Elijah was a man of the wilderness. Great signs and wonders followed
his ministry. He preached against the evils of his day. He especially
preached against the immorality of Queen Jezebel. When Elijah was taken
up to Heaven in a chariot of fire, his spirit fell upon Elisha. His
ministry was then marked by great signs and wonders, and Elisha also
preached against the sins of the world. Both prophets stood alone
against the religious organizations of that day (I Kings 18:21).
Hundreds of years later, the same spirit returned to the earth in John
the Baptist. The prophet Malachi predicted that Elijah would return to
introduce the Lord: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall
prepare the way before me... (Malachi 3:1). John the
Baptist was true to form as he called for repentance among the children
of God. Like Elijah, he preached against the king and the modern
religious organizations. The Lord Jesus confirmed that John the Baptist
was the prophet of Malachi 3 in the book of Matthew: "For this is he, of
whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which
shall prepare thy way before thee." Matthew 11:10
Two thousand years after John the Baptist, it is again time for the spirit of Elijah to return to earth.
That day has come. In this age, we have seen the spirit of Elijah return to earth. He defied the modern denominational system. He stood against the sins of the world. He showed innumerable signs and wonders. He preached the Bible word-for-word from Genesis to Revelation.
The prophet of Malachi 4 has been among us, and he brought a Message from the Throne of the Almighty God. That prophet's name is William Marrion Branham.
Not since the Lord Jesus Christ walked the earth has a man affected the world in such a profound way. From a humble beginning in a one-room cabin in the hills of Kentucky, to Amarillo Texas where the Lord took him home, his life was continuously marked by supernatural events. At the direction of the Angel of the Lord in 1946, Brother Branham's Ministry produced a spark that ignited a period of great healing revivals that swept across America and around the world. To this day, he is acknowledged by Christian historians as the "father" and "pacesetter" of the 1950s healing revival that transformed the Pentecostal Church and ultimately gave rise to the Charismatic movement, which today influences nearly every Protestant denomination. However, true to form, the denominations discount his teachings and deny his commission.
That day has come. In this age, we have seen the spirit of Elijah return to earth. He defied the modern denominational system. He stood against the sins of the world. He showed innumerable signs and wonders. He preached the Bible word-for-word from Genesis to Revelation.
The prophet of Malachi 4 has been among us, and he brought a Message from the Throne of the Almighty God. That prophet's name is William Marrion Branham.
Not since the Lord Jesus Christ walked the earth has a man affected the world in such a profound way. From a humble beginning in a one-room cabin in the hills of Kentucky, to Amarillo Texas where the Lord took him home, his life was continuously marked by supernatural events. At the direction of the Angel of the Lord in 1946, Brother Branham's Ministry produced a spark that ignited a period of great healing revivals that swept across America and around the world. To this day, he is acknowledged by Christian historians as the "father" and "pacesetter" of the 1950s healing revival that transformed the Pentecostal Church and ultimately gave rise to the Charismatic movement, which today influences nearly every Protestant denomination. However, true to form, the denominations discount his teachings and deny his commission.
WHO IS JOHN, THE BAPTIST?
In Malachi 4:5-6, it was foreseen that God will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord and the Elijah shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children. The Elijah referred to here is John the Baptist
His name was divinely given. It was to be "John" (Luke 1:13), which derives from a Hebrew term signifying "Jehovah is gracious".
He was known familiarly as "the Baptist" (bearing no relation to the modern sect), which simply means "an immerser, one who administers the rite of immersion" (see Matthew 3:1; 11:11; etc).
The description of John is brief and stark. He was arrayed in a "camel's hair" garment, secured by a leather belt, and his diet was locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
John preached about the coming kingdom and the need to repent. The Palestine in which the prophet's ministry was launched was firmly in the grip of a grossly pagan force, the Roman empire.
John's message was, "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).
John baptized "for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4).
John proclaimed coming judgment. The Old Testament closed with a prophecy concerning the coming of him who would be in the spirit and power of Elijah, namely John (Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:17). In connection therewith, Malachi spoke of the "coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah", and the smiting of the earth "with a curse".
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