Category Archives: Christianity

March 23, 2011 · 7:57 am

Kudos to Rob Bell, But Where’s the Beef?

The TV scene shows three women sitting in a burger franchise’s restaurant. One woman is talking on the phone to the franchise’s management, complaining about their puny hamburgers on big buns.  Eighty-one year old Clara Peller (a manicurist turned actress at the age of eighty) grabs the phone. “Where’s the beef?” she says in a raspy voice.

How effective was the commercial?

The Wendy’s commercial was first aired on January 10, 1984. It propelled Wendy’s Restaurants into third place in the hamburger wars with McDonalds and Burger King. Both McDonalds and Burger King reacted almost overnight to the popular commercial by adding quarter pound burgers to their menus.

The slogan, “Where’s the beef,” is considered the 4th most influential advertising slogan since 1948. Today, it’s used as a catch phrase and most people have even forgotten the name of the company it first referred to.

Kudos to you, Rob Bell.

Up front, I must confess I have not read Bell’s book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived, and I do not plan to buy it unless…

But so far, I have seen the book’s advertising trailer and read his interviews, all of which amaze me.

The book trailer is a highly polished video. Now, does anyone believe Bell wrote his own dialog and grabbed a member of his Mars Hill Church to film it in the cold, snowy streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan?

Next, what about the interviews where he gave fluffy non-answers before the book’s launching? Do you really think he just sat down with the interviewer without being coached ahead of time on what to say or not say?

No,of course not, to all of these questions.

The video and interviews were designed by Bell’s publisher, HarperCollins, to produce one thing: hype. And guess what? It succeeded, maybe even beyond HarperCollins’ hopes.

Bloggers, twitters and conservative Christians jumped into the fray and swatted at Bell’s non-answer BB’s with AK-47 rebuttals. The internet was alive with questions about Bell’s doctrine. Was he a universalist? Did he believe Jesus was the Way, the only way?

Hype sells products. In Bell’s case, the books are flying off the shelves at the rate of $22.99 a copy and $10.99 for e-books. Cha ching!

But, Rob Bell, where’s the beef?

After the royalty checks are safely in your bank account and after thousands and thousands of people bow down to your version of the gospel, then what? What will you do to continue satisfying your adoring fan base?

Write another book. Maybe, but you can only hype yourself so much before people expect more and more and more.

So, Rob Bell, here’s how you get beef into your message and also $22.99 out of my billfold:

Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

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February 21, 2011 · 7:18 am

November 4, 2008: The Day America’s Death Warrant Was Signed (Part 5)

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people are so full of doubts. (Bertrand Russell)

Three distinctive qualities hindered the opposition group to the anti-Vietnam War activists: age, organization and traditional religion.

The Hawks, as the group eventually became known, consisted mainly of people who were more than thirty-five years of age. These citizens remembered how their youthful years were sacrificed by serving in the military during World War I, World War II or the Korean War. Thus, when they looked at the youthful activists, they did not relate well and considered them to be long-haired rebels.

The Hawks also held full-time jobs, providing for their families. Because of this, their free time was limited. The activists, on the other hand, were college-aged kids who lived on or near college campuses and could easily organize protest demonstrations whenever the need arose.

President Richard Nixon recognized the lack of organization for the Hawks in his speech on November 3, 1969. “And so tonight – to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans – I ask for your support.”

Then, there was the matter of traditional religion. The Hawks learned from early on through their parents, schools and churches that God had a special relationship with America. The pledge of allegiance to the flag stated: “…one nation under God…” The songs they sang and were required to memorize the words to, included titles such as My Country Tis of Thee, God Bless America and America the Beautiful

These three qualities helped to lure the Christians, who were Hawks, into what I call the right ditch alongside the balanced Biblical path.

Looking back at history, we see another Christian nation who suffered through many of the same problems – Germany.

Even now, it is hard to believe that Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came to power through presidential appointments and elections. Yet, after winning the election in 1933, Hitler held only 43% of the vote. He was forced to build coalitions in order to govern Germany.

The Nazis understood the importance of calming Christian fears about their ungodly plans to build a Third Reich. Thus, the Nazis used the Bible to undermine Christian values.

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. (Romans 13: 1-2)

The Nazis twisted Romans 13 into a justification for Christians blindly obeying the Nazi government in whatever they did. After all, they said, the Nazis were established by God and resisting the governing authorities was a major sin.

Fevent opposition to the Nazi’s twisted use of Romans 13 by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Niemoller and other pastors did arise, but their voices were silenced as trumped up charges were brought against them and they were imprisoned.

