CHUMASH ARLINGTON MAN ZION SUN KINGS ISRAEL - ASK ELIJAH BEACON - BING TIME

CHUMASH ARLINGTON MAN ZION SUN KINGS ISRAEL

by OMEGACUBE RSTESOT.TV ASK ELIJAH Samuel Elijah Maccabee

33

videos

11:24:40

duration

New International Version (©1984)

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.

New Living Translation (©2007)

Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready.

English Standard Version (©2001)

He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)

And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)

"Elijah is coming and will restore everything," He replied.

International Standard Version (©2012)

He answered them, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)

Yeshua answered and he said to them, “Elijah does come first so that everything may end.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)

Jesus answered, "Elijah is coming and will put everything in order again.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.

American King James Version

And Jesus answered and said to them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

American Standard Version

And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things:

Douay-Rheims Bible

But he answering, said to them: Elias indeed shall come, and restore all things.

Darby Bible Translation

And he answering said to them, Elias indeed comes first and will restore all things.

English Revised Version

And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things:

Webster's Bible Translation

And Jesus answered and said to them, Elijah truly will first come, and restore all things:

Weymouth New Testament

"Elijah was indeed to come," He replied, "and would reform everything.

World English Bible

Jesus answered them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,

Young's Literal Translation

And Jesus answering said to them, 'Elijah doth indeed come first, and shall restore all things,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things - He did not mean by this that Elijah was yet to come, for he tells them immediately Matthew 17:12 that he had come; but he meant to affirm that it was a true doctrine which the scribes taught, that Elijah would appear before the coming of the Messiah. To "restore" means to put into the former situation. See Matthew 12:13. Hence, it means to heal, to correct, to put in proper order. Here it means that Elijah would put things in a proper state; he would be the instrument of reforming the people, or of restoring them, in some measure, to proper notions about the Messiah and preparing them for his coming. Before the coming of John their views were erroneous, their expectations were worldly, and their conduct were exceedingly depraved. He corrected many of their notions about the Messiah (see Matthew 3), and he was the instrument of an extensive reformation, and thus restored them, in some degree, to correct views of their own system and of the Messiah, and to a preparation for his advent.

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Elias - shall first come, and restore all things - Or will reform, αποκαταστησει; this word our Lord quotes from the Septuagint; who render the Hebrew והשוב לב אבות על בנים vehesheb leb aboth al banim, he will cause the heart of the fathers to turn to the children, by, ος αποκαταστησει καρδιαν πατρος προς υιον, who will convert, or restore, the heart of the father to the son. We are not therefore to understand the version of the Septuagint quoted by our Lord in any other sense than the Hebrew will allow. No fanciful restoration of all men, devils and damned spirits, is spoken of as either being done, or begun, by the ministry of John; but merely that he should preach a doctrine tending to universal reformation of manners, and should be greatly successful: see Matthew 3:1-7, and especially Luke 3:3-15, where we find that a general reformation had taken place,

1. among the common people;

2. among the tax-gatherers; and

3. among the soldiers.

And as John announced the coming Christ, who was to baptize with the Holy Ghost, i.e. to enlighten, change, and purify the heart, that the reform might be complete, both outward and inward, he may be said, in the strictest sense of the word, to have fulfilled the prophecy: and that he was the Elijah mentioned by Malachi, the words of Gabriel to the virgin Mary prove; Luke 1:17. And he (John) shall go before him (Christ) in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, etc.; and that his ministry was powerfully effectual for this purpose, we have already seen.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jesus answered and said unto them,.... By way of concession,

Elias truly shall first come: this is indeed a tenet of the Scribes, and it is also certain, that there is a prophecy in Malachi 4:5 of the coming of Elias; of one that goes under that name, not of Elias the Tishbite, in person, but of one that was to come in his power and spirit,

and restore all things. The Syriac and Persic versions render it, "shall perfect, or complete all things", that are prophesied of him; and shall put a period to the law and the prophets, and close the Mosaic economy, and direct persons to Christ; in whom are the perfection of the law, and the fulfilling of the prophets. The Arabic version reads it, "he shall teach you all things"; the whole of the Gospel being to be reduced to these two heads, repentance towards God, and faith in Christ; both which were taught by the true Elias: but the truest sense of the phrase is to be learned out of Malachi 4:6. "He shall restore, he shall turn all things, the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers"; and as this is explained inLuke 1:17 "he shall turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and make ready a people prepared for the Lord": which is other, and better sort of work, than what the Jews assign to their Elias, whom they expect, and whom they make to be a restorer of all things, in their way: they often speak of his purifying (q) of things, or pronouncing things pure, that were defiled; and among others, that he will purify bastards, and "restore them" to the congregation of the Lord (r). Though Maimonides (s) denies, that when he comes he will pronounce defiled that which is pure, or pronounce pure, that which is defiled. They pretend (t), that he is now employed, and very busy, in writing everything that is done in every age; so that when he comes, he will be able to give an account of everything: and nothing is more common with them, than to say concerning any matter, that there is any doubt or difficulty about it (u), , "let it be left till Elias comes".

