Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: TTE
Program Code: TTE000001
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00:35 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
00:38 Father in heaven, we thank You so much 00:39 for the opportunity of being here today to study Your word. 00:43 And as we study about the three Elijah's of scripture, 00:47 we ask for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. 00:50 Give us clarity of thought and give us tender hearts 00:53 to receive the word which You will plant. 00:56 We pray this in the precious name 00:58 of your beloved Son Jesus, amen. 01:03 In this series, we are going to speak 01:05 about the biblical concept of Elijah. 01:09 And basically we are gonna see 01:11 that the Bible presents three distinct Elijah's. 01:16 The first is what we might call the "Historical Elijah." 01:20 This is the Elijah that lived in the Old Testament period. 01:25 The Second Elijah, 01:26 I have chosen to call the prophetic Elijah 01:29 or we could also call him the New Testament Elijah. 01:34 The final Elijah that we are going to talk 01:36 about is the Apoplectic Elijah. 01:39 In other words, the Elijah 01:41 that we find in the Book of Revelation. 01:45 Now, we are gonna find in these three Elijah's 01:48 very many common elements. 01:51 So, its very, very important that we pay attention 01:54 to what we are gonna study in this first presentation 01:58 because the details will resurface again 02:01 when we discuss the New Testament Elijah 02:04 and when we discuss the final end time Elijah. 02:08 So, it's very important that we understand 02:10 the sequence of events 02:11 in the original historical Elijah story. 02:16 In this story, we are gonna notice 02:18 that there was first of all a king 02:19 or a political ruler in every single case. 02:23 We are gonna notice also 02:24 that there is a harlot woman involved in the story. 02:28 We will notice as well that the harlot woman has instruments 02:32 that she uses to extend her apostate religion. 02:35 In the case of the historical Elijah 02:37 they were the false prophets of Baal. 02:40 Involved also are God's people. 02:43 In fact, God's people are deceived 02:45 by this threefold alliance of the king, 02:48 the harlot and the false prophets of Baal. 02:52 And then finally of course we have Elijah, 02:56 who rebukes this threefold alliance 02:59 and calls God's people to come back to the straight 03:04 and narrow way. 03:06 Now, the religion of Jezebel 03:09 and the religion of Ahab the king 03:12 and the religion of false prophets 03:14 is know as the religion of Baal. 03:18 And Baal was the sun god. 03:21 Now what we want to do is begin first of all 03:23 with the three enemies of Elijah 03:25 in our study in the Old Testament story. 03:28 So, turn with me in your Bibles to 1 Kings 03:31 16:30, 31, 03:35 1 Kings 16:30, 31. 03:40 Here we find a description of the alliance 03:42 between the king, the political ruler 03:45 and this harlot woman who is known as Jezebel. 03:50 It says there, "Now Ahab the son of Omri 03:54 did evil in the sight of the Lord, 03:57 more than all who were before him. 04:00 And it came to pass, 04:02 as though it had been a trivial thing for him 04:04 to walk in the sins of Jeroboam 04:07 the son of Nebat that he took as wife Jezebel 04:11 the daughter of Ethbaal, 04:13 king of the Sidonians and he went and served Baal 04:17 and worshiped him." 04:19 So we find here an alliance between King Ahab 04:23 and the harlot woman Jezebel 04:25 and the intention is to lead Israel 04:28 into practicing the false worship of Baal 04:32 who we are going to notice is the sun god. 04:35 Now in this story we need to recognize 04:38 that the dangerous figure is not the political leader 04:41 the dangerous figure is not the king, 04:44 the dangerous figure in this whole story 04:47 is actually the queen Jezebel. 04:51 She is the one who manipulates things, 04:53 she is the shadow ruler behind the political ruler. 04:58 We notice this for example in 1 Kings 21:8-10 05:04 and this is referring to the death of Naboth. 05:07 You see, the Bible tells us 05:11 that Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard 05:13 and he couldn't find out anyway of getting the vineyard 05:16 and so Jezebel said, I'll take care of it. 05:19 And let's notice how she took care of it. 05:22 It says there in verse 8, 05:24 "And she wrote letters in Ahab's name," 05:27 notice that she wrote the letters in the King's name. 05:30 "Sealed them with his seal, 05:33 and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles 05:36 who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. 05:39 She wrote in the letters, saying, proclaim a fast, 05:43 and seat Naboth with high honor among the people. 05:47 And seat two men, 05:48 scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, 05:52 'You have blasphemed God and the king.' 05:55 Then take him out, and stone him, 05:57 that he may die." 05:59 Notice that this was not a decree of the King. 06:02 This was actually Jezebel 06:05 who was writing this decree 06:07 she was sealing the decree with the ring of the king 06:11 for the death of Naboth. 06:12 In other words, she is exercising 06:14 authority over the king. 06:18 She was actually the shadow ruler in Israel 06:21 and she had enormous influence. 06:24 And as we study the story of Elijah 06:27 we notice that Ahab the king had a very weak character 06:33 and he was easily manipulated 06:35 by the strong willed queen Jezebel. 06:39 In fact, we notice this in 1 Kings 21:25, 06:43 the evil influence that the queen had over the king. 06:47 It says there in 1 Kings 21:25 06:51 "But there was no one like Ahab 06:54 who sold himself to do wickedness 06:58 in the sight of the Lord" 06:59 and now notice why he did wickedness 07:01 "because Jezebel his wife stirred him up." 07:05 In other words, she is the one 07:07 who is manipulating things, 07:08 she is influencing the king 07:10 so that the king will do her bidding. 07:13 In the book Prophets and Kings, 07:15 page 115 we find a very interesting disruption 07:20 of the character of Ahab. 07:22 It says there, "Ahab was weak in moral power. 07:27 His union by marriage with an idolatrous woman 07:32 of decided character and positive temperament 07:36 resulted disastrously both to himself and to the nation. 07:41 Unprincipled, and with no high standard of right doing, 07:46 his character was easily molded 07:51 by the determined spirit of Jezebel." 