Sadly, nearly one third of the Lutheran pastors jumped on board the Nazi bandwagon and backed their policies. This defection from the truth quelled most believers’ apprehensions about blindly obeying the Nazi government.

Then, as the changes became more and more ungodly, German Christians were swept along in the undertow of their earlier decisions into deeper and deeper waters of blind obedience.

During the Vietnam War, much the same thing happened to a significant percentage of Christians who fell into the right ditch. They held tightly to Romans 13 and voiced slogans such as, “America, love it or leave it.”

By holding so tightly to Romans 13:1-2, American Christians ignored the message of a subsequent verse:

For it [the government] is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (Romans 13:4)

The government of a nation is scripturally directed to minster good to its people, not evil. Thus, if a nation’s government heads in an ungodly direction, the people are to react like Peter and the apostles did:

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)

The Vietnam War acted like a sword to divide Christianity and set it up for future defeats… one defeat would eventually cost fifty million lives.

(Continued in Part 6)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

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February 19, 2011 · 1:54 pm

November 4, 2008: The Day America’s Death Warrant Was Signed (Part 4)

Adjacent to the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., is the Vietnam War Memorial. Its black granite walls are etched with the names of 58,261 servicemen who died in the Vietnam War.  The memorial stands not only as a tribute to the soldiers who paid the ultimate price, but also to the 2.7 million soldiers who served in the war.

But there also should be another black granite memorial erected nearby for the American Body of Christ, with the following words etched on it:

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (Mark 3: 24-25)

Countless books and studies reveal the problems our nation has suffered because of the political divisions of the Vietnam War, but what about the Body of Christ? How has the Vietnam War affected the American Church?

Let’s look back at that era.

The anti-Vietnam War activists of the 1960′s understood the art of marketing their brand of politics. For them, the quickest way to change America was not via the ballot box, but rather through the media, especially the TV news programs.

Anti-Vietnam War marches and sit-ins were orchestrated with an eye toward the 6 PM national news programs. Catchy slogans, much like advertising jingoes, were shouted by the participants. Some of their favorites:  “Hell no! We won’t go!” and “Make love, not war!” and “Draft beer, not boys!”

The TV networks were more than eager to oblige the anti-Vietnam War activists. After all, TV news programs depend on advertising money and viewer ratings, which all depend on conflicts. Thus, the national TV programs coupled bloody news footage from the Vietnam War with anti-Vietnam War activist events.

The anti-Vietnam War activists also understood America was largely a Christian nation. So, they challenged Christians with an in-your-face marketing strategy. They used cut and paste Bible techniques, choosing certain verses which justified their stances and omitting others which did not.

“Jesus stated, ‘Love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you,’” the anti-Vietnam War activists said. “And what about Jesus’ words that we should not resist evil, but rather, turn the other cheek to our enemies? How can we follow Jesus’ example if we are killing our enemies in a war?”

Since the Reformation, there have been pacifist streams in Christianity. Quakers, Brethren and Anabaptists are a few examples of groups which have offshoots into today’s Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite communities and assemblies. Yet the activists took their antiwar beliefs many steps past the pacifist beliefs of the aforementioned groups. The activists insinuated that God hated all wars. Jesus was against all wars. Thus, all wars were a sin. Period!

A significant percentage of Christians marched lockstep with the anti-Vietnam War activists into what I call the left ditch alongside the balanced Biblical path the American Church should walk on.

Now, there’s little doubt that America’s political and military leaders made a multitude of mistakes handling the Vietnam War.  Also, the American Church did not blow its prophetic trumpets, proclaiming our leaders’ mistakes to the nation.

But at the same time, we individual believers tend to wear blinders when we check out our agendas (political or otherwise) with the Bible, especially when fervent motions are involved. Sadly, this is what I believe happened to the Christians who ended up in the left ditch during the Vietnam War.

The thinking that God hates all wars, Jesus is against all wars and all wars are sin is scripturally wrong from both a New Testament viewpoint and an Old Testament one.

Where did the first war occur?

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war. (Revelation 12: 7)

If the Lord is totally against war, why didn’t He have a peace conference with Satan? You know, just to clear the air and thereby listen to Satan and his group’s grievances. Maybe a compromise could have been worked out. But no, there was war.

What restrictions did Jesus place on the centurion when the soldier asked for a miracle for his servant?

And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment. (Matthew 8: 13)

Most likely, the centurion had earned his rank in battles. Thus, if war were sin, then Jesus would have said much the same thing He did for the woman caught in adultery and the man lowered down through the roof tiles. He would have first pardoned the soldier’s sin before performing a miracle.

