Hello Mike,

I was hoping you could answer a question about “Elijah”. I have heard of the actual Elijah, and John the Baptist coming in the spirit of Elijah, but my question has to do with “the Christ”. When “the Christ” is revealed, will there be an actual Elijah as a forerunner (as mentioned in Malachi)?

Thanks for your time,
J____

Hi J____,
You ask:

When “the Christ” is revealed, will there be an actual Elijah as a forerunner (as mentioned in Malachi)?

Anyone who witnesses to and is faithful to the Truth is this ‘Elijah.’
Like all of the types of the Old Testament, be it tithing, circumcision, being a Jew, baptisms, the temple, or “the commonwealth of Israel”, Elijah is also a type of “the heavenly things themselves”. But when taken to be literal, we miss the true meaning and understanding of any of these types.
No, there is only one literal Elijah. ‘The ‘Elijah’ that is to come before the Christ, is a certain “spirit and power” in those who are also “the Christ”. Anyone today who is stands up for the Truth in the face of all the strong delusions of Babylon, is this ‘Elijah’ who proclaims the coming of the Christ.

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The expression “the spirit and power of Elijah” was never intended to mean that the prophet Elijah himself would be resurrected and appear here on earth before the first resurrection. Of course it is easy for those who do not understand the principle of “the sum of thy word” to misunderstand a verse like this:

Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

But that too, is by God’s design. Nevertheless, Christ said that no one in the Old Testament economy, from Adam to John the Baptist, would be in the kingdom of God until the second resurrection. That would certainly include the prophet Elijah.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias [ John], which was for to come.
Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I hope this answers your question “will there be an actual Elijah as a forerunner (as mentioned in Malachi)?”
Your brother in Christ,

Mike