Recently, I've been hearing a lot about people who believe they may be prophets, and even consider themselves a sort of "fore-runner" movement, who will "go forth...in the spirit of Elijah", before the second-coming of Jesus Christ. Their message is dramatic, even messianic. They're building quite a following, raking in large sums of cash, and holding seminars in posh spa resorts.
It seems fair to point out (though it may be controversial) that another man who once "came forth" in the manner of Elijah was one John the Baptist, who ate locusts and wild honey, living in the wilderness...
until the day he met up with Herod - and Herod's "wife", Herodias.
Trouble is, John the Baptist had some funny ideas about holiness.
John the Baptist was not much at all like today's charismatic christians. In fact, he was a lot like my old friends among the "old-line" pentecostals - and never more so, than when he expressed his "old-fashioned" notions about divorce and re-marriage:
"...it is not lawful for you to have your brother Phillip's wife..."
John the Baptist was correct in his beliefs, of course, though he was summarily executed (actually, be-headed) for them. When Jesus was asked his own views on the subject, he re-iterated the biblical doctrine exactly the way John the Baptist preached it - which was probably what the Pharisees hoped Jesus might do, seeing how well the issue worked in getting rid of old John Baptist.
Many a Man of God has seen this issue seal his doom.
About John the Baptist, however, Jesus testified: "There has not risen a greater man among men than this man, John the Baptist. And, if you can accept this, he was the Elijah who was to come."
So, if there is a "fore-runner" ministry coming, it must be marked by this: It will proclaim holiness. And its message will be proclaimed without compromise, even in the midst of this rebellious, even adulterous generation.
The "Elijah ministry" which is to come will not be found among men who "marry" men to women already married to other men. The true Elijah ministry will confront this Spirit of Jezebel, and confront her many Prophets of Baal.
For starters, Elijah would confront the spirit of today's divorce counseling in the Church.
In my opinion, Elijah should start with James Dobson.
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