Did John the Baptist, who was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, mention war when he talked with the soldiers?

Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages. (Luke 3:14)

John the Baptist said his words in front of numerous Jews who hated the Roman soldiers. Possibly some of the Jews had lost relatives or friends in battles with the soldiers. Yet, not one word was mentioned about war.

Who leads the armies of heaven?

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True [Jesus], and in righteousness he judges and makes war. (Revelation 19: 11)

How many times did Jesus mention war was a sin?

Never. Zero. Nada. Zilch. To make war a sin, you have to extrapolate meanings out of a few verses and ignore hundreds of others throughout the Bible.

What about the early church?

The first century church with Peter, John, James and Paul made no claims that war was sin. A hundred years later, Augustine came up with his Just War Theory, but even he and the other church fathers did not oppose war in all circumstances.

There is absolutely no scriptural evidence that God hates all wars, Jesus is against all wars and all wars are sin. The Christians in the left ditch staked out an extreme position and were deceived.

So, what about the opposing side?

(Continued in Part 5)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3.

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February 2, 2011 · 2:39 pm

What if Obama Loses in 2012? What Will Conservative Christians Really Gain?

What if Obama Loses the 2012 election? What will conservative Christians really gain?

Actually, conservative Christians will gain very little and lose much.

“What?” you shout, “How can you make such a dumb statement? Don’t you realize Obama is the worse this and that in the history of America? And then, there are his views on healthcare, Israel, the economy, global warming, abortion, world government and energy; what about these issues? Don’t you care?”

Just for the record, you can check how I felt during the 2008 election cycle by looking back at my posts during that time period. For the most part, you will notice I opposed the Obama/Biden ticket because of their pro-abortion stances.  And if you have time, you can also check out my prophetic mistakes and what I learned from them by clicking here and reading all of  #1 and #3.

Okay, so much for full disclosure on my part. So why am I making such a bold statement that conservative Christians will gain very little and lose much if Obama is defeated?

First: To defeat President Obama in 2012 will take a concentrated effort by conservative Christians. This effort will take huge amounts of time; time we do not have. Plus, it will take millions of dollars of donations; money which could be used elsewhere with greater benefits for the Kingdom of God.

Second: To defeat President Obama in 2012 will mean a dirty-dog, down-in-the-trenches, in-your-face battle between the different factions of the Body of Christ which will only add more division to the Body. A division – we Christians can not afford at this time in America. (Here’s the demographics for 2008, which are basically the same as 2004 and probably won’t change much for 2012.)

What will we gain if Obama is defeated? A pat on the back from fellow conservative Christians who agree with us, but little else. You see, the damage to our economy and our nation will already have been done and will take years to reverse. Years – we will not have.

Why am I so pessimistic about our government and nation? America is sliding down a greasy slope into a bloody terrorist war which will occur here on our home-front. A terrorist war which we are not prepared for, cannot stop and one which our government will be of limited help for us.

Our only hope is for a great number of American Christians to be able to live as mature citizens of the Kingdom of God when the heavy terrorists’ attacks strike us, especially here on the West Coast. These mature kingdom citizens will have to help their neighbors and others, during the dismal days awaiting our nation.

But sadly, the following scripture describes most of us American Christians:

...”How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:24-25)

We Americans are wealthy and do not know much about the kingdom of God or our citizen benefits. At best, we know how to sit in pews and get along with other Christians who think exactly like us.  So how can we possibly change ourselves?

“The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.” (Luke 18: 27)

I believe we still have time to change and prepare for the upcoming terrorist strikes, but it will take a total commitment on our parts to learn about the kingdom of God and unlearn most of our present teachings. This undertaking will not have the luxury of wasting time for two years, trying to defeat President Obama.

We need to make up our minds now.

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September 15, 2010 · 8:06 am

Elijah, Come Out of the Cave! Now! (Part 8)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Part 7.

A pupil is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. (Matthew 10: 24)

In Part 1, I mentioned about the night I visited a small country church where two traveling prophets were conducting meetings. Both prophets were veterans who had been in ministry for twenty years or more.

The preaching was okay and the prophetic words were excellent. But yet, the two prophets did not discern the deeper spiritual needs of the people.

This oversight bothered me and I sought the Lord on why the spiritual radar systems of these two top-notch prophets were so defective.

Finally, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart: “The two prophets are trained by the traditional church system and are dependent on the traditional church system for their financial livelihoods. Thus, their spiritual radar systems for discerning the spiritual needs of believers and then delivering them are dulled and made useless by the system.”