07:55 So you catch this interesting picture, 07:57 a weak king who is easily manipulated 08:01 a determined queen a Apostate harlot 08:05 according to the scripture strong willed 08:07 who uses the king to accomplish her purpose. 08:12 Now, what was the religion 08:13 that Jezebel wanted to impose 08:16 through the influence of the king? 08:18 It was actually a syncretistic religion. 08:21 In other words, it was it an amalgamation 08:24 between the worship of the Lord 08:26 and the worship of Baal. 08:28 It was not purely Baal worship 08:31 it was actually a mixture of Jehovah worship 08:35 and Baal worship. 08:37 In fact we notice this in 1 Kings 18:21 08:44 when Elijah is there on Mount Carmel 08:46 we find these words, 08:48 "And Elijah came to all the people, 08:50 and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions?'" 08:56 Notice, the people were not determined 08:58 on one side or the other side, 09:00 they actually wanted one foot on one side 09:02 and one foot on the other. 09:04 So Elijah says, "'How long will you falter 09:07 between two opinions?'" 09:09 I like the way the way King James puts it, 09:10 "How long will you limp between two opinions?" 09:13 "'If the Lord is God, follow Him 09:16 but if Baal, follow him.' 09:19 But the people answered him not a word." 09:22 In other words, we find this story a syncretistic religion 09:27 where God's people were claiming to serve the Lord 09:30 and at the same time they were serving the sun god Baal. 09:35 Now in Hosea 2:8 09:38 we find the description of the religion of Baal. 09:42 He was actually considered to be the energizer of creation 09:45 as the sun energizes creation. 09:48 Notice what it says in Hosea 2:8 09:53 "Nor she did not know" this is speaking about Israel, 09:57 "that I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, 10:03 and multiplied her silver and gold 10:07 which they prepared for Baal." 10:10 Notice that Hosea here is telling us very clearly 10:14 that Israel attributed the grain, 10:16 the new wine and the oil to Baal 10:19 because Baal was supposing 10:21 the sun god who energizes creation. 10:24 So, what Jezebel was imposing 10:26 threw her influence upon the king 10:28 was actually the religion of the sun god. 10:32 This corroborated in the book Testimonies for the Church, 10:36 volume 3, page 282 where we find these words. 10:41 Speaking about Israel when they were on Mount Carmel 10:46 and the false prophets were trying to get Baal 10:48 to rain fire from heaven 10:51 "Their pleadings are mingled with cursing to their sun-god 10:58 that he does not send fire for their altars." 11:02 So notice that Baal was the sun God. 11:06 Now let's continue studying about Jezebel. 11:09 We have noticed Ahab, 11:10 we talked a little bit about Jezebel, 11:12 we've talked about the religion of Baal, 11:14 the religion of the sun God, 11:16 now let's notice 11:17 a few more details about this woman Jezebel 11:20 who was the dangerous figure in the story. 11:23 In 1 Kings 18:4 we find that Jezebel was a murderer 11:28 of God's prophets, of God's servants. 11:31 It says there in verse 4, 11:33 "For so it was, 11:34 while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the Lord," 11:39 notice she massacred the prophets of the Lord 11:41 "that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets 11:44 and hidden them, fifty to a cave, 11:46 and had fed them with bread and water." 11:50 So Jezebel was a murderous woman. 11:53 She killed the servants of the Lord, 11:55 she killed the prophets of the Lord. 11:57 After the Mount Carmel experience, 11:59 she even gave a death decree against the prophet Elijah 12:03 and she said this very day you are gonna die. 12:05 Notice what we find in 1 Kings 19:1, 2. 12:11 It says, "And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, 12:16 also how he had executed 12:18 all the prophets with the sword." 12:20 Because at this point the prophets of Baal 12:22 had been executed. 12:24 Notice the message that Jezebel sends in verse 2, 12:27 "Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 12:32 'So let the gods do to me, and more also, 12:36 if I do not make your life 12:40 as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.'" 12:44 In other words, Jezebel gave a death decree against Elijah 12:49 but interestingly enough we will notice in this story 12:52 that God shielded the life of Elijah 12:55 and he protected him from this death decree 12:58 and eventually Elijah was translated to heaven 13:02 from among the living. 13:04 Now, notice also, three other characteristics 13:08 of this harlot woman who influenced the king 13:11 who united with the secular power 13:13 or with the civil power. 13:16 2 Kings 9:22 tells us 13:19 three important things about Jezebel. 13:22 It says there, "Now it happened, 13:25 when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, 13:30 'Is it peace, Jehu?' 13:32 So he answered, 'What peace'" 13:36 now notice this, "As long as the harlotries" 13:40 see she is called a harlot, 13:42 "As long as the harlotries of your mother" 13:46 she is called mother "mother Jezebel" 13:49 and notice "and her witchcraft are so many?" 13:54 She is called mother, 13:56 she is involved in witchcraft in the occult 13:59 and besides that we are told 14:01 that she was involved in her harlotry. 14:05 Those are three very important terms 14:06 that we need to remember 14:08 as we will study the last two Elijah's. 14:12 Now, notice also 1 Kings 18:19. 14:16 Now, we will go to another group 14:18 that Jezebel used to accomplish her purposes. 14:21 Notice that she joined the king, 14:23 she joined the civil power to accomplish her purposes 14:26 but to extend her religion 14:28 she had another group of individuals 14:30 whom she used to extend 14:32 the region of the sun god Baal. 14:35 Those are known as the false prophets of Baal. 14:39 Notice 1 Kings 18:19 it says, 14:43 "Now therefore, send and gather 14:46 all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, 14:49 the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, 14:52 and the four hundred prophets of Asherah" 14:55 and now comes a very important phrase 14:58 "who eat at Jezebel's table." 15:02 Who fed these false prophets? 15:04 It was Jezebel. 15:06 So whose instruments were the false prophets? 15:09 They accomplish the will of Jezebel. 15:13 They extended the religion of Baal 15:15 through out the whole kingdom. 15:17 And so we find in the story of Elijah 15:19 a triple alliance or a threefold wicked alliance 15:23 composed of a civil ruler the king, 15:26 a harlot woman, Jezebel, and the false prophets 15:31 who are the instruments to extend 15:33 the apostate religion of Baal and of Jezebel. 