(q) T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 25. 1. & Becorot, fol. 33. 2. & 34. 1.((r) Kimchi in Zech. ix. 6. (s) Hilchot Melacim, c. 12. sect. 2. Vid. Misn. Ediot, c. 8. sect. 7. & Maimon & Bartenora in ib. (t) Seder Olam Rabba, p 46. (u) Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 1. sect. 8. T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 3. 1. & 37. 1. & Bava Bathra, fol. 94. 1.

Vincent's Word Studies

Cometh

Elijah cometh first. An abstract statement expressing the fact that Elijah's coming precedes in time the coming of the Messiah. It is a point of Jewish chronology; just as a teacher of history might say to his pupils, "The Saxons and Danes precede the Normans in England." Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist.

Geneva Study Bible

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

Wesley's Notes

17:11 Regulate all things - In order to the coming of Christ.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:1-13 Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made like him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter thought that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down to meet the sufferings of which he was so unwilling to hear. In this he knew not what he said. We are wrong, if we look for a heaven here upon earth. Whatever tabernacles we propose to make for ourselves in this world, we must always remember to ask Christ's leave. That sacrifice was not yet offered, without which the souls of sinful men could not have been saved; and important services were to be done by Peter and his brethren. While Peter spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, an emblem of the Divine presence and glory. Ever since man sinned, and heard God's voice in the garden, unusual appearances of God have been terrible to man. They fell prostrate to the earth, till Jesus encouraged them; when looking round, they beheld only their Lord as they commonly saw him. We must pass through varied experiences in our way to glory; and when we return to the world after an ordinance, it must be our care to take Christ with us, and then it may be our comfort that he is with us.

The Return of Elijah 

from Heaven Prophecy by Joel Smith (opinions on Elijah)

Two thousand years ago the Jewish people were expecting to see

Elijah literally return from heaven to announce the appearance of the Messiah.

The Jewish people of 2000 years ago were expecting to see the Old Testament Prophet Elijah literally, physically descend from heaven. They had been promised that this was going to happen by the Old Testament Prophet Malachi. This prophecy reads:

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and... all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch... And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.... Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD" -Malachi 4:1-5

According to the Old Testament book of II Kings, Elijah the Prophet had ascended "into heaven" in a "chariot of fire." (see: chapter 2) This spectacular event supposedly happened about 850 years before Christ. Later, in about 450 BC, Malachi prophesied that this same Elijah, who had ascended into heaven, was also going to return from heaven to herald the coming of the Messiah... the Christ.

As a brief comment on terms used here, please note that the word "Messiah" has the same meaning as the word "Christ". The word Messiah is Hebrew and is translated as Anointed. The word Christ is Greek and is also translated as Anointed. They are the same word from two different languages.

Elijah who had ascended "into heaven" in a "chariot of fire" was going to return from heaven to announce the coming of the Messiah... the Christ.

The reason why the return of Elijah prophecy was so important is that it became one of the primary reasons why the Jewish people rejected Jesus' claim to be the Messiah. The Jewish religious leaders of two thousand years ago knew that Elijah was going to return before the Christ was going to come. So, they concluded, that Jesus or anyone else who claimed to be the Messiah before Elijah visibly returned from heaven had to be an impostor.

"CHRIST... HAS NO POWER UNTIL ELIJAH COMES" 

The story of how the 'return of Elijah' prophecy was actually fulfilled can be found in two separate places in the New Testament. It can also be found in a 1900 year old, non-Biblical, Christian book that provides us with what is probably the most graphic example illustrating the importance of this prophecy.

Justin Martyr was a very prominent Christian at a time when Christianity was still in its infancy. In "Eerdman's Handbook to the History of Christianity" Justin Martyr is described as "the most notable of the second century [Christian] apologists." (p. 108)

Justin Martyr lived approximately 100 AD. He wrote a book titled The Dialogue with Trypho the Jew. This book is a record of a discussion between Justin Martyr and Trypho- a Jewish rabbi. This "dialogue" begins with Justin telling the rabbi that he believes that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah. The following excerpt contains this rabbi's response.