Maybe, you’re not sure about this, right?

Well, who was Elijah’s biggest enemy?

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ” So may the gods do so to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And he [Elijah] was afraid and arose and ran for his life… (1 Kings 19: 2- 3)

Though Ahab was the king of Israel, it was Jezebel who influenced Ahab to worship pagan gods and turn away from God.  Thus, Jezebel was Elijah’s biggest enemy.

The same is true today for the Elijah-type prophets.

There have been numerous books written about demonic spirits which are labeled Jezebel Spirits, but my personal belief is that Jezebel represents a religious spirit. Nothing more. Nothing less. It plainly dislikes God and His ways and wants to hinder and control prophetic words within the Body of Christ.

And furthermore, it is my belief that the traditional church system is under the control of a  major principality in the demonic hierarchy which rules over America and it is – in fact – a religious spirit.

The only way to break the control of religious spirits on believers’ lives is to have Elijah-type prophets arrive on the scene. Where will they come from?

I believe the Elijah-type of prophets will come from outside the traditional church systems. Maybe from prisons. Maybe from the deserts or wildernesses of America. Maybe from the armed forces. Maybe from professional sports. Maybe from businesses. But no matter where they come from, they will be trained to discern and fight religious spirits.

Lastly, I believe Elijah was the chosen prophet at the transfiguration of Jesus, rather than David, Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel, because it will be prophets like Elijah who will set us free from the religious requirements and bondage imposed on us by the weakness of the Law, which is the flesh.

Obviously, this is a lot to digest for now. So, we’ll do more on the Elijah prophets in the future.

(Conclusion)

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September 13, 2010 · 7:40 am

Elijah, Come Out of Your Cave! Now! (Part 7)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

On Monday, May 20, 1985, about 3:30 in the afternoon, I gave my life to Jesus. The next morning, I phoned someone and asked what I should do. He told me to read the Bible, beginning with Matthew. I followed his directions.

A few months later, I heard another person say that believers should pray and ask the Lord what we should study. This then became my Bible study method, which I still follow even today.

But it wasn’t long before I noticed something about my Bible studies: most of my time was spent reading Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the other prophets. Over and over, I studied these books.

Then, I purchased the The Elijah Task by John Sanford (1977). At the time, this was the only book written about prophets and their callings. The basic premise of the book is that the Lord is going to release an army of Elijah-type prophets into the earth, proclaiming repentance with power and anointing.

Since the 1980’s, there have been countless other books, prophecies and even songs (Days of Elijah) declaring the coming of this army of Elijah-type prophets. Many Christians are now looking for these prophets to soon arrive on the scene.

But where are believers looking for these Elijah-type of prophets to be raised up at? In the traditional churches, specifically the Pentecostal and Charismatic ones.

“What’s wrong with that thinking?” you proclaim.

Our five examples of Elijah-type of prophets (Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist and the Two Witnesses) have one thing in common which sets them apart from all of the other prophets. You see, not one of them was raised in the traditional religious system of his time. Not one was accountable to a religious hierarchy, such as a priest or a pastor. Not one of them.

They were all unknowns, raised up in the wildernesses and deserts of their day, away from the religious systems.

“Wait a second!” you say, “where should we look for the Elijah-type of prophets? And why would the Lord do it this way?”

(Continued in Part 8)

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September 10, 2010 · 7:57 am

Elijah, Come Out of Your Cave! Now! (Part 6)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.


4 and 5.  The two witnesses.

And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11: 3 – 6)

Throughout history, people have speculated about the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation Chapter 11.

The early church believed the two witnesses would be Enoch and Elijah. Their reasoning was that both prophets were taken directly into heaven without first suffering death. Hmm! Maybe.

Many others think the two witnesses will be Moses and Elijah. In this scenario, it would then be a recurrence of the transfiguration with Moses representing the Law and Elijah the Prophets. Hmm! Maybe.

Still others believe the two witnesses will be the Messianic side of the Church and the Gentile side of the Church. Hmm! Maybe.

Since eschatology has never been my forte, I really have no clue exactly who the two witnesses will be, but I do know this: they will be Elijah-types of prophets. Why?

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. (Malachi 4: 5)

Elijah does first come… (Mark 9: 12)

It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah… (Luke 1: 17)

Then if you look ahead to the end of Revelation Chapter 11, the seventh trumpet is blown and we see the coming of the Lord.

…The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 11: 15)

As Sherlock Holmes would say to Dr Watson after explaining a mystery, “It was elementary my dear Watson.”

