School of the Prophets 2004

School of the Prophets 2004 Revelation Chapter Sixteen The Three Elijahs

Study to Show • “Will those who have charge of the flock of God, awaken to their duty? ‘Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’ When the church is properly instructed, there will not be so great dependence and weakness. Believers in the truth will not come and go as the door upon its hinges. They will not sit complacently and listen to sermon after sermon, and fail to bring the instruction into practical life. Many a minister does present the truth with force and clearness, but the members of the church fail to reap benefit there from, because the word is not mixed with faith in them that hear it.

“The mind is occupied with worldly interests, and as soon as they leave the church door, the impression is lost; for as water flows from a leaky vessel, so the truth leaks from the heart. The more preaching they have, the less they do to carry out the truth in practical godliness. They are glutted with sermons, and the truth fails to arouse them to a sense of their condition. • “It is important that the people understand that they cannot depend upon a minister, or expect that one will be stationed among them to do all the work in their community. Were this done, it would result in spiritual death to those who are content to look on while another bears the burden. Let the people understand that it is by diffusing their light that they will have light more abundantly. But if they fail to impart light, they will lose even that which they have, and will walk in darkness.” Review and Herald, March 7, 1893.

The Troubler of Israel • And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. • So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 1 Kings 18:17–22.

The Great & Dreadful Day • And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 1 Kings 19:1–3. • Malachi 4:5: • Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The Second Elijah • And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, • Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. • For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Luke 7:24–28.

John the Elijah • For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. • But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. • And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. Matthew 14:3–11.

Ahab could not catch Elijah: For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. thee to have her. • Your house is the troubler: And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. • A public event–Mount Carmel: But when Herod’s birthday was kept, • The prophets of Baal danced and Salome danced: the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. • King Herod and Ahab are the civil authorities: Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

Under direction of mother—under direction of Jezebel: And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. • The right to deal with heretics. • Civil power deceived: And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake • Herodias is Jezebel, Rome or the beast. • his brother Philip’s wife. • fornication or adultery • For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. • Defending religious liberty • And when he would have put him to death, • persecution • he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

But when Herod’s Ahab, the civil authority or the United Nationsbirthday was kept, • the daughter of Herodias • the daughters of the Rome, priests of Baal, Protestants of the USA or the false prophet • danced before them, and pleased • deceived • Herod • Ahab, the civil authority, the United Nations or dragon power

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. • Ahab, the civil power, the United Nations agrees to the demands of the false prophet or the United States • And she, being before instructed of her mother, • The priests of Baal, the USA or false prophet being guided by Catholic principles • said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. The right to deal with heretics

The Beast, Dragon and False Prophet • Jezebel, Ahab and the priest of Baal • Herodias, Herod and Salome • Beast, the dragon and the false prophet • The seat, the authority and power • Edom, Moab and the children of Ammon • Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem the Arabian • Moab, Midian and Balaam from the land of the children of his people • Hebrew, Latin and the Greeks

School of the Prophets 2004