It reads:

"When I (Justin) had said this, [the students who were with the rabbi] laughed; but he smiling, says, 'I approve of your other remarks, and admire the eagerness with which you study divine things; but it were better for you abide in the philosophy of Plato..."

Before Justin became a Christian he was a follower of the Greek philosophers and he still wore the characteristic flowing robes of a Roman philosopher. The quote continues:

"...It were better for you abide in the philosophy of Plato rather than be deceived by false words, and follow the opinions of people of no reputation... for when you have forsaken God, and reposed confidence in man, what safety still awaits you?"

Now, here's the important part:

"...But Christ- if he has indeed been born, and exists anywhere... has no power until Elijah comes to anoint him, and make him manifest to all. And you, having accepted a groundless report, invent a Christ for yourselves, and for his sake are inconsiderately perishing." -Ante Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, p. 198.

In this one short passage, this rabbi reveals exactly what the Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish people of two thousand years ago were expecting to see before the Messiah appeared. Trypho knew that Jesus could not possibly have been the Messiah because he knew from the unmistakable text of the 'return of Elijah' prophecy that anyone who claimed to be the Christ before Elijah the Prophet had visibly returned from heaven would have to be a false Prophet.

This prophecy was one of the primary reasons why the Jewish people rejected Jesus' claims to be the Messiah. No one had seen Elijah return from heaven yet... so how could Jesus possibly have been the Messiah?

"I WILL SEND YOU ELIJAH..." 

Two thousand years ago, the Jewish people were expecting to see Elijah literally, physically descend from heaven... possibly in the exact same "chariot of fire" that he had used to ascend "into heaven." Furthermore, they also expected that soon after Elijah's return, the Messiah was going to appear. And they knew that when the Messiah came, he not only was going to free them from Roman domination, but he also was going to exalt Israel over all the nations of the earth. The Jewish people had good reason to believe these things. These expectations are derived from explicit statements made in the Bible. Jesus explains how these prophecies were actually fulfilled.

According to the Old Testament account, about 850 BC Elijah the Prophet ascended "into heaven." (see: II Kings 2) Then, about four hundred years later (in about 450 BC) the Prophet Malachi promised that Elijah will return from heaven before the Christ appears.

Malachi's prophecy reads:

"try me in this, says the Lord of Hosts: shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down a blessing upon you without measure... Lo, I will send you Elia (Elijah), the prophet before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day."-Malachi 3:10-24 (CATHOLIC DOUAY BIBLE)

ELIJAH ALREADY HAS COME

The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' day were well aware of the 'return of Elijah' prophecy. At one time the rabbis had asked Jesus' disciples to explain how Jesus could possibly have been the Messiah when it was obvious that Elijah had not returned from heaven yet.

The Apostles couldn't answer this question, so they asked Jesus:

"Why do the Jewish leaders insist Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?"

Jesus answered by first affirming that this question was valid and that this prophecy indeed was true. He said:

"They are right. Elijah must come and set everything in order..."

But then, to everyone's surprise, Jesus explained:

"In fact, he [Elijah] already has come, but he wasn't recognized, and was badly mistreated by many... Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist."-Matthew 17:10-13 (LIVING BIBLE-CATHOLIC EDITION) (this account can also be found in: Mark 9:11-13)

Clearly, Jesus taught that this was a true prophecy. Jesus agreed that Elijah indeed "must return before the Messiah comes." But then, to the surprise to everyone there, Jesus claimed that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of this prophecy.

WHAT WERE THE RABBIS EXPECTING?

Jesus' explanation was not well received by the Jewish religious leaders. The rabbis considered them selves to be the greatest experts of Judaism in the entire world. They knew what their prophecies said and they certainly thought they knew what was going to happen when the Messiah finally did appear. As far as they could see none of these prophecies had been fulfilled, Elijah had not returned and there certainly was no visible evidence that the Messiah had come. Nothing had changed. Everything was just as it always had been.

How, they wondered, could John possibly have been the return of Elijah? Malachi didn't say anything about Elijah's return being in some mysterious, unrecognizable way. Neither does he say that some other man is going to be born hundreds of years later and that this man somehow was going to be the return of Elijah. Instead, Malachi clearly says that Elijah himself was going to return. That's not a difficult concept to visualize. Elijah ascended into heaven in a chariot of fire. And he's going to come back. Visibly. Physically. In the flesh. Or so they thought.

