The Imminent Restoration
& Elijah

Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things." (Mark 9:12a)

Christianity's most widely held view of the end-of-the-age includes the belief in the 'imminent return' of the Messiah (Jesus Christ). This doctrine holds that there is no 'unfinished business' yet to be done before the return of Messiah. That there are no prophetic events yet undone that would prevent him from returning today. But while the 'imminent return' proponents claim support from Scripture, the only thing that can be said about this view is that it might contribute to a heightened state of preparedness - it is true that we should live our lives as if Messiah might come today. Unfortunately, the 'imminent return' is a very dangerous prophetic view that will leave one totally ignorant of prophetic truth.

The truth of the matter is, that there are an unbelievable number of events yet to be completed before Scripture is fulfilled and the Messiah returns to earth. The only imminent event is the imminent restoration. This restoration is not a single event but a series of events that transpire over a year or more - leading to 'main' end-of-the-age events. This preparatory event, called a 'restoration' by Jesus, is functionally equivalent to a 'Christian Exodus'.

The focus of this short article is the central figure of this restoration event - Elijah. To Christianity, Messiah is the cental figure of the end-of-the-age. He is first, last, and in between. But Jesus pinpoints Elijah as the restorer. Lets trace this mysterious figure through the pages of Scripture and see how he may be even now knocking at our door ready to step onto the world scene.

The best place to start resolving this mystery is in the middle.

The last book of the Tenach (Old Testament) Malachi says:

(Mal 3:1-4 NIV) "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. {4} "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. {5} "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. {6} He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

(Deu 18:15-22 NIV) The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. {16} For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, "Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die." {17} The LORD said to me: "What they say is good. {18} I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. {19} If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.

(Isa 40:1-5 NIV) Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. {2} Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. {3} A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. {4} Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. {5} And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

(Mat 3:1-12 NIV) In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea {2} and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." {3} This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {4}

(Mat 11:1-19 NIV) After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. {2} When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples {3} to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" {4} Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: {5} The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. {6} Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." {7} As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? {8} If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. {9} Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. {10} This is the one about whom it is written: "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' {11} I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. {12} From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

-{Mat 11:13} For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. {14} And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

(Mat 16:13-20 NIV) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" {14} They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

(Mat 17:10 NIV) The disciples asked him, "Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" {11} Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. {12} But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." {13} Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

(Mark 1:1-5 NIV) The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. {2} It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- {3} "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {4} And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

{Mark 9:11} And they asked him, "Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?" {12} Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? {13} But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him."

{Luke 1:13} But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. ...(17} And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

{Luke 1:67} His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: ... {76} And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

(Luke 3:2b-6 NIV) the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. {3} He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. {4} As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. {5} Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. {6} And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

(John 1:6) There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ...{19} Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. {20} He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." {21} They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." {22} Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" {23} John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" {24} Now some Pharisees who had been sent {25} questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"