Prepare to Stand: Scene Seven

Posted on March 25, 2022 8:19 am by janjoybell@yahoo.com

Not many Old Testament saints make the cut in the New Testament but Elijah’s ministry certainly does. He was a representative of Christ, a picture of the prophetic voice of God, and an encouragement to us as we make our stand for faith.

Elijah didn’t physically die, he was taken to heaven in a tornado-like whirlwind, riding in a fiery chariot with fiery horses (2 Kings 2:11); OK, not your typical funeral. Was his lack of physical death due to his appearance at the transfiguration when he and Moses talked with Jesus about His resurrection and return to heaven (Luke 9:3)?

Was it because he was a forerunner of John the Baptizer, who was a forerunner Jesus, preaching repentance and reconciliation? Is Elijah very possibly one of the Two Witnesses, Moses being the other, who appear in Rev. 11 at the end of time? We’ll soon see.

The Jews recognized Jesus’ ministry to be like Elijah’s (Mark 8:28); why is that? Well, let’s see if there are any parallels:

Elijah stood before God, speaking His Word. So did Jesus.
Elijah spent time away in his physical weakness. So did Jesus.
Both ministered to people with miracles, raised the dead, experienced an angelic visitation.
Both felt emotional highs and lows.
Both heard the soft voice of their Father.
Both had a showdown with the demonic world.
Both were hated by their governments.
Both transferred their supernatural anointing. Wait, … what?

Prior to his supernatural transfer from this world to the next, Elijah transferred his anointing or power of the Spirit to Elisha to complete his missions from God. Jesus’ disciples were given the power of the Spirit, the anointing, to proclaim the gospel, preach repentance, cast out demons, and anoint with oil for healing (Mark 6:12-13); sounds like our mission. King Herod and the people recognized His ministry as a parallel to Elijah which they knew would come before the Messiah.

Even from the cross people thought He was calling on Elijah for help, however, He knew this violence was inevitable:

“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:12-15

Do we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us? He’s given us supernatural gifts of healings, prophecy, miracles, spiritual discernment, etc. (1 Cor. 12) to equip the Body of Christ and be prepared to stand in faith when times get hard, and they will.

Our preparation time for standing is now; we have His anointing (1 John 2:20, 27) to complete our missions since the Spirit lives in us permanently.