Author: Philip Lewis Powell
First Published: March 2002
God has always raised up and used the faithful remnant. It happened in Israel and in the church throughout history and it's happening again. E.M. Bounds wisely said, "God's method is men”, meaning that the divine initiative is reflected not in systems or programmes, but in His servants who receive His revelation, obey His word and do His will. Sadly, the human process creates a digression, which is reflected in the statement - Men produce Movements, which end in Monuments. The reality of this was brought home to me most powerfully on a ministry visit to UK in 1997. I preached at a place called Mow Cop, a village with a population of around 1400 that is situated on a hill that towers 1000 feet directly above the plains of Cheshire and Staffordshire in Great Britain. What an intriguing place! The Encyclopedia Britannica refers to Mow Cop as the Mecca of Primitive Methodism, for it was here that the “Prims”, As they were known, conducted their first camp meetings in 1807 in an attempt to revive the enthusiasm and fire of the earlier Wesleyan Methodists, who vehemently opposed them.
At the summit there is an unfinished tower locally called the “folly”, which was built around 1754 as a summerhouse by the wealthy Wilbraham family to portray a ruined castle. It was at this precise site in 1907 that 100,000 people gathered to celebrate the centenary of those great Primitive Methodist camp meetings. Now both the Wesleyans and the Primitives are largely spent forces. As I stood and looked across the plains of Cheshire into North Wales on the West and turn to look over Staffordshire deep into England on the east, the unfinished summerhouse of the Wilbraham family, former citizens of that Mecca of Methodism told its own story. MEN produce MOVEMENTS, which END in MONUMENTS. That's what calls forth the Faithful Remnant, for Christ said that His church would always prevail.
Consider another case scenario, which sadly tells the same tale and bites more deeply and closer to the bone as it relates to our own origins. Undoubtedly, the Pentecostal revival produced one of the greatest movements of church history being rightly described as the third arm of Christendom. Historically it can be identified in its origin as the Faithful REMNANT from Methodism. Clearly there were denials and departures and degrees of corruption from the inception, but no intelligent person who has travelled extensively can deny that the early Pentecostals influenced their world for good. However, something has happened. One man put it this way: “Revival movements start in the fire and end in the smoke”. Now that's a picture that says a lot. Often the smoke is more impressive visually than the original fire.
As we look back (and it's not wrong to look back, for if we don't know where we've been then we can't know where we're going) there are two dangers each of which relates to the extremes to which humans tend to be driven. Firstly it's possible to concentrate on the smoke and forget the fire. This tends to turn faith into doubt. Secondly some say that all the fire was false just because it got out of hand and they point to the smoke as the evidence. This however overlooks the nature of fire, which always produces more smoke after the flame has died down and the fire smoulders away. We have the Word of God to guide us with such statements as “let all things be done decently and in order”. If we deviate from the mandate of the Word of God, we're going to end up with a lot of smoke but that doesn't prove that all the fire was false.
At the outset of our first CWM Conference, (held March 8-10, 2002 Melbourne, Australia) where this book was launched, I made two impassioned pleas: Firstly that we do not try to justify the bizarre as some have so foolishly attempted to do on either the notion that God's ways are not totally understandable to the rational mind or that God is doing something new for which we don't and can't have precedence in scripture. This is total nonsense for it strikes at the clear teaching of scripture that the truly spiritual people are able to judge ALL THINGS for they have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15-16) and that the spiritual mind is rational, orderly and intelligent. It also attacks the basis of our faith in the authority and sufficiency of scripture, which is a most serious matter. Secondly and equally that we do not deny our godly heritage, which is very much related to our two major themes – REVIVAL & TRUE HOLINESS and REVIVAL & GENUINE SUPERNATURALISM. These are not mutually exclusive. They are intrinsically joined and were in fact the major emphases of the founders of classic Pentecostalism. These two threads are essential in the fabric of any revival movement and must be stated and experienced at the commencement and restated and rediscovered among the faithful remnant. It was true in Elijah’s time and it's true NOW as we ask the question, “Elijah where are you?” which is not just a question about Elijah, but about the God of Elijah, who as many interpret will in some mysterious manner be one of the final two witnesses of the end-time spoken of in Revelation chapter 11:
Rev 11:3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Rev 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.
Rev 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
Rev 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
Rev 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.
Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.