15:38 Now, it's interesting to notice that this threefold alliance 15:42 actually had Israel God's people deceived. 15:46 Notice, 1 Kings 21:22 how this triple alliance 15:51 had Israel deceived with this apostate religion. 15:56 It says there, "I'll make your house 16:01 like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, 16:04 and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, 16:09 because of the provocation" now notice this 16:12 "with which you have provoked Me to anger" 16:15 and then the last phrase "and made Israel to sin." 16:21 Did you notice here that the king and Jezebel 16:23 and the false prophets actually lead Israel, 16:27 God's people to sin. 16:30 Actually, when Jezebel and the king, 16:32 and the false prophets were seeking Elijah they-- 16:37 they sort Elijah through the influence upon the people. 16:42 Notice 1 King 19:10, 1 King 19:10. 16:48 "So He said," this is Elijah speaking, 16:52 "'I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts'" 16:56 now notice this, 16:57 "'For the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, 17:02 torn down your altars, 17:05 and killed your prophets with the sword. 17:08 I alone am left and they seek to take my life.'" 17:13 Did you notice who was trying to take Elijah's life, 17:16 who actually was persecuting the prophets of the Lord? 17:19 Yes, it was the king, yes, it was Jezebel, 17:22 yes, it was the false prophets 17:24 but very clearly here it says 17:26 that it was the children of Israel 17:28 who forsake the covenant and actually did this work. 17:33 So, you have this threefold alliance 17:34 the king, the harlot woman and the false prophets of Baal, 17:39 the instruments of this harlot 17:41 and their acting upon the congregation 17:43 for the congregation to persecute Elijah 17:47 through their influence or through out the kingdom. 17:52 Now, we have another person 17:53 that we need to talk about in this story, 17:55 and that is the prophet Elijah, of course. 17:59 You know, we've talked about the bad company, 18:02 we've talked about the king, we've talked about the harlot 18:05 and we've talked about the false prophets. 18:07 Now, we need to talk about Elijah the prophet, 18:10 whom God raised to unmask this mass deception 18:15 that was taking place among the Israelites. 18:18 It's very important to realize 18:20 that Elijah is sent to God's people. 18:23 He has not sent to the un-churched so to speak. 18:27 He is not sent to the pagans. 18:29 The message of Elijah is given 18:32 to those who profess to serve the true God. 18:36 In other words, He is not dealing 18:38 with secular minded people who profess not religion 18:41 His message is primarily 18:43 for people who have religion, 18:45 for people who claim to serve the true God. 18:49 And we are gonna notice that Elijah 18:51 did not actually bring any new religion into Israel. 18:55 No new doctrines, no new teachings, 18:57 the purpose of Elijah is to bring Israel 19:01 God's chosen people back to the truth, 19:04 back to the foundations, 19:06 back to the worship of the true God. 19:08 In fact, let's notice 19:10 several texts that show that the purpose of Elijah 19:13 is to bring the churched 19:15 so to speak or to bring those who claim to be God's people 19:19 back to the straight and narrow. 19:21 Malachi 4:5, 6, "Behold, 19:27 I will send you Elijah the prophet 19:31 before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." 19:35 And now notice, "He will turn 19:38 the hearts of the fathers to the children, 19:41 and the hearts of the children to their fathers, 19:44 lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." 19:48 What's been said in these verses 19:50 is that there is gonna be a reconciliation 19:53 between that generation 19:54 and the generation of the fathers. 19:56 The generation of the father's 19:58 we are going to notice are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 20:01 the religion of the founders of Israel so to speak. 20:05 In other words, there is going to be reconciliation 20:07 between the Israel of Elijah's day and the Israel 20:11 when it was founded by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 20:16 I want you to notice also 20:17 what we find in 1 Kings 18:37 20:21 on the mission of Elijah. 20:23 We are gonna notice that 20:25 he was not actually an innovator, 20:27 he was not actually bringing new truths 20:30 or new doctrines, he wanted to restore 20:33 that which had been forgotten by Israel. 20:36 It says, there "Hear me, O Lord," 20:40 here he is praying on Mount Carmel 20:41 for fire to fall from heaven. 20:43 "Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know 20:49 that you are the Lord God" and now notice this, 20:53 "and that You have" what? 20:56 "Turned their hearts back to You again." 21:01 Did you notice that the role of Elijah 21:03 is not to establish new religion, 21:06 it is not to innovate, 21:08 the role of Elijah is to bring the people back 21:11 to what they have done astray, from back to true worship, 21:15 back to the commandments of God. 21:17 Luke 1:16 has the same idea. 21:20 Every time Elijah appears he is trying 21:23 to bring God's people away from apostasy back to the truth, 21:27 back to true worship, back to the commandments of God. 21:30 It says there in Luke 1:16 "And he will turn many" 21:37 now notice this "many of the children 21:39 of Israel to the Lord their God." 21:42 Now wait a minute I though that Israel 21:43 did belong to the Lord their God. 21:46 It must be that they were in apostasy. 21:48 Is Elijah is sent to an apostate Israel? 21:52 He is not sent to the Philistines 21:53 or to the Babylonians or the Egyptians. 21:56 He is sent to those who profess to be God's people 21:59 and they are practicing false worship, 22:00 they are trampling of the commandments of God 22:02 and they are worshipping the sun god Baal. 22:05 And so it says, "He will turn many of the children of Israel 22:11 back to the Lord their God." 22:13 Notice also Matthew 17:11 this comes through timing again 22:17 and the role of Elijah, it says there, 22:21 "Jesus answered and said to them, 22:24 'Indeed, Elijah is coming first'" 22:27 and notice "'and will'" what "'will restore all things.'" 