Baton of Elijah

This past week I watched a very passionate speech delivered by one of the most popular Messianic Jewish rabbis.  He related his topic to the song “These are the Days of Elijah”.  The rabbi exhorted his listeners to take the baton (I assume he meant of Elijah) in order, “To raise up the tribes of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:6).  But how can the tribes of Jacob be raised if there is no knowledge (or acknowledgment) of who they are, or if their identity is attributed solely to the Jews?  Both Isaiah and Hosea issued a warning regarding “my people [who] perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6; see also Isaiah 5:13). Without seeing that the majority of Israel has lost its identity and is still scattered in the nations, hundreds of scriptures will be misinterpreted and many will perish.  The   Ephesians 1:18 prayer is certainly applicable for our day and age: “That the eyes of our/your understanding being enlightened; that we/you may know what is the hope of His [Yehsua’s] calling”. The Messiah’s calling was mainly to raise up the tribes of Jacob. He is raising them up to become a nation and not a religious system (ref.1 Peter 2:9).

 Elijah was an anointed prophet and, again, not a religious leader and was never called “rabbi”.  As a matter of fact, Yeshua, as we all know, said to call no man rabbi.  I wonder what Yeshua thinks of those who use this title today…  Yeshua described the religious leaders in the following words:  "They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi. But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, Messiah” (Matthew 23:6-8).  Obviously this statement does not pertain to those who do not believe in, or accept Yeshua as their “Rabbi” - teacher.

The afore-mentioned speaker made an interesting statement concerning the Messianic Jews of the first century, terming them the “Alpha” company, and named the Messianic Jews of this generation the “Omega”.  I wonder what Paul, Barnabas, James, Peter and John would have thought of being compared to the present Messianic believers.  But that is not the point; if today’s Messianic Jews are to carry the baton of Elijah then they would have to convene, in a manner of speaking, the whole house of Israel to Mount Carmel and confront the prophets of Baal.  But before they could do that, they would have to extricate themselves from the same religious spirits. They would also have to acknowledge the whole house of Israel and exhort them to, "Remember the Torah of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments...” so that the Spirit may “…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 4:6).  

To hold the baton of Elijah at this time, one would have to know that the Word of Elohim has been governing the history of the House of Jacob. One would also have to realize that the majority of Israel has lost its identity, and is well mixed in all nations and needs to be brought back to the Torah of Moses by receiving the promised New Covenant in Yeshua.  Why? So that their hearts can be restored to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  As I asked in last week’s letter, how will Ephraim know to smite his thigh in repentance for the sin of his youth if he is ignorant of his identity? (See Jeremiah 31:18-20). 

The Elijah company certainly needs to confront the prophets of Baal! These prophets serve many lords of the religious and philosophical systems of the world.  We may infer from what is described in Revelation that, religion is part of “Babylon the great harlot”. The redeemed of YHVH, however, are called out of religion and into a relationship in which they are to be joined to Him.  Being in Messiah is not a religious affiliation. It is to be a manifestation of the face of our Heavenly Father (Bread of the Presence), that is, of His Light, His Life, and His nature.

How are we to live outside the precincts of a religious organization? If we turn to the words of Ezekiel, we find that it is not a proverbial baton that he is referring to, but sticks (nations) - “two sticks in the hand of the prophet”.   A true prophet of the Omega generation must hold up these two sticks with the understanding that YHVH is identifying these two nations and will be gathering them into one nation with a kingdom government (see Ezekiel 37).  This was the reason for the summons to go to all nations and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, which was proclaimed by Yeshua and the “Alpha” company. He came to redeem, restore and bring back the tribes of Jacob.  He came to establish His Lordship over the whole house of Israel.  He came to sit on the throne of His father David and set up an everlasting kingdom (ref. Luke 1:31-33).  That is what the Omega company needs to understand and proclaim about the days of Elijah.

Ephraim