The rabbis did not believe Jesus' explanation that John the Baptist was the return of Elijah. And why should they? They knew that Elijah was supposed to visibly return from heaven and, as the elect of Judaism, it's very likely that they would have expected to be among the very first to welcome him when he actually did return. After all, how could they possibly miss anything as obvious as a Prophet of God floating down from out of the sky in a chariot of fire?

Malachi's prophecy explicitly says that Elijah himself was going to return... not some other man. Instead of Elijah personally returning from heaven, what the rabbis actually got was John... a dirty looking fellow, who wore a leather loincloth, a camel's hair robe and who ate locusts for lunch. John the Baptist actually ate grasshoppers! John did not fit any picture that the rabbis might have had of what the spectacular second coming of Elijah was going to be like. John the Baptist didn't come floating down from heaven. Instead, he came into the world in the same way as everyone else. John had a mother. He had a father. John had been born as a child and he had grown up just like everyone else. On the other hand, Elijah had been born eight hundred and fifty years before John. John was not named Elijah. John had a different body, a different personality, different teachings and a different purpose.

The rabbis might have also pointed out that even John himself had said that he was not Elijah. At one point, early in his ministry, John the Baptist was asked whether he was Elijah. He answered that he was not. (see John 1:21)

Nothing about John would indicate that he was Elijah. Elijah had physically ascended "into heaven" in a "chariot of fire." And, everyone believed that the same Elijah who had disappeared into heaven was himself, personally going to return... possibly even in the same "chariot of fire" that he had used when he ascended up into heaven.

In what way could John the Baptist have been the return of Elijah? Certainly not literally. This apparent contradiction can be resolved by a statement made at the beginning of the Gospel of Luke where it explains that John went

"on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah." -Luke 1:17 (KJV)

Elijah had returned from heaven in the "spirit". John went "on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah."-Luke 1:17 (KJV) Viewed this way, both John and Jesus were right. The man named Elijah who had lived eight hundred years earlier had not literally, physically returned from heaven in the flesh as just about everyone expected. Instead, the fulfillment of the 'return of Elijah from heaven' prophecy had nothing to do with Elijah's physical body. It was the return of the same "spirit and power" of God that had animated Elijah eight hundred years earlier that had returned to also animate John the Baptist. The reality of Elijah's return was the appearance of yet another totally separate and distinct Prophet of God. (Yes, Jesus did refer to John as a Prophet.) This is the true meaning of "the return."

The same is also true with the rest of Malachi's prophecy which clearly states that Elijah's and the Messiah's enemies would be totally burned up. Malachi wrote that their opponents

"shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up... it shall leave them neither root nor branch... ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet..."

In what way did Jesus or John burn up anyone like "chaff" "with unquenchable fire" to the extent that they were "ashes under the soles of [their] feet..."? Clearly these prophecies too were not fulfilled in any kind of literal, physical way. However, like the unexpected fulfillment of the 'return of Elijah prophecy', these prophecies were again fulfilled in a non-literal, spiritual manner. John the Baptist, speaking of Jesus, said:

"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."-Matthew 1:11

Malachi said that the Christ's enemies "shall be stubble (chaff): and the day that cometh shall burn them up... ." And here John the Baptist said that Jesus "will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

None of these prophecies were fulfilled in any kind of literal, physical, visible way. The return of Elijah prophecy truly had been fulfilled unexpectedly, in a way that people could not see and in a way that could not be objectively verified. This was not the way that the rabbis were expecting these prophecies to be fulfilled and this certainly was not an explanation that they were willing to accept. Is it any wonder that these Jewish priests found it impossible to even seriously consider the possibility that John the Baptist was the return of Elijah?

Even today, two thousand years later, the Jewish religious experts still await the second coming of Elijah. And every year at the Passover meal, Jewish mothers, in a time honored tradition, still set an extra place at the table for Elijah hoping that this will be the year when he finally returns to join them.

JESUS CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TOO

One day as Jesus was speaking to his disciples (along with a group of other people) he was heard to say:

"I have come down from heaven..."

A number of rabbis were present in the crowd and when they heard Jesus claim that he had come down from heaven, they "began to grumble about him" and they asked

"Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?' How can he now say, "I came down from heaven?"

Good question. The rabbis had known his mother and his father. They knew that he had been born as a child just like everyone else. Some of them might even have known him as a young boy and might have watched him grow up over the years. How could Jesus possibly have come "down from heaven"?

