August 15: SPIRIT AND POWER (part 2)
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:10-12
Jesus spoke of three distinct times in the above passage. “Elijah is coming first and will restore all things” is a future reference that corresponds to Malachi’s prophecy regarding the second coming of the Lord (see Malachi 4:5-6). There are many truths of God’s word that are buried under piles of man-made doctrines and pagan denials. Every one of them (all things) must be brought back into the light. This is what Jesus meant by restore.
Jesus then spoke of John the Baptist: “Elijah has come already… and they… did to him whatever they wished” (see also Matthew 11:14). John’s ministry as forerunner to the Messiah had ended abruptly when he was imprisoned by Herod – at his wife’s demand – for the truth of his preaching: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18). But Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him…and heard him gladly. (v.20) But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of his unlawful wife Herodias danced before the king and his friends in a pleasing way (the young girl’s name was Salome). Herod swore to her to give her whatever she asked… and at her mother’s instruction, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter (v.25). Regretfully, the king sent his executioner to behead him, the just and holy man! Then Jesus continued, speaking of His own upcoming suffering under an illicit ‘union’ (see Luke 23:12). As our Master Teacher, He is able to convey multiple lessons in brief statements. You will remember that Elijah’s life was also threatened by a woman: Jezebel, the pagan wife of Israel’s King Ahab – and this, just after Elijah’s great defeat of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
A pattern is emerging. The original Elijah was hated by the king’s wife because of the true message he preached, calling for repentance. He was faced with state-sponsored persecution and death threats from King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. John the Baptist was hated by Herodias, wife of King Herod. She wanted to kill him, but she could not (Mark 6:19). However, as soon as circumstances allowed, she manipulated her daughter to carry out her will by harnessing the worldly authority of her husband (Matthew 14:3-11; Mark 6:17-28) Examples of illicit unions between church and state abound.
God’s last-day people who carry the ‘Elijah message’ prior to Christ’s return will also be hated by a woman with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication (Revelation 17:2). People and nations were manipulated throughout the Dark Ages, and her false doctrines were enforced through her illicit unions with worldly leaders. This pattern will be repeated before Christ comes. There will be punishments and death threats (13:15,17) for God’s true people, but His truth marches on…
But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin. Micah 3:8