Are We Still Looking for Elijah?
Peter, James, and John just witnessed Jesus change from the appearance of a mere man to the radiating glory of the Son of God. They saw him have a conversation with Moses and Elijah, but we know nothing of what was spoken. We don’t even know how the men knew that Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah. Were they introduced? Did Jesus greet them in the hearing of his disciples? We don’t know, but we do know that they not only witnessed this interaction but, they heard the audible voice of God declaring Jesus to be His son. For these men, though the details of his mission on earth were still not understood, there could be no doubt that he was the Messiah their people had been waiting for. As this revelation settles upon them, they struggle with understanding exactly what is going on (I mean, wouldn’t you?) One thing they had always been told was that Elijah would precede the coming of the Messiah. What they didn’t understand was that Jesus would come to earth twice: once as a sacrifice and once as a king.
The prophesy the men referenced when they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” is from the book of Malachi. The forth chapter, and last chapter of the Old Testament, gives us quite a powerful look into the future. What the disciples didn’t understand was that the prophecy is in our future, not their present. Chapter Four says, “For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. (verse 1) This refers to the end of this world – not the figurative freeing of the nation of Israel which the contemporaries of Jesus hoped for. 2 Peter 3:10 tells us that the world will be ultimately destroyed through fire (burning like an oven). It says, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.”
Skipping ahead in Malachi to verses 5 and 6, we are given us the prophesy about Elijah that the disciples mentioned. These verses say: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite this land with a curse.” This is not an easy section of scripture to understand. I admit, I struggle with prophesy. I want to understand it, but I struggle. Because I struggle, I spent a great deal of time reading other people’s interpretation and following the scriptures to try to explain this the best I could. Please bear with me, and I hope the Holy Spirit will open your heart to understand His Word better than I can explain it.
Malachi is clearly speaking of the end of the world in his prophecy. However, Jesus takes that futuristic prophecy and divides it into two. On the one hand, he says, “Elijah does come first…” Then he says, “But I tell you that Elijah has come…” So which is it? Will he come first, or has he already come? Based on everything I have read, I believe the answer is: both. Looking at the time Jesus explains first, we see that he clearly associates John the Baptist with Elijah. For this explanation, we can look at the lives of the two men and see an incredible parallel. Clearly, John the Baptist did come before Jesus and set the stage for his ministry. Now, we need to pause here just a moment and talk about reincarnation. As much as I find the idea fascinating, scripture simply does not support this notion. Jesus was not saying that Elijah physically embodied the form of John the Baptist or that he was reborn and called John. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment…” As interesting as it might be, scripture tells us coming back for another go at life is not an option. Death ends our time on this earth until our final resurrection and judgment at the end this world. (Revelation 20:12-13: What Jesus meant when he claimed John to have been Elijah was that they had the same heart, the same calling, and a lot of the same types of experiences. To say they had the same spirit is to say they were alike in purpose and deed.
Concerning the coming of Elijah at the end of this world, we don’t have a clear depiction of what that will look like. Most theologians believe this pertains to the two witnesses mentioned in the book of Revelation. Chapter 11 tells us of two witnesses who will come and prophecy for “one thousand two hundred and sixty days”. After they are eventually killed, their bodies will remain unburied in public view for three days before being resurrected and taken to heaven at the sound of God’s voice. This is the second woe that will befall the earth in its final moments and precedes the return of Jesus as the victor and king as described in Revelation Chapter 19. How can this truly be Elijah if reincarnation does not exist? God’s Word tells us of two men who never tasted death: Enoch (Genesis 8:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). It is appointed for men to die once and then be resurrected to join God… but these two men never tasted death. They sit with God, perhaps awaiting the time when they will return to earth to eventually taste death for the first and last time.
Because this is a very long and complicated answer, it is easy for us to see how Peter, James and John were confused. They didn’t understand that Jesus was not on earth to set up his eternal kingdom yet. They barely (if at all) understood that he had come to be the sacrifice we all need. God’s plans are interwoven throughout all of history. His plan for mankind’s salvation and the creation of a new heaven and earth were set at the creation of this world. It makes sense that He would begin preparing for the fruition of His plan from the very beginning. The story of Jesus is not over yet. We are still awaiting the return of Elijah. Let us look forward to this promise because it means our Savior and King is not far behind.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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