When his disciples heard Jesus claim that he had come "down from heaven" they too were extremely skeptical. They said

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" And then this passage says that "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him."-John 6:41,60,66 (NIV)

Most people know that Jesus had twelve Apostles. But, most people don't know that Jesus also had either 70 or 72 disciples (depending on which early manuscript you accept). It was these other disciples who abandoned him. These were the ones who "turned back and no longer followed him."

Apparently, both the antagonistic Jewish religious leaders and Jesus' own beloved disciples rejected his statement that he had come down from heaven because they thought that he was speaking literally. And from what they knew of Jesus' life... they knew that this was not very realistic.

The disciples didn't have the insight to see what Jesus was really saying. As Jesus stood there watching his disciples walk away, knowing that they were not going to come back, he proceeded to explain this "mystery" of His coming down from heaven. Jesus said:

"The Spirit (original Greek: PNEUMA) gives life, the flesh (Greek: SARX) counts for nothing: The words I have spoken to you are spirit (Greek: PNEUMA) and they are life."-John 6:63 (NIV)

"The words I have spoken to you are spirit..." Jesus apparently was trying to explain that when he said such startling things as "I came down from heaven", he was not speaking of his physical, fleshly body coming down from heaven and that his "words" should not be understood in their outer literal sense. Instead, Jesus was trying to tell us that he was speaking of non-fleshly, spiritual realities. It was the "Spirit" of God which dwelled in him that had descended from heaven... not his physical body. The same thing was true of John the Baptist. Jesus said that John too had come down from heaven.

Have people today learned anything from these important lessons from the past? Two thousand years ago people were expecting to see a spectacular, supernatural event which no one could mistake or misinterpret. What they actually got was the appearance of an entirely new Prophet... one who appeared with the same "spirit and power" of God which had, in centuries past, also descended upon Elijah.

Two thousand years ago, the Jewish people were expecting to see the visible return of a man from heaven who would burn up his enemies like chaff. Today we find that most Christians are also expecting to see the visible return of a man from heaven who is also going to burn up his enemies. What's the difference between then and now? Is the Bible consistent? Yes. Does God change? No. Is there a lesson to be learned here that most people haven't grasped yet?

God's principle governing how a prophet returns from heaven has been clearly explained- twice. both Jesus and Elijah came down from heaven... although not in the way that most people expected. Jesus' coming down from heaven the first time he appeared was not a fleshly occurrence. Neither was John's.

WHAT'S THE POINT? 

According to Jesus, this prophecy concerning the return of Elijah from heaven was not fulfilled literally... in a way that most people could easily identify. Instead, it was fulfilled in a way that most people were not prepared to recognize. Elijah did return. But, it was his "spirit and power" which had returned... and not his fleshly body.

This is the hidden, true meaning of the return of the Prophets. In all of recorded history, not one of God's Messengers, has ever literally, visibly come down from heaven in the flesh. This inner reality of return has been clearly explained in the Baha'i writings:

"a return is indeed referred to in the Holy Scriptures, but by this is meant the return of the qualities, conditions, effects, perfections, and inner realities of the lights which recur in every dispensation. The reference is not to specific, individual souls and identities." -Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha, page 183

Another place in the Baha'i Writings we can read:

"In the Divine Scriptures and Holy Books "return" is spoken of, but the ignorant have not understood the meaning... For what the divine Prophets meant by "return" is not the return of the essence, but that of the qualities; it is not the return of the Manifestation, but that of the perfections. In the Gospel it says that John, the son of Zacharias, is Elias (Elijah). These words do not mean the return of the rational soul and personality of Elias in the body of John, but rather that the perfections and qualities of Elias were manifested and appeared in John."-Some Answered Questions by Abdu'l-Baha, page 288

Ask yourself... if you had lived 2000 years ago do you think that you would have been one of the few who had the insight to recognize John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the 'return of Elijah' prophecy? Chances are, like the disciples of Jesus, you would not have understood how this prophecy had been fulfilled until after it had been explained to you.

Why is the example of the 'return of Elijah' prophecy important? Today we have the exact same circumstances that we had two thousand years ago. Today most Christians are expecting to see Jesus Christ literally, visibly return from heaven. Baha'u'llah, the Prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith, unmistakably claims to be the fulfillment of the 'return of Christ from heaven' prophecies. Is Baha'u'llah truly the Promised One? Has history repeated itself? Did Baha'u'llah come down from heaven? Yes! In exactly the same way that John the Baptist and Jesus came down from heaven two thousand years ago. 

