The Spirit of Elijah is Rising: Discern the End Times and Prepare the Way
Excerpted from The Spirit of Elijah.
The phrase “spirit of Elijah” represents all Elijah did and the type of influence, mentality, and operation he introduced to the culture he lived in.
The same applies to anyone who will rise to meet the purpose of God in their time. This means you! You have everything you need in Jesus to walk boldly and push back against the onslaught of darkness. Maybe this means through prayer, through your appointed job, or a ministry you are called to start. It represents any area of life where you are planted as salt and light with the direct intention to make a massive impact by the Spirit of the Lord.
We See Elijah Doing Several Things:
Elijah prophesied that it would not rain.
Elijah returned to confront evil, reminding the people that the God who answered by fire is the One True Living God.
Elijah mentored Elisha as a son in the prophetic.
Elijah had schools of the prophets. He trained and set up locations for equipping.
Elijah empowered Elisha and Jehu to carry his mandate to the next generation.
The Spirit of Elijah Was on John the Baptist to Prepare and Declare the Way of The Lord!
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:7-15).
John the Baptist was a forerunner to Jesus. He was to prepare the way and restore all things by coming before Jesus to preach, prophesy, denounce sin, call the nation to repentance, and even hold the leaders to account. Ultimately, this led to part one: restoring all things.
Forerunner to Part One and the Upcoming Sequel!
Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11).
Part one refers to the first time Jesus came. The second time, Jesus’ arrival will open the next chapter leading up to the finale of the restoration of all things. If there was an announcement the first time by a forerunner, that same spirit of Elijah may very well come upon the body of Christ to announce the return of Jesus the second time.
Why? Because the least in the New Testament is greater than the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. John the Baptist was the greatest prophet due to the responsibility and honor of preparing the way and announcing Jesus. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are under His blood and a New Covenant on better promises. Those under this New Covenant are greater than John the Baptist because they are renewed, born again, and connected in the Spirit to God the Father because of Christ Jesus the Son.
John the Baptist Prepared and Declared the Way of The Lord
As a forerunner to Jesus’ first appearance, John prepared the way as a mouthpiece, even in baptizing Jesus. In the beginning, he declared who Jesus was: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” ( John 1:29). Restoring all things was set in motion by John declaring and preparing the way for Jesus to arrive and announcing Him when He came into focus. John famously stated, “He must increase, I must decrease…” (John 3:30). This is also what the spirit of Elijah does—prepares the way, then steps aside out of the way.
Much like Elijah, who ascended in a whirlwind but left his mantle for Elisha, Elijah’s role was not just in his own time. He prepared the way for his successors, ensuring the continuity of the divine plan through training, impartation, and instructions.
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him what- ever they wished. Likewise, the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-13).
And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with con- tempt? 13 But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him” (Mark 9:11-13).
Spirit of Elijah Before the Great Tribulation
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:5-6).
Malachi 4:5-6 was a prophetic word regarding one who was to come, John the Baptist, an absolute reformer in his day, but the com- parison is to the prophet Elijah.
What about Elijah made him a point of reference for a coming day and would be fulfilled by John the Baptist? Saying, “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord,” is a high point of interest, as most would have missed that John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy. If Jesus had not pointed it out directly, it would have largely remained an abstract prophecy to the people of his day. Jesus had to point out that John the Baptist was Elijah, who was to come.
Elijah, Before the Coming of the Great and Terrible Day of The Lord
Another day of judgment and tribulation is coming that will impact the entire world. The spirit of Elijah will once again come, but not on a person or another John the Baptist, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit to move His Church to stand at the appropriate times and speak at the right time.
Scripture does not teach us that Elijah will himself come again or that a person will once again embody that responsibility like John the Baptist. Instead, the called-out ones will be part of the end times, the last day’s responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission and occupy until He returns.
Like Jesus, however, we should do so anywhere that agencies have a right to speak out to or push back against when they attempt to interrupt the Church’s assignment. God has not called us to be timid and weak. He has called us to rescue the dying, give justice to the helpless, and preach the kingdom of God to every corner of the world. The day may come when we completely lose that ability due to a wicked dark kingdom dominating society.
If we have the liberty to speak today, we should do so to the glory of the Lord. It is our responsibility to choose our leaders wisely and push back against every satanic, Antichrist agenda to the glory of the Lord.
Let’s recall how John the Baptist and Jesus stood in their time:
John the Baptist spoke up against Herod and Herodias.
Jesus called Herod a fox.
Jesus warned about Herod’s deception.
We are called to be salt and light. The spirit of Elijah is one of preparation for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ!