22:34 In other words, he is gonna bring the people 22:35 back to the way it once was. 22:38 He is the restorer, he turns God's people 22:41 back to the true God by the way do you know 22:44 that when He was Mount Carmel 22:46 he had to repair the altar of the Lord 22:48 because Israel had forgotten 22:50 how to worship the true God 22:51 through the sacrifice of the lamb? 22:54 Notice I Kings 18:30, 22:57 here Elijah is at Mount Carmel 23:00 and I want you to notice what he does. 23:02 It says, "Then Elijah said to all the people, 23:05 'Come near to me.' 23:06 So all the people came near to him." 23:09 And let's listen to this. 23:11 "And he repaired the altar of the Lord 23:14 that was broken down." 23:16 Did he erect new sacrifices 23:19 that had never been heard of before? 23:21 No, he is restoring true worship. 23:24 He is restoring the altar 23:26 where the sacrifices were offered. 23:28 Notice also 1 Kings 18:31, 32, 23:32 once again the idea of restoring Israel, God's people. 23:36 It says there "And Elijah took twelve stones" 23:40 this is interesting he took 12 stones 23:43 "according to the number of the tribes 23:46 of the sons of Jacob," 23:48 how many stones does he take? 23:49 Twelve. 23:50 Why did he take 12? 23:53 Because Israel had 12 tribes. 23:54 What is he restoring? 23:56 He is restoring Israel. 23:59 So it says, "And Elijah took twelve stones 24:01 according to the number of the tribes 24:03 of the sons of Jacob, 24:04 to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, 24:06 'Israel shall be your name.' 24:09 Then with the stones he built an altar 24:12 in the name of the Lord." 24:14 And when actually praised for fire 24:16 to come down from heaven 24:17 I want you to notice, who he mentions in his prayer. 24:21 He mentions the founders of Israel. 24:24 It says 1 Kings 18:36 24:28 and we will read verse 37 as well, 24:30 "And it came to pass, 24:32 at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, 24:36 that Elijah the prophet came near and said," 24:40 listen to this "'Lord God of Abraham, 24:45 Isaac, and Israel," 24:49 who is he mentioning in his prayer? 24:50 The founders of Israel. 24:53 "Let it be known this day that You are God in Israel 24:57 and I'm Your servant, 24:59 and that I have done all these things at Your word. 25:03 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, 25:05 that this people may know 25:07 that You are the Lord God" 25:09 and now notice this 25:10 "And that You have turned their hearts back to You again." 25:17 What is the role of Elijah? To bring new religion? 25:21 To establish new institutions? 25:23 To teach new doctrines? 25:25 No, God's own people are in apostasy 25:30 and the role of Elijah is to come 25:31 and to speak to God's people 25:33 who are worshipping the sun god 25:36 and to rebuke this threefold alliance 25:39 so that Israel will come back to the God 25:42 that they had once believed in and to the God 25:46 that their fathers had worshipped long before. 25:51 I want you to notice 1 Kings 19:10 25:54 the same idea coming through that people 25:56 that gonna astray from God's covenant. 25:57 So Elijah now restores the covenant of the Lord says, 26:01 there in 1 Kings 19:10, "So he said, 26:06 'I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts'" 26:09 now notice this "'for the children 26:11 of Israel have forsaken Your'" 26:14 what "'your covenant, torn down Your altars, 26:18 and killed Your prophets with the sword. 26:21 I alone am left and they seek to take my life.'" 26:26 Was it true that Elijah was the only one who was left? 26:29 No, because God tells him I have a remnant. 26:31 I have a faithful remnant 26:33 who has not bow the knee to Baal. 26:35 So we notice the remnant concept in this story. 26:39 Now, Elijah wanted to bring God's people 26:43 back to true worship, 26:45 back to the keeping of God's commandments. 26:47 I want you to notice that in 1 Kings 18:17, 18, 26:53 he rebuked false worship 26:55 and restored true worship of the Lord. 26:58 It says there, "Then it happened, 27:00 when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, 27:05 'Is that you, O troubler of Israel?' 27:09 And he answered, 'I have not troubled Israel, 27:13 but you and your father's house have,'" 27:16 now how were they trouble in Israel? 27:17 Notice, "'In that you have forsaken 27:22 the commandments of the Lord 27:24 and you have followed the Baals.'" 27:25 By the chapter 16:30, 31 27:28 says that follow the Baals means to worship the Baals. 27:32 In other words, we find in this text 27:35 that Elijah is rebuking the king 27:38 because the king encouraged by Jezebel 27:41 and the false prophets are actually worshipping Baal. 27:45 In other words, Elijah is attempting 27:47 to restore true worship to the Creator God. 27:52 Now, do you know that in scripture 27:54 it is impossible to talk about worship 27:57 without taking about the Creator? 27:59 Because, we worship God because he is the Creator. 28:02 Notice what we find in Psalm 95:6, 28:05 Psalm 95:6 very short verse but very meaningful. 28:10 It tells us why we are supposed to bow and worship God. 28:14 "Oh come, let us worship and bow down, 28:18 let us kneel before the Lord" our what? 28:22 "Our Maker." 28:23 Why do we worship? Because God is our what? 28:27 God is our maker. 28:28 Now, listen up, you cannot talk 28:30 about God being the maker 28:33 without talking about the Sabbath, 28:36 because the Sabbath is the sign of the Creator. 28:38 If Israel had kept the Sabbath 28:40 they would have never worshiped Baal. 28:42 How could be attribute creating power to Baal 28:45 if they had kept the Sabbath 28:47 which indicated that there was only one true Creator God, 28:50 the Creator of the heavens and the earth? 28:52 In fact, notice Revelation 14:6, 7, 28:56 how the idea of the Creator 28:58 and worship are linked together with the Sabbath 29:01 because the Sabbath is mentioned 29:03 at the conclusion of creation week. 29:05 It says there in Revelation 14:6, 29:08 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 29:11 having the everlasting gospel to preach 29:13 to those who dwell on the earth 29:15 to every nation, tribe, tongue, 29:18 and people saying with a loud voice, 29:21 'Fear God and give glory to Him, 29:24 for the hour of His judgment has come'" 29:26 and now comes the key portion of the verse 29:28 that I want to underline "'and worship Him 29:31 who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.'" 29:35 By the way, that is a reference 29:37 to the fourth commandment of God's holy law 29:39 where we were told that we are suppose 29:41 to worship the Creator of the heaven the earth, 29:44 the sea and all that in them is. 29:47 So there is a clear link between worship, 29:51 the Creator and the Sabbath. 