Thus, the two witnesses (also called prophets) have to be Elijah-types of prophets.

But once again, what really sets these two witnesses apart so that they are Elijah-types of prophets?

(Continued in Part 7)

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September 8, 2010 · 8:24 am

Elijah, Come Out of the Cave! Now! (Part 5)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.


3. John the Baptist

It is he [John the Baptist] who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1: 17)

Unlike Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist did not have a powerful signs and wonders ministry. Instead, John was primarily a  prophetic voice.

But much like Elijah, who arrived on the scene without any advance warning, John the Baptist did the same. One day, he was a man hidden away in the wilderness, and the next day, he was standing at the Jordan River, preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan. (Matthew 3: 5)

And the crowds showed up to listen to his message and to be baptized. He was the man!

Yet, his ministry only lasted six months.  But in that small amount of time, John the Baptist stirred the hearts of the people so that they were prepared for the arrival of the Promised One who immediately followed him.

Jesus Himself validated the ministry of John the Baptist as an Elijah-type of prophet when He said:

For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. (Matthew 11: 13-14)

Yes, John was filled with the Holy Spirit from when he was within his mother’s womb. Yes, he was a cousin, first removed, of Jesus, but unlike the Lord, John was a Levite, not from the tribe of Judah.

But what was it that set John apart from the other prophets and made him an Elijah-type of prophet? And who are the remaining two prophets?

(Continued in Part 6)

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September 3, 2010 · 7:42 am

Elijah, Come Out of the Cave! Now! (Part 4)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

2. Elisha

The Lord said to him [Elijah], “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu, the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. (1 Kings 19: 15 – 16)

Elijah had one of the greatest days in the whole Bible when he called fire down from heaven, executed four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and prayed for rain. Now, forty-three days later, after struggling with fear, depression, hopelessness, and then, finally hearing the voice of the Lord in a cave, Elijah was directed to do three important things.

Interestingly enough, how many of the three things did Elijah actually accomplish?

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. (1 Kings 19: 19)

This is the only recorded time in the Bible where a prophet passed his mantle and anointing to another prophet. There are other examples of transference of power in the Bible, such as  Moses laying his hands on Joshua, but this is the only recorded time for this particular type of transference.

So how can I positively say that Elisha was an Elijah-type prophet?

Because Elijah only did one of the important things the Lord commanded him to do and that was anointing Elisha. But it was Elisha who then fulfilled the other two important things: by anointing Hazael king of Aram and anointing Jehu king of Israel.

Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and then received it.

And finally, Jesus Himself linked Elisha with Elijah in His discourse at the synagogue in Nazareth.

But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah…and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in  Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman, the Syrian. And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things. (Luke 4: 27 – 28)

Yes, like Elijah, Elisha was a prophet of power. Also, in terms of signs, wonders and miracles as recorded in the Bible, Elisha’s ministry was second only to Jesus.

But once again, what sets Elijah and Elisha apart from the other prophets in the Old Testament? And who are the other three Elijah-type prophets?

(Continued in Part 5)

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September 1, 2010 · 7:10 am

Elijah, Come Out of the Cave! Now! (Part 3)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1 and Part 2.

They asked Jesus, saying, “Why is it the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things… (Mark 9: 11-12)

There are five examples of Elijah-type prophets in the Bible. Each prophet is uniquely different, but each has an important trait which is also common to the other ones. This common trait is not seen in King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel.

And guess what? This trait is also the reason why today’s church has not seen the Elijah-type of prophets….as yet.

1. Elijah.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word. (1 Kings 17: 1)

One moment, Israel was a backslidden nation without a prophet who had the anointing to point the people back to God. And then, in the next moment, Elijah arrived on the scene.

Little is known about Elijah before he prophesied to King Ahab, except that he came from the nation of Gilead, and not from Israel. Most likely, he was an Ishmaelite, which made him a Gentile.

Isn’t that interesting? God used a Gentile to prophesy to His people, the Jews. This fact may help explain why the listeners were so touchy when Jesus stood up and spoke at the synagogue in Nazareth.

And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah, was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow….And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things. (Luke 4: 24 – 26, 28)

Yes, Elijah was the prophet of power. Yes, he slew four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Yes, he prayed a drought away. Yes, he called fire down upon a hundred soldiers. And yes, he was taken alive up to heaven in a chariot of fire.

But even with all of this, what was it that set Elijah apart from the other prophets in the Old Testament? And who are the other four Elijah-type prophets?

(Continued in Part 4)

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