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or is history repeating itself?

Elijah and the Priests of Baal

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“Chapter 34: Elijah and the Priests of Baal,” Old Testament Stories, 132

There were some wicked people in the kingdom of Israel. 

They worshiped an idol named Baal. 

There were 850 priests of Baal. 

They were wicked priests.

1 Kings 18:19

The prophet Elijah talked to King Ahab. He told Ahab to bring all his people to a mountain.

 Elijah wanted the wicked priests of Baal to come, too.

1 Kings 18:17–19

Elijah said they must choose to worship God or Baal. 

They could not worship both. It is wicked to worship idols.

1 Kings 18:21

Elijah wanted to show the people that idols have no power. 

Elijah asked for two bulls for a sacrifice. 

He asked for some wood. 

He gave a bull and some of the wood to the priests of Baal. 

He kept a bull and some wood for his sacrifice.

1 Kings 18:23

Elijah told the priests not to burn the sacrifice. 

He told the priests to pray to their idol. He said Baal must burn the sacrifice.

The wicked priests prayed to Baal all morning. 

They jumped on the altar and shouted. 

Baal did not answer. Baal was only an idol.

1 Kings 18:26

Elijah told the priests to pray louder. 

He made fun of them. 

He said their idol must be sleeping.

1 Kings 18:27

The wicked priests prayed louder and louder. 

They prayed all day. Baal did not answer. 

The priests’ sacrifice did not burn.

Elijah told the people to come close to him. 

Elijah told them he would pray to God.

 He said God would send fire down from heaven. 

God would burn his sacrifice.

Elijah built an altar of stones. 

He dug around the altar. 

Elijah put the bull and some wood on the altar.

Elijah asked men to bring four barrels of water. He told them to pour the water on the sacrifice. 

Then he asked the men to bring four more barrels of water. 

Again they poured the water on the sacrifice. 

He told them to bring four more barrels of water. They poured the water on the sacrifice, too.

Elijah prayed to God. Elijah wanted the people to worship God. He asked God to help him.

God sent fire down from heaven. 

The fire burned Elijah’s sacrifice. 

It burned the wood and the stones. 

It dried up all the water. 

The people saw the power of God. 

They knew the idols had no power. 

All the wicked priests of Baal were killed.

1 Kings 18:38–40

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THE YEAR OF THE LORDS FAVOR ISAIAH 61.1-3 - The Spirit of the Soverign Lord is on me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's Favor and the day of vengance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide those who grive in ZION SION), to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his Splendor. - http://rstesot.tv - http://www.myspace.com/rstesot1911 -

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SAMUEL ELIJAH MACCABEE, WATCHMAN FOR YHVH, LORD GOD THE MOST HIGH, TO WARN HIS PEOPLE OF THE HOUSES OF JUDAH AND EPHRAIM WHO ARE TO BE TIED TOGETHER AS ONE STICK AND PLACED IN THE HAND OF YHVH.

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Old Testament Stories

Elijah Talks with Jesus

“Chapter 35: Elijah Talks with Jesus,” Old Testament Stories, 136

King Ahab had a wicked wife named Jezebel. Jezebel heard what Elijah did. 

She sent a man to Elijah. The man said Jezebel would kill Elijah.

1 Kings 19:1–2

Elijah went into the wilderness so Jezebel could not kill him. 

He found a place to hide. He slept under a tree.

1 Kings 19:3–5

An angel came to Elijah. 

The angel gave him food and water. 

Elijah ate and lay down again. 

The angel came again. 

He told Elijah to eat more. 

The angel said Elijah would travel a long way. 

Elijah ate and drank again.

1 Kings 19:5–8

Elijah traveled 40 days and 40 nights. He fasted. He did not eat or drink.

1 Kings 19:8

Elijah went to the mountain where Moses had seen the burning bush.

Elijah lived in a cave in the mountain. 

God asked him what he was doing there. 

Elijah said the people did not obey God’s commandments. 

They killed God’s prophets. 

Elijah was the only prophet who had not been killed. 

The people wanted to kill him, too.

1 Kings 19:9–10

God told Elijah to stand on the mountain. A strong wind blew. 

It was so strong it broke rocks into pieces. 

After the wind there was an earthquake.

Then there was a fire.

After the fire Elijah heard a quiet voice. He knew it was the voice of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus came to him. He talked to Elijah. Jesus said he would choose a new prophet. His name was Elisha.