29:53 It becomes very obvious 29:55 that Israel was not keeping God's holy Sabbath or else, 29:59 they would never have been worshipping the sun god. 30:02 And so Elijah is called to rebuke false worship 30:06 and he is called to invite God's people 30:09 to return the worship of the Creator God 30:12 and the sign of the Creator God is the Sabbath. 30:16 But as we noticed in 1 Kings 18:18 30:19 Elijah was also called to restore 30:21 the commandments of God 30:23 not only rebuke false worship 30:25 and reinstitute true worship to the Creator God 30:29 but also to exalt the commandments of God, 30:31 particular the first table of the law, 30:33 the first four commandments 30:35 which have to do with worship to the Creator. 30:37 Notice 1 Kings 18:18 once again 30:40 here Elijah meets king Ahab and he says, 30:45 "I have not troubled Israel, 30:47 but you and your father's house have, 30:50 in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord 30:54 and you have followed the Baals." 30:57 Notice you have forsaken what? 30:58 The commandments of the Lord. 31:01 By the way, there is another commandment involved here 31:04 and that's the commandment of fornication or adultery, 31:07 Elijah is actually rebuking 31:09 the adulterous relationship between Ahab and Jezebel. 31:15 I want you to notice also that Elijah restored the true gospel. 31:18 He not only restored true worship, 31:20 he not only restored the commandments of God 31:23 but he also restored true worship. 31:27 Notice 1 Kings 18 and we will read verse 30 31:30 and then we will jump down to verse 36. 31:33 It says in verse 30 31:34 "Then Elijah said to all the people" 31:37 this is on Mount Carmel "'Come near to me.' 31:39 So all the people came near to him. 31:42 And he repaired the altar of the Lord 31:44 that was broken down. 31:46 And it came to pass," listen to this 31:48 "at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice," 31:51 which pointed to Jesus. 31:53 See there was a morning and evening sacrifice 31:55 which pointed to Christ. 31:57 "That Elijah the prophet came near and said, 31:59 'Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, 32:02 let it be known this day that You are God in Israel 32:06 and I am Your servant, 32:07 and that I have done all these things at Your word.'" 32:12 So he restores true worship and rebukes false worship, 32:15 he rebukes those who are trampling 32:17 on the commandment of God 32:18 and he invites God's people to keep the commandments. 32:21 He restores the true gospel of the sacrifice of the lamb 32:25 which represents the sacrifice of the Messiah. 32:28 And of course, his message went over 32:30 like the light balloon. 32:32 The Bible tells us that as a result 32:34 of God raising up Elijah the heavens were closed. 32:38 And because the heavens were closed 32:39 and it didn't rain there was sever feminine in the land. 32:44 I want you to notice 1 Kings 18:5 32:47 that this Famine was so bad the lack of rain 32:51 that cause the famine was so bad 32:53 that it reached even to the palace. 32:55 It says there "And Ahab had said to Obadiah, 32:59 'Go into the land to all the springs of water 33:02 and to all the brooks, perhaps we may find grass 33:06 to keep the horses and mules alive, 33:09 so that we will not have to kill any livestock.'" 33:13 So in other words that was this terrible period of famine 33:17 because of lack of rain. 33:18 And of course, 33:20 God had explained the reason for lack of rain. 33:22 Notice 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14 God had clearly explained 33:27 that if famine came there was a specific reason. 33:29 It wasn't because of the message of Elijah 33:32 it was because of the apostasy of Israel. 33:35 It says there, in 2 Chronicles 7:13 33:38 God is speaking "When I shut up heaven 33:40 and there is no rain, 33:42 or command the locusts to devour the land, 33:45 or send pestilence among My people, 33:48 if My people who are called by My name 33:51 will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, 33:56 and turn from their wicked ways, 33:58 then I will hear from heaven, 34:00 and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 34:04 God is saying it's because of apostasy 34:07 that famine comes and natural calamities and disasters come 34:12 and yet we find that in the story of Elijah, 34:15 Elijah was blamed for the calamities. 34:18 In fact, notice 1 Kings 18:17 34:22 which we read before but now let's look at it again. 34:25 When Elijah goes before Ahab, 34:28 Ahab there has a very interesting 34:29 reception for him. 34:31 It says there in 1 King 18:17 34:35 "Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, 34:39 that Ahab said to him, 34:42 'Is that you, O troubler of Israel?'" 34:46 In other words, all of our troubles 34:48 are due to your message, 34:49 because you don't accept Baal as God 34:52 and because you don't accept the influence of the king 34:55 and of this harlot woman Jezebel 34:58 and of the false prophets. 35:00 If you accept it our religion 35:02 all of our calamities would seize. 35:04 Prophets and Kings page 126 35:06 we can find an interesting comment on this. 35:10 "Jezebel utterly refused to recognize the drought 35:15 as a judgment from Jehovah. 35:17 Unyielding in her determination to defy the God of heaven, 35:21 she, with nearly the whole of Israel, 35:26 united in denouncing Elijah 35:29 as the cause of all their misery. 35:31 Had he not borne testimony against their forms of worship?" 35:36 Notice "Had he not born testimony 35:38 against their forms of worship. 35:40 If only he could be put out of the way, 35:43 she argued, the anger of their gods would be appeased, 35:46 and their troubles would end." 35:48 Remember that because we are gonna come 35:49 to all of these details in the Book of Revelation. 35:52 This is a striking typological story 35:55 that is gonna be fulfilled in the end time, 35:57 exactly the way we'll study it 35:59 from the Old Testament story. 36:01 I want you to notice that according to Jezebel 36:05 if they could kill Elijah prosperity would come back 36:10 because the gods would be appeased. 36:12 Back now let's 1 Kings 18:10 where it says, 36:17 that they sort Elijah where ever he might be found. 36:21 It says there "As the Lord your God lives, 36:25 there is no nation or kingdom 36:28 where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you 36:33 and when they said, 'He is not here,' 36:35 he took an oath from the kingdom or nation 36:38 that they could not find you." 36:39 In other words, he forced rulers 36:41 of different parts of the kingdom 36:43 to swear that they did not no where Elijah was 36:47 and that they had not seen Elijah. 