The Five Comings of Elijah

Introduction 

Most Christians realize it is of utmost necessity for Jesus Christ to return, but why would Elijah need to come first? John the Baptist foreran the first coming of Jesus. If it were necessary for Elijah to come to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Messiah when He came 2,000 years ago, would it be necessary for Elijah to come again before Jesus returns the second time? If so, what is the “spirit of Elijah” and how many times will God use this specific anointing? This topic is of vital importance because if there is an Elijah promised, then his ministry and Message must be recognized and embraced.

This question was asked of Jesus by His disciples.

Matthew 17:10-13, “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.”

Why was it necessary for someone with the Elijah anointing to forerun the coming of the Messiah? If more than a casual glance is taken of the first and original Elijah, we can learn much about God’s unchangeable way of preparing His people for His coming.

First Coming of Elijah

First Coming of Elijah
While there is precious little known of the first Elijah, God preserves in the Old Testament enough for all succeeding generations to garner a true sense of his uncompromising character and unwavering nature. He was certainly one of the most powerful and fascinating prophets of the Bible, and though his record is brief, it will serve as a hallmark for all successive appearances of this anointing. He seemingly appears out of nowhere from the rocky region of Gilead and finally vanishes mysteriously, riding upon a whirlwind with horses and chariots of fire. Although there were 7,000 others who did not bow the knee to Baal, he alone took on Ahab, the king of a backslidden nation and his wife Jezebel.

Ahab was an Israelite king who sought an alliance with Ethbaal king of Tyre by marrying his daughter Jezebel. Ethbaal was a priest of Astarte and his daughter Jezebel was very zealous of the promotion of idolatry and had led the people of God away from the worship of Jehovah. Ahab and Jezebel allowed temples dedicated to Baal to operate within Israel. That religion received royal patronage, breaking the first commandment. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

Elijah suddenly appears before Ahab, prophesying of a drought, saying, “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.” The king dismissed the message of this unassuming hairy man that was dressed simply with a waistcloth of leather and a mantle or simple robe. As the third year of drought came to the end, Elijah suddenly appears again before the king and by this time Ahab is ready to listen.

Elijah demands a showdown upon Mount Carmel, a costal mountain range in Northern Israel. Here Elijah tested the gods of Jezebel by requiring that the God that answered by fire be accepted as the One and True God. 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.” I Kings 18:21

Then Elijah did what we will learn is the characteristic of this peculiar anointing: First, he repaired the old altar of Jehovah and offered upon it the required sacrifices. The fire of God fell confirming that He alone is the One true and living God and turned the hearts of Israel back to Jehovah and away from idolatry. While Elijah had the hearts of the people, he then had four hundred of Baal’s priests killed. From that time on, there was a constant battle between Elijah and Jezebel.

This is the work of Elijah and the stamp or trademark of his ministry: to restore worship back to whom it belongs by repairing and restoring the altar and turning hearts back to the original and true faith. Elijah did not build a new altar or religion but rather took the neglected stones and placed them back in order. This is what the “spirit of Elijah” will do each time that he comes.  He will not institute a new religion but rather take the stones of the original foundational doctrines and put them back in their proper position and turn the hearts of the believers back to the original faith.