The Legend of Elijah
The Jewish people have a custom to leave a vacant seat and a place set at the Passover table for the Prophet Elijah. With the sound of a knock, the children run to the door and say, “Elijah, is that you?” When he comes, they expect him to be a herald of the coming of the Messiah, to resolve all unanswered questions concerning the Law of Moses, and to deliver God’s people into that Land promised by God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to their offspring. This includes all twelve tribes of the House of Israel.
The Arthurian Legend
Similarly, in the Arthurian Legend of the Round Table, there is an empty seat awaiting the rightful king, being the Messiah, the Branch of David, aka King Arthur. He, in pulling the sword from the stone, will thus become the High King over all the House of Israel (Gen 49:8-10). This legend is tied to the story of the Holy Grail, the Last Supper and Joseph of Arimathea, who founded Glastonbury in Britain after the death of Christ.
But how are two Legends tied together?
Elijah is coming!
Jesus, when asked of his disciples, “Why do the scribes say Elijah must first come?” replied, “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say to you, That Elijah has come already, and they didn’t know him.” The former was an acknowledgement that indeed, Elijah is coming, and when he comes he will restore all things, but referring to the latter, John the Baptist had come already in the “spirit of Elijah” to baptize Christ. John himself prophesied of one coming after him, greater than he who would baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord
The prophecy of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord…” This is clearly referring to an end-time prophecy, fulfilled in shadow by John the Baptist in Jesus’ day. That “great and dreadful Day of the Lord” refers to a time of “Great Tribulation” at the end times, when that generation comes and “all things will be fulfilled.”
Elijah, the Man of God
Many false prophets have claimed themselves to be “in the spirit of Elijah” in order to solicit donations as Elijah, when he was sent to the “widow woman” and told her to feed him first and then her barrel of meal and cruse of oil would never diminish. When he restored the breath of life to her son she said to him, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God and that the Word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” (1 King 17:22-24)
Unconditional Loyalty to God
Elijah’s prophetic activities emphasized the unconditional loyalty to God required of the nation of Israel, which, in truth, consists of all twelve tribes of the House of Israel, which are scattered among the nations. He was opposed to the accepted standards and traditions of his day, as was Jesus, and he appears in the role of God’s instrument of judgment upon backsliding, hardheaded Israel because of the nations’ widespread idolatry and violence.
Elijah’s views were in constant conflict with those of Ahab, king of Israel, who was married to the infamous Jezebel. Through her influence, her husband set up a center of Baal and Ashtoreth worship in Samaria. As it is written, “And Ahab did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.” And, “He made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.” (1 King 16:30-33)
The Beast and the Whore
In the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament, there is a “Beast” that causes everyone to receive a “mark” and a “Whore of Babylon” who rides on his back shadowed by these two. The likes of Ahab and Jezebel have deceived the whole world and are completely caught up in their idolatrous worship practices and their quest for world dominance.
Justice and Judgment
“Behold, he comes to execute justice and judgment on the earth!” Jesus said, “It is expedient for you that I go away, cause if I don’t go away the Comforter won’t come to you. But if I depart, I’ll send him to you. And when he comes he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.” John 16:7-11
But will Elijah find truth, justice and righteousness when he comes? I say to you, Elijah has come already and they didn’t know him!
The Days of Elijah, by Paul Wilbur
666 – The Numbering by the Beast, by Michael