Is Elijah coming back?

    There were three men the Jews of New Testament times were watching for: The Messiah, The Prophet, and Elijah. The others are obviously more important but, for the moment, we want to focus on Elijah; how did the notion get about that he would return? After Moses, he was arguably the greatest prophet in ancient Israel. His exploits are detailed in I Kings 17, 18, 19; and 2 Kings 1 and 2 (all circa 850 BC). Elijah first appears in Scripture announcing to King Ahab a years-long drought. Later, at his pleading, God restores a boy’s life. Still later, he organizes a “contest” with the prophets of Baal, and we know who won that one. The last we know of Elijah is his journey to Jordan, where his faith in his great God allows him and Elisha to cross dryshod. Then, “Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2 Kings 2:11 )

     But, over 400 years later (c.430 BC), Malachi has a further word from the Lord (in fact, these are the last two verses of the Old Testament): “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” [Malachi 4:5, 6]

     The very last word for the Jews was that Elijah would return. That’s why the leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist, “Are you Elijah?” His quick response was, “I am not.” [John1:21] The leaders discounted him ever after. In fact, when Jesus asked them whether John’s baptism was from heaven or of human origin, they dithered and said, “We don’t know.” [Matthew 21:27]

     Matthew had a higher regard for John the Baptist. He claimed that John fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” [Mat.3:3, from Isaiah 40:3]

     Jesus’ attitude to John is surprising too: “If you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” [Matthew 11:1] It seems that they were not willing to accept it; the curse came down on the nation in 70 A.D., “I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”

     Elijah appeared briefly, very privately, at the transfiguration with Moses and Jesus, but there are Bible scholars who think that Elijah must still return with a public display. Their reference is Revelation 11:3:-- Two witnesses in a future reign of terror behave much like Elijah did in the Old Testament—and they die! Elijah never died in the O.T. Could one of these witnesses be Elijah? It’s interesting to speculate, but that’s all we can do. It does raise the possibility that mankind may indeed, yet see him!