
They have become concerned, not only for their own individual salvation, but for the salvation of their friends and relatives. By this message the hearts of the fathers are turned to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Each becomes burdened for the conversion and salvation of the other.

There can be little religion in the heart of one who cares not for the eternal interests of his loved ones. When this message has done its work, God will smite the earth with a curse; the seven last  plagues will fall, and usher in the great day of the Lord described in the preceding reading.

LIGHT is beaming, day is coming!
Let us sound aloud the cry;
We behold the day-star rising
Pure and bright in yonder sky!
Saints, be joyful;
Your redemption draweth nigh.
We have found the chart and compass.
And are sure the land is near;
Onward, onward, we are hasting,
Soon the haven will appear;
Let your voices
Sound aloud your holy cheer.