Elijah Typology

Today’s video is a study on the Elijah typology as presented in the Scriptures. This is not a study of the three Elijah’s as most people would identify with, but for today we will focus primarily on the type, and the antitype. The type being the Elijah that is presented in the Old Testament Books, and the antitype being that which we find in the New Testament, primarily in Revelation, and how these types are represented in the seven churches, the seven seals, and the seven trumpets.

The Elijah Typology

Foundational principle 

The seven churches, the seven seals, and the seven trumpets cover the same basic historical events, only from different perspectives. The churches actually form the skeletal structure of the chronological sequence for the rest of the book of Revelation.

*The first church, seal and trumpet describe the Apostolic Church

*The second church, seal and trumpet describe the period of Imperial Rome

*The Third Church, seal and trumpet describe the period when paganism penetrated the Christian Church.

*The fourth church, seal and trumpet describe the period of papal Supremacy when the Bible and the work of Christ was eclipsed.

The meaning of the seven churches

 

“The names of the seven churches is symbolic of the church in different periods of the Christian era. The number 7 indicates completeness, and is symbolic of the fact that the messages extend to the end of time, while the symbols used reveal the condition of the church at different periods in the history of the word. ” Act of the Apostles p. 585

 

Hal Lindsey and Dave Hunt say the churches represent eras of Christian Church history. Jezebel must therefore not be literal, but symbolic because during this period literal Jezebel was already dead.

 

Ephesus: The Apostolic Church

Smyrna: The persecuted church under the Roman emperors

Pergamum: The compromising church under Constantine

Thyatira: The apostate Church of the Middle Ages.

 

Hal Lindsey and Dave Hunt agree that the seven churches represent consecutive periods of Christian church history. They also agree that the fourth Church represents the period of papal supremacy. Jezebel in the Church of Thyatira must therefore not be literal but symbolic because during this period literal Jezebel was already dead and because Jezebel did not live 1260 years

 

Analysis of the Church of Thyatira.

 

Here we have Revelation 2:20-23 without comment.

 

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:20-23

 

And now we should re read Revelation chapter 2 verses 20 to 23; only this time with comments.

 

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, [talking to the Church of Thyatira]  because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, [this is the Beast of Revelation 13, and the Harlot of Revelation 17] which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, [that is to commit sexual immorality, which is the joining, or Union of Church and state] and to eat things sacrificed unto idols [idolatry]. And I gave her space [which means time; and the time given is 1260 years] to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, [her bed is a sickbed which is the deadly wound] and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, [the French revolution] except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children [her children are the protestant churches which were spawned from the Roman Catholic Church during the reformation, as well as all those churches which have come from them] with death; and all the churches [all seven of them] shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts [to search the minds and the hearts is the investigative judgment]: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” [this is the moment when the reward is given to the harlot and her lovers]. Revelation 2:20-23

 

The Elijah Story

 

In the Old Testament story Jezebel the Pagan Priestess introduced the apostasy into Israel. In Revelation Thyatira is a period of history when the Christian church blended paganism and Christianity, and acted like Jezebel.

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.” 1 Kings 16:30-31

 

Revelation 2:20

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20

 

 Jezebel was an adulterous mother who had an illicit relationship; that is that she fornicated with a king and she was involved in the occult.

 “And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” 2 Kings 9:22
“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Revelation 17:1,2,5.
“…for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” Revelation 18:23

 

The issues in the conflict involved the law of God, worship, and the gospel.

 

Again with 1 Kings 16:30 and 31 we find worship.

“And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.” 1 Kings 16:30-31

 

And in Revelation 13:4 we see clearly that worship is given to the dragon, and to the beast.

“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4
“And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” 1 Kings 18: 17,18
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 7:25

 

And a study of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 will find the mystery of lawlessness as the man of sin that will be revealed in these days.

“…and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” 2 Thessalonians 2:3

 

And the Gospel truth which is revealed to us in the daily ministration of the Sanctuary.

“And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 1 Kings 18:30,31,36,37.

 

”Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.” Daniel 8:11

 

Please Note that the word “sacrifice” is an added word, it is not found in the original text, and it does not belong in this verse. The daily sacrifices were done away with at the cross by the Lamb of God. Verses 11 and 12 where this word is found speaks of the little horn who goes against the prince of the host, (Jesus Christ) and an host is given to the little horn to take away the daily, and to cast the sanctuary down to the ground.

 

There was no rain during the period of apostasy

“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” 1 Kings 17:1

 

“These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy:…” Revelation 11:6

 

 Notice the reason for the scarcity of Rain.                  

“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14

 

Where there is no rain there is famine for the word of God

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.” Amos 8:11-12

 

The length of the famine was 3 years and 6 months

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” James 5:17

 

The Jezebel of the Middle Ages was given time to repent of her fornication. How much time was given to her? Time, times, and the dividing of times, a period that that reaches from 538 to 1798!

“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” Revelation 2:21

 

Revelation 11:3: The 1260 days are years. If the 1260 days are really years then Elijah cannot be a literal person, but a group of people who live like Elijah and proclaim the message of Elijah.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.” Revelation 11:3

 

Daniel 7:25: The 1260 days equal to three and a half times.

“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25

 

There was a faithful Remnant within the apostate Church.

“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18
“But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” Revelation 2:24-25

 

Elijah was blamed for the calamities and he was sought out everywhere.

“As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” 1 Kings 18: 10,17

 

Revelation 12:6: The faithful remnant was sought everywhere. The Waldensians are a prime example. The Crusades were organized against them.

“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” Revelation 12:6

 

Elijah fled to the wilderness

“Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.” 1 Kings 17:3
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days… And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Revelation 12: 6, 14

 

The faithful were nourished by God

“And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.” 1 Kings 17:4
“And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.” 1 Kings 17:6
“And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days… And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Revelation 12: 6, 14

 

Jezebel was a murder of God’s prophets

“For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.” 1 Kings 18:4
“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.” 1 Kings 19:1-3
“And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” Revelation 17:6

 

The false prophets and Baal were fed by Jezebel

“Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:19

 

 Revelation 16:13: The harlot has the false prophet who does her bidding.

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.” Revelation 16:13

 

Revelation 17:5: The Harlot has daughters.

 “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Revelation 17:5

 

 Revelation 2:23: Jezebel has children who were born from her towards the end of the 1260 years who will do her bidding.

“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:23

 

A continuation of Elijah at the end of time.

Malachi 4:1-3: The Elijah of the Middle Ages was not the final Elijah. The conclusion of the story has not been written. Jezebel was not slain, the false prophets were not slain, the great and terrible day of the Lord did not come, and the church was not translated. We are to expect the final Elijah to complete the story.

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3

 

 Revelation 6: 9-11: The post Apostolic church has two stages of existence because the harlot has two stages of existence.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Revelation 6:9-11

 

Revelation 13:3 The harlot has two stages of existence, and so Elijah, the children of the harlot, and Ahab have two stages of existence.

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3

 

Revelation 2:22: She was cast into her sickbed and those who committed fornication with her into great tribulation of the French Revolution.

 “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” Revelation 2:22

 

 Elijah broadens from Israel to Western Europe to the world at the end of time.

 

Revelation 12:17: After the three and a half times God will raise up a people who will keep the Commandments of God, have the gift of prophecy, preach true worship to the Creator, restore the gospel, denounce Babylon, lead the world to take a stand for the seal of God, against the mark of the beast. This will be the end time Elijah with the power from Heaven which will enlighten the world with his glory. (Revelation 18:1)

 

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17
“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Revelation 18:1