36:49 In other words, they were seeking for Elijah 36:51 in every place in the kingdom 36:53 thinking that if they could get rid of him 36:55 the God's would be appeased 36:57 and prosperity would return. 37:00 Once again and Prophets and Kings 37:01 in this captivating chapter on Elijah 37:04 we find this remarkable statement. 37:07 "For three years the messenger of world 37:10 was shot for in city after city and nation after nation." 37:15 Notice not only in Israel but in other nations. 37:18 "At the mandate of Ahab, 37:20 many rulers had given their oath of honor 37:24 that the strange prophet could not be found in their dominions. 37:28 Yet the search was continued, 37:30 for Jezebel and the prophets of Baal 37:33 hated Elijah with a deadly hatred, 37:36 and they spared no effort to bring him 37:38 within reach of their power and still there was no rain." 37:43 Interestingly enough Elijah had to flee 37:46 to the desert or to the wilderness 37:49 when they were seeking Him. 37:51 Notice 1 Kings 17:1- 7. 37:55 Interestingly enough not only did he flee to the desert 37:58 or to the wilderness but in the wilderness 38:00 he was sustained by God. 38:03 Don't forget that. 38:04 It says in 1 King 17:1 38:07 "And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitance of Gilead, 38:11 said to Ahab, 38:13 'As the Lord God of Israel lives, 38:15 before whom I stand, 38:17 there shall not be dew nor rain these years, 38:21 except at my word.' 38:23 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 38:25 'Get away from here and turn eastward, 38:27 and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 38:32 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, 38:35 and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.'" 38:39 Notice God commanded the ravens to feed him. 38:42 Continue saying, 38:43 "So he went and did according to the word of the Lord 38:46 for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, 38:49 which flows into the Jordan. 38:51 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, 38:55 and bread and meat in the evening, 38:58 and he drank from the brook. 39:00 And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, 39:03 because there had been no rain in the land." 39:07 So Elijah persecuted fleece to the wilderness 39:11 and in the wilderness he has sustained 39:14 by a miracle of God. 39:16 By the way a very important detail 39:17 that I want you to notice is 39:19 that Elijah is on earth during this Tribulation Period. 39:24 He is on earth when the death decry is given. 39:27 He goes through the tribulation. 39:29 You need to remember this 39:30 because when we come to the end time application 39:33 we got to find that God's people 39:34 who'll be translated from this world 39:36 from among the living will go through the tribulation, 39:39 they will face the death decry remaining on planet earth 39:43 before they are translated to heaven. 39:46 And so now we move on to Mount Carmel, 39:49 up to this point Elijah's message 39:51 had not had much effect on the people. 39:55 In fact, we're going to notice 39:57 that when Elijah calls in for a decision 39:59 they don't even answer him a word. 40:01 Let's read that 1 Kings 18:21. 40:05 See they were limping between two opinions. 40:07 It says, there in verse 21 40:10 "And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 40:14 'How long will you falter between two opinions? 40:18 If the Lord is God, follow Him but if Baal, follow him.'" 40:22 Is he calling for a clear cut decision 40:24 between the Creator God and the sun god? 40:27 Remember that issue 40:28 between true Creator God and the sun god. 40:31 And the people said, oh we accept the Lord. 40:34 No they didn't. 40:35 It says in the last part of the verse. 40:37 "But the people answered him not a word." 40:43 His message had no power at that moment. 40:45 We are gonna notice that when the fire came from heaven 40:47 there was power that convicted the people. 40:50 Once again for Prophets and Kings page 147 40:53 we find this remarkable statement, 40:56 "Facing King Ahab and the false prophets, 40:59 and surrounded by the assembled hosts of Israel, 41:02 Elijah stands, the only one who has appeared 41:07 to vindicate the honor of Jehovah. 41:10 He whom the whole kingdom has charged 41:12 with its weight of woe is now before them, 41:16 apparently defenseless in the presence 41:19 of the monarch of Israel, 41:20 the prophets of Baal, the men of war, 41:23 and the surrounding thousands. 41:26 But Elijah is not alone. 41:29 Above and around him 41:30 are the protecting hosts of heaven, 41:33 angels that excel in strength." 41:37 In other words, his work is performed 41:39 through the ministration of angels 41:41 there was no one on planet earth not the king, 41:43 not the harlot, not the false prophets 41:46 who could touch the servant of the Lord 41:48 when he went to Mount Carmel. 41:50 By the way, have you ever noticed the worship style 41:54 of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel? 41:57 Let's just read that quickly 1 Kings 18:26-29 42:02 we're gonna contrast that with a worship style of Elijah. 42:05 It's a different kind of worship style. 42:06 Very serene, and calm and solemn and reverent. 42:11 The prophets of Baal were very irreverent. 42:14 They shouted and they jumped. 42:16 Notice what it says in verse 26." 42:18 So they took the bull 42:21 which was given them, and they prepared it, 42:23 and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, 42:26 saying, 'O Baal, hear us!' 42:30 But there was no voice, no one answered. 42:32 And they leaped about the altar which they had made. 42:36 And so it was, at noon, 42:38 that Elijah mocked them and said, 'Cry aloud, 42:40 for he is a god, either he is meditating, 42:43 or he is busy, or he is on a journey'" 42:46 I guess he had a sense of humor. 42:48 "'Or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.' 42:52 So they cried aloud," 42:53 notice "Cut themselves, 42:55 as was their custom, with knives and lances, 42:58 until the blood gushed out on them. 43:01 And when midday was past, they prophesied 43:04 until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. 43:06 But there was no voice 43:08 no one answered, no one paid attention." 43:11 No notice the contrast with Elijah's worship style. 43:15 This is found in verses 36 and 37, 43:17 little bit further down the chapter. 