Rev 11:10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 11:11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.
Rev 11:13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation Chapter 11: 3-13 NKJV)
This rather mystical and somewhat speculative allusion to Elijah as one of the two end time witnesses is worthy of brief comment. In response to the question about His identity the disciples answered Christ with, “Some say that you are …Elijah…(Matthew 16:4) While on another occasion Jesus Himself testified of John the Baptist, "But I say to you, that Elijah is come already, and they did not know him, but have done to him whatever they desired” (Matthew 17:12) And yet again, “… if you will receive it, this is Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14). It was Elijah and Moses who joined Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration as witnesses to His forthcoming Crucifixion ( Matthew 17:1-13) And it was Elijah who the unbelieving Jews near the cross looked for to answer Christ’s prayer in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani” - which they misapplied as an appeal for Elijah to help him (Matthew 27:46-49). Clearly there was a general view among the Jews in New Testament times that Elijah would proceed Christ the Messiah. Our Lord did not dispute the idea but rather confirmed it indicating that the fulfilment rested upon the faith and acceptance of the people at the time. This supports our view that prophecy frequently has more than one fulfilment. John the Baptist, To those who received his message, fulfilled the prophecy. He was indeed the forerunner of Christ who prepared the way of the Lord and made His paths straight, BUT that does not preclude a future fulfilment. Malachi the last of the Old Testament prophets proclaimed, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Malachi 4:5) which is a clear reference to some future event that relates to God's judgment time of history.
Our topic, while relating in part to this prophetic aspect also has a practical application. When Elijah's mantle was taken up by his successor, the sons of the prophets observed, “The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha” (2 Kings 2:15). It is the spirit, attitude or disposition and the example of Elijah that I want to build upon in asking the question, “Elijah where are you?” and in considering how God always retains a faithful remnant as 1 Kings 19:9-18 implies.
“1Ki 19:9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:10 So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."
1Ki 19:11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
1Ki 19:12 and after the earthquake afire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
1Ki 19:13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
1Ki 19:14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."
1Ki 19:15 Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
1Ki 19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
1Ki 19:17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
There are four major stages in the life and ministry of Elijah:
I. The Hidden Years;
II. His Public Ministry;
III. The Silent Years; and
IV. Appointing His Successor.
We do not know how long the first period lasted and would be entirely ignorant of it were it not mentioned by James in the New Testament. The public and silent years are interspersed. Elijah is a person that you cannot really tie down. He left for heaven in a whirlwind because he largely lived a whirlwind sort of life. Now you see him; now you don't. Here today and gone no one knows quite where tomorrow, but he'll be back soon - when he's needed. That's how he lived his life and when he finally left this earth it wasn't clear to everyone where he'd gone or for that matter if he had finally left. He is one of the only two who appeared to have evaded death. Enoch was the other. Maybe all these facts about Elijah contribute to the mystery regarding his future appearance on this earth.
The final period was his link with Elisha, who was the third person God told Elijah to anoint: 1 Kings 19:15-16
1Ki 19:15 Then the LORD said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
1Ki 19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
In fact, there's no record that Elijah anointed anyone of the three in the normal sense of that word, which signifies the pouring of oil on the head of the anointed. All we know is that Elijah touched Elisha with his mantle as the latter was going about his business:
1 Kings 19:19-20 NKJV
1Ki 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.
1Ki 19:20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"
Elisha was never the same again and was not satisfied until he held the mantle in his hand. Yet Elijah didn't give Elisha his mantle as some wrongly teach. It fell from heaven and Elisha took it up.(2 Kings 2:8-15)
With the double portion of the spirit of Elijah upon him, Elisha is the one who prophesies that Hazael will be King of Syria (2 Kings 8:12-13) and later instructs one of the prophets of the faithful remnant to anoint Jehu King of Israel (2 Kings 9:1-3). There is no record that Elijah carried out the physical anointing of Elisha or of Jehu or of Hazael as God appears to have commanded him, so how do we explain what happened? The answer to that question lies in who and what Elijah represents and his link to the faithful remnant. Let's take a closer look.
Next: Chapter 2: The Hidden Life of the Remnant… diamonds and real pearls are formed in dark and secret places.
Copyright 2002 Christian Witness Ministries - This extract from the book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission by the designated representatives of Christian Witness Ministries - CWM
