Spirit of Elijah

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5).

Before Jesus returns, the spirit of Elijah will operate on the earth through God’s servants. The spirit of Elijah is an operation of the Holy Spirit that will prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

The spirit of Elijah operated in three people in the Bible: Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist. It will operate again at the end of the age.

Elijah

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. Elijah was one of only two people recorded in the Bible who went up directly to heaven without dying (Enoch was the other.) When Jesus was transfigured, Elijah was there with Moses on the mountain along with Jesus.

Elijah was a tough man. All prophets must be strong because they call people to repent and turn back to God. Many people don’t like prophets because they don’t want to repent. In particular, God’s people often don’t like God’s prophets because they think what they are doing is fine, and they don’t want to change anything (Jer. 1:17-18; Ezek. 3:8-9). Prophets must be willing to face opposition and even hatred (especially from God’s people) in order to fulfill their ministry.

Elijah wore a leather girdle and camel’s hair shirt (2 Kings 1:8). These clothes probably would have been uncomfortable, but Elijah was more interested in fulfilling his calling than in being comfortable. These were rough garments that lasted, and he didn’t want to think too much about clothes. He had a striking, unmistakable appearance that would have shocked those who saw him. He was separate from the religious system of his day, and he was trained by the Holy Spirit in isolation. He came out from the wilderness to call God’s people to repentance. He would suddenly appear, possibly frightening those who saw him.

Elijah did powerful  miracles. He lived by miraculous provision. He didn’t rely on natural or material things, but he relied on the invisible things of God. During a famine, he was fed by ravens. This rough food given by ravens didn’t seem to disturb Elijah. He was fed by a poor widow whose meager supply of flour and oil multiplied as long as Elijah needed food (1 Kings 17:14). He was also fed directly by angels.

Elijah once resurrected a dead person (1 Kings 17:22). He called down fire from heaven to burn up a sacrifice that was soaked in water. He called down fire from heaven and killed 102 soldiers (2 Kings 1:9-12).

Elijah confronted paganism that had become entrenched among God’s people. He spoke against pagan practices and released miraculous power against evil rituals which allowed Satan to infiltrate the people of God. Elijah confronted corrupt kings and leaders (1 Kings 18:16-19).

Elijah had strong faith. His prayers were powerful, and he shut up heaven for 3.5 years (James 5:17-18). He controlled the weather and stopped the rain for years. He prayed again, and then it rained.

Elijah once thought he was alone, but God told him there were 7000 others who had not worshiped Baal (1 Kings 19:14-18). This shows that Elijah was not perfect in his discernment. 

Elijah anointed future leaders, including the king of Syria (1 Kings 19:15-16). He was not confined by the world system, but he dominated the world system by the power of God.

Elijah suffered spiritual attacks and sometimes became depressed. This shows that there is a weakness in the Elijah spirit.

Elisha

Elisha continued the powerful ministry of the Elijah spirit. When Elijah went up to heaven at the end of his life on earth, he gave a double portion of his spirit to Elisha. This means Elisha had twice the power Elijah had.

Elisha split the Jordan river. He killed people with bears. He multiplied food. Whereas Elijah multiplied a widow’s oil to feed himself and her household, Elisha multiplied a widow’s oil to such an extent that she sold many gallons of it to others (2 Kings 4:1-7). Elisha multiplied bread to feed 100 people (2 Kings 4:42).

Elisha struck an entire army with blindness and led them into captivity.

Whereas Elijah faced a famine of 3.5 years, Elisha faced a famine of 7 years (2 Kings 8:1-2).

Elijah resurrected one person, but Elisha resurrected two people.

At the end of his life, Elisha died of a sickness (2 Kings 13:14). This shows the weakness of the spirit of Elijah.

John the Baptist

Next, the Elijah spirit operated through John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:16-17). Jesus even called John the Baptist “Elijah” (Matthew 11:14).

Like Elijah, John the Baptist was trained by God in the wilderness (Luke 1:80). He wore a leather girdle and ate locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:5).

John the Baptist preached that people should leave a corrupt religious system. He called them to repent. He was unafraid of people, and said that sinners were like a brood of vipers. John the Baptist said the mountains would be made low and the valleys would be exalted. This shows that the humble were going to be exalted and the proud would be put down.

John the Baptist confronted bad leaders like Herod, which ultimately cost him his life (Luke 3:19-20). 

Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest Old Testament prophet (Luke 7:28). A prophet’s greatness is determined by his calling. John the Baptist’s ministry was greater than any other prophet, because he was called to prepare the way for Jesus Christ.

Like others with the spirit of Elijah, John the Baptist suffered spiritual attack and had weakness. When he was in prison, he doubted whether Jesus was really the Christ (Matthew 11:3-5).

Interestingly, John the Baptist did not do any miracles (John 10:41). This shows that there is something yet to be done by the spirit of Elijah that John the Baptist left incomplete. There is a powerful aspect of the spirit of Elijah that needs to operate at the end of the age.

When Jesus came the first time, he did not judge the world. He came to save the world. But when Jesus returns the second time, he will judge the world according to the word of God. 

Before Jesus returns to earth, the spirit of Elijah will again operate in order to prepare the way for his coming.

The Bible says that Elijah was a person who was subject to like passions like us (James 5:17). When the spirit of Elijah comes upon a person, he is changed to represent God in a powerful way.

Throughout history, some people have claimed to be Elijah. These individuals have said they were Elijah who was preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. These individuals have been deceived.

At the end of the age, the spirit of Elijah will operate through many of God’s faithful servants. These faithful people will flee Babylon, call the church to repentance, and prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. They are ordinary people who will do extraordinary things by the Holy Spirit.

The operation of this spirit of Elijah at the end of the age is referred to in Malachi 3:1-7; 4:1-6. This spirit will cleanse the temple of God (the church) and purify God’s people.

The spirit of Elijah will ultimately operate through the two witnesses, a group of people who will minister powerfully on the earth (Revelation 11:1-12). They will wear sackcloth. They will prophesy 3.5 years and shut heaven like Elijah. They will stand before God like Elijah (1 Kings 17:1). They will have power to turn water into blood like Elisha seemed to do (2 Kings 3:22). They will call down fire from heaven and unleash God’s judgment against a corrupt world. And at the end of their ministry they will die. But they will quickly resurrect, and this will be the end of the age.

Before Jesus comes back, the spirit of Elijah will operate powerfully through God’s people. This spirit will have a powerful role to play at the end of the age. This spirit is the Holy Spirit operating in a unique way to prepare for the return of Jesus Christ.