43:19 It says, "And it came to pass, 43:21 at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, 43:24 that Elijah the prophet came near and said, 43:27 'Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, 43:31 let it be known this day that You are God in Israel 43:35 and I'm Your servant, 43:37 and that I have done all these things at Your word. 43:41 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, 43:43 that this people may know that You are the Lord God, 43:47 and that You have turned their hearts 43:50 back to You again.'" 43:53 Very simple prayer, reverent, sincere, 43:58 no shouting, no jumping, no crying out, 44:04 a simple calm serene prayer. 44:09 And then the spectacular happened 44:11 his message had had no effect up to this moment 44:15 but when the message is joined by the fire from heaven 44:18 suddenly his message has convicting power. 44:21 We are gonna notice later on that in Revelation 18 44:24 you have a message that comes from heaven. 44:26 The whole earth is illumined with His glory 44:28 through the power of the Holy Spirit, 44:30 fire represents the Holy Spirit. 44:32 Notice 1 Kings 18:38, 39. 44:36 It says, "Then the fire of the Lord fell 44:38 and consumed the burnt sacrifice, 44:41 and the wood and the stones and the dust, 44:44 and it licked up the water that was in the trench." 44:47 And now notice, 44:48 "Now when all the people saw it, 44:50 they fell on their faces; and they said, 44:52 'The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!'" 44:57 Do you seem them the message 44:58 with a fire from heaven has convicting power. 45:03 And now Israel is led away from their deception 45:06 and they are lead to the true God. 45:10 Prophets and Kings, pages 152 and 153 45:13 describes this scene in the following way. 45:17 "No sooner is the prayer of Elijah ended 45:21 than flames of fire, 45:23 like brilliant flashes of lightning, 45:25 descend from heaven upon the up reared altar, 45:29 consuming the sacrifice, 45:31 licking up the water in the trench, 45:33 and consuming even the stones of the altar. 45:36 The brilliancy of the blaze illumines the mountain 45:40 and dazzles the eyes of the multitude." 45:43 Notice that the mountain is filled 45:45 with glory with dazzling light. 45:48 She continues saying "In the valleys below, 45:50 where many are watching in anxious suspense 45:54 the movements of those above, 45:57 the descent of fire is clearly seen, 45:59 and all are amazed at the sight. 46:02 It resembles the pillar of fire 46:04 which at the Red Sea separated the children of Israel 46:08 from the Egyptian host." 46:12 Now we can't conclude our study 46:13 without noticing the end 46:15 of Ahab, Jezebel, and the false prophets. 46:18 Let's talk first of all about how the false prophets 46:22 ended their existence on planet earth. 46:25 1 Kings 18:40 tells us, "That the Israelites themselves" 46:31 I want you to remember this 46:33 "That the Israelites themselves 46:35 laid hands on the false profits and sue them. 46:39 It says there in 1 Kings 18:40 "And Elijah said to them" 46:44 that is to the people that were gathered on Mount Carmel 46:47 "'Seize the prophets of Baal! 46:49 Do not let one of them escape!' 46:52 So they seize them and Elijah brought them down 46:56 to the Brook Kishon and executed then there." 47:00 They were actually executed by Elijah 47:02 and by the congregation which had been the deceived 47:05 by this threefold alliance. 47:07 Once again Prophets And Kings pages 153 and 154 47:10 provide some insight into this experience. 47:14 "The priest of Baal witness with consternation 47:18 the wonderful revelation of Jehovah's power." 47:22 And now notice this 47:23 "Yet even in their own discomfiture 47:27 and in the presence of divine glory, 47:30 they refuse to repent of their evil doing." 47:35 The people repented but the prophets didn't. 47:37 They admit that they have deceived the people 47:39 but they refused to repent, she continues saying. 47:42 "Thus they show themselves ripe for destruction. 47:47 That repentant Israel may be protected from the allurements 47:51 of those who have taught them to worship Baal, 47:54 Elijah is directed by the Lord 47:56 to destroy these false teachers." 47:58 Remember that expression, false teachers. 48:01 "The anger of the people has already been aroused 48:06 against the leaders in transgression." 48:08 Notice, those who admire the most 48:10 raise their hands against them now. 48:13 All of this is symbolic 48:14 of what's gonna happen at the end. 48:16 "And when Elijah gives the command, 48:18 'Take the prophets of Baal, 48:19 let not one of them escape,' 48:21 they are ready to obey. 48:24 They seize the priests, 48:26 and take them to the Brook Kishon, 48:28 and there, before the close of the day 48:31 that marked the beginning of decided reform, 48:33 the ministers of Baal are slain. 48:37 Not one of them is permitted to live." 48:41 The very people that have been deceived 48:43 raise their hands to destroy the false prophets of Baal. 48:47 Now let's talk about the end of Ahab 48:49 and the end of Jezebel. 48:50 Very interesting description 1 Kings 21:23, 24. 48:57 Do you know that the blood of Ahab 48:58 was actually licked up by wild dogs? 49:02 Notice 1 kings 21: 23, 24. 49:05 This is a prophecy about the end of Ahab 49:08 and the end of Jezebel 49:09 it says, "And concerned Jezebel the Lord also spoke saying 49:15 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'" 49:21 What was gonna happen with Jezebel? 49:22 She is gonna be eaten by what? 49:23 By dogs. 49:25 "The dog shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab 49:29 and dies in the city 49:30 and the birds of the airs 49:32 shall eat whoever dies in the field." 49:34 Notice they would be consumed by dogs 49:36 and by the birds of the air. 49:38 Does that bring a bell 49:39 when it comes to Revelation Chapter 19? 49:43 It most certainly does. 49:44 Now it's read about the end Ahab. 49:46 This was a prophecy. 49:47 Let's read about the description of his end. 49:49 1 Kings 22:37, 38 1 Kings 22:37, 38. 49:55 It says "So the king died, 49:57 and was brought to Samaria. 49:59 And they buried the king in Samaria." 50:01 But there is more to the story. 50:03 "Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, 50:07 and the dogs licked up his blood 50:10 while the harlots bathed, 50:12 according to the word of the Lord 50:14 which He had spoken." 50:15 Notice the dogs lick up his blood. 50:18 Now what about the end of Jezebel? 50:21 Also consumed by wild dogs and by the birds of the air. 50:25 Notice 2 Kings 9:8, 9 it says, 50:29 "For the whole house of Ahab shell parish 50:33 and I will cut off from Ahab all the males 50:36 in Israel both bond and free. 50:38 So I will make the house of Ahab 50:40 like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, 50:43 and like the house of Baasha the son of a Ahijah. 50:47 The dog shall eat Jezebel on the plot of ground at Jezreel 50:52 and there shall be none to bury her." 50:56 Interesting that's exactly 50:57 what's gonna happen during the millennium. 50:59 "And he open the door and fled." 51:02 Now this is a prophecy 51:04 but let's read about how it actually happened. 51:07 2 Kings 9:30 51:11 "Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, 51:13 Jezebel heard of it" and notice what she did, 51:17 "and she put paint on her eyes 51:20 and adorned her head" 51:23 does she have adorning? 51:24 She fixed herself up like a harlot, most certainly. 51:27 "And looked through a window. 51:29 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, 51:31 she said, 'Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?"" 51:35 see she thinks she's gonna continue 51:36 using the new king of Israel Jehu, 51:39 but she's gonna be greatly surprised. 51:42 Notice what we find in verse 32. 51:44 "And he looked up at the window, and said, 51:47 'Who is on my side? Who?' 51:51 So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 51:55 Then he said, 'Throw her down.'" 51:58 Does Babylon have a fall in the Book of Revelation? 52:01 I'm just giving you some indications 52:03 of where we're going with this. 52:04 "Then he said, 'Threw her down.' 52:06 So they threw her down, 52:09 and some of her blood spattered on the wall" 52:11 and now notice, "and on the horses" 52:14 Revelation 14 will pick this up 52:16 "and he trampled her underfoot." 52:19 See the horses trample her 52:21 and the blood splatters on to the horses. 52:25 It continue says, 52:26 "And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. 52:30 Then he said, 'Go now, see to this accursed woman, 52:33 and bury her, for she was a king's daughter.' 52:36 So they went to bury her, 52:38 but they found no more of her than the skull 52:41 and the feet and the palms of her hands. 52:45 Therefore they came back and told him. 52:47 And he said, 'This is the word of the Lord, 52:49 which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 52:53 On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs 52:57 shall eat the flesh of Jezebel 53:00 and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse 53:03 on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, 53:06 so that they shall not say, "Here lies Jezebel."" 53:12 Do you know that the death of these individuals 53:14 actually was God's way of avenging the death 53:17 of His servants the prophets? 53:19 Notice 2 Kings 9:7 53:21 remember the terminology of all of this 53:23 because we are gonna come back to it. 53:25 You see this is all typological. 53:27 It's symbolic of future events. 53:30 2 Kings 9:7, 53:33 "You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master" 53:38 and now notice the reason, "that I may" what? 53:42 "Avenge the blood" 53:46 this will be picked up in Revelation 19 53:48 "That I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, 53:53 and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, 53:56 at the hand of Jezebel." 54:00 Now we have two final points 54:01 that I want to cover with you before we end, 54:05 and that is that there was a delay 54:08 after the Mount Carmel experience 54:09 and after the death decry which was given by Jezebel. 54:12 There was a delay 54:14 in the coming of Christ to pick up Elijah. 54:19 Noticed 1 Kings 18:43, 44. 54:22 Have you ever read in the Spirit of Prophecy about that 54:25 that cloud about half the size of a man's hand 54:28 that she talks about, where does she get that from? 54:31 Well let's notice 1 Kings 18:43, 44 54:35 "And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel 54:38 then he bowed down on the ground, 54:40 and put his face between his knees, 54:42 and said to his servant, 54:44 'Go up now, look toward the sea.' 54:47 So he went up and looked, and said, 'There is nothing.' 54:51 And seven times he said, 'Go again.' 54:55 Then it came to pass the seventh time, 54:58 that he said, 'There is a cloud, 55:01 as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!' 55:08 So he said, 'Go up, say to Ahab, prepare your chariot, 55:12 and go down before the rain stops you.'" 55:17 Notice a cloud like a man's hand is seen the seventh time. 55:22 And by the way, that cloud was an indication 55:25 that rain was coming 55:26 but it was also an indication 55:28 that Elijah was going to be translated 55:31 from among the living. 55:33 In fact, let's notice the description 55:35 that the Bible gives of the translation of Elijah. 55:39 2 Kings 2: 11, 12 after he went through the tribulation, 55:44 after he face this triple alliance, 55:46 after he presented the message with boldness, 55:49 after the fire from heaven came down 55:51 and united with his message 55:53 and brought conviction to Israel, 55:55 after Jezebel and Ahab and the prophets of Baal, 55:58 have perished we have a combination 56:02 of a story of Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11, 12. 56:08 He is translated to heaven from among the living. 56:11 It says there, "Then it happened, 56:13 as they continued on and talked" 56:17 this is Elijah and Elisha "that suddenly a chariot 56:23 of fire appeared with horses of fire" don't forget this 56:29 because in the book Great Controversy 56:31 we are gonna find that when Jesus comes the second time 56:33 He is coming with a chariot to pick up His people. 56:36 "Then it happened, as they continued 56:37 on and talked that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared 56:40 with horses of fire and separated the two of them 56:44 and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 56:50 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, 56:53 'My father, my father, 56:55 the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!' 56:59 So he saw him no more. 57:02 And he took hold of his own clothes 57:04 and tore them into two pieces." 57:08 And so the story of Elijah ends 57:13 but it doesn't end because Malachi 4 57:16 as we are gonna see in our next study says, 57:19 that before the great and terrible day 57:21 of the Lord God will once again send Elijah. 57:26 Don't miss the next exciting study. |
Revised 2014-12-17