Stephen Whitehouse - Class 2 - A Great Gathering

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   Have you ever imagined what it would have been like for Elijah? A man who loved his God and loved his people. Yet there he is, isolated from the land of Israel, there with this woman in Zarephath. Surely his heart would have longed to be back with his people, to bring them back into the straight and narrow way that leads to life.

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   And finally the word of the Lord comes to him and says, go show thyself unto Ahab. Now what a contrast that is if we remind ourselves in yesterday's chapter, chapter 17, where the Lord had told him, get thee hence and turn thyself eastward and hide thyself. So now Elijah is going to reveal himself upon the world stage.

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   That patient waiting had brought forth fruit. And so with Elijah coming upon the scene, he was going to bring with him God's power and might. Rain would come now upon this scorched earth. Want you just to consider that a little? Elijah would come and with him he would bring the rain. Surely that's the principle of God manifestation, brethren and sisters.

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   The power of God was there in Elijah. Elijah was the vehicle of God's power. And very simply, without Elijah there would be no rain. Now remember, there'd be no rain for three and a half years and there'd be no Elijah for three and a half years. Let's go back into the law. I want you to look at Deuteronomy chapter 32 because there's a play on words here.

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   Deuteronomy chapter 32. And what we want to do now is to suggest to you that Elijah here in isolation and there he comes upon the scene with the great rains is a wonderful type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's just try and prove that to you. So when we come back to Deuteronomy chapter 32, we read here in verse 1, So do you see the play on words here?

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   Elijah was away from the scene of Israel for three and a half years. There'd be no rain. And without Elijah there had been no word of God. There'd be no doctrine. There'd be no speech. There'd be no rain. Spiritual rain. Or spiritual dew. It was not only physically scorched. It was spiritually scorched.

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   And here is the type of the Lord Jesus Christ. For when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, we know from Psalm 72 and verse 6, He shall come down like rain upon the moan grass, as showers that water the earth. And who is Jesus Christ? He is the word made flesh. So the word will come.

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   And Psalm 72 and verse 6, the rains will pour. And so here then, as a cameo, we see Elijah figuring that second return of the Lord Jesus Christ there upon a scorched earth. I want to go back now to 1 Kings chapter 18. And as we spent most of the time in 1 Kings chapter 17 yesterday, we'll spend most of our time in chapter 18 today.

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   And how fitting it is that the word Samaria means the watchtower or the watch mountain. And so the children of Israel here should have known that God's judgments were pouring upon the earth. And there they were in the watchtower. They should have been watching and waiting. They should have repented to God.

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    They weren't watching and waiting, were they, brothers and sisters? They were still asleep. They were intoxicated by Jezebel. They weren't watching and waiting for the signs of the times, the rains that would come and pour upon the earth. And that's a sobering hesitation for ourselves, isn't it? Because we know that Isaiah chapter 62 tells us very clearly that we are watchmen on the watchtowers of Jerusalem.

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    And we're living in a scorched earth, brothers and sisters. And we're waiting for the one who cometh in clouds, who will water this earth. And Jesus Christ said, did he not? Watch for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. So in this little picture here, we have a parable for ourselves.

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    And so then there's a very appropriate exhortation there with the word Samaria. And the spirit word now reminds us of what a servant of God should be. In terms of watching and waiting. Because we're introduced to this character Obadiah. Look at verse 3. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house.

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    Now Obadiah feared the Lord or feared Yahweh greatly. The word Obadiah means the servant of Yahweh. And just as Elijah was that representative man. He was a man of like passions. I want to make a suggestion to you that this man Obadiah was a man of wonderful spiritual qualities. And within this character, we should see ourselves.

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    A time of great affliction. A time of spiritual drought. And he was a servant of the Lord. And as we develop our thoughts together concerning this man. And the things that he stood for. We should ask ourselves the question. Would we do likewise? In a similar situation. He was a servant of the Lord.

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    But he had a very responsible job we notice. He was the governor over Ahab's house. You'll notice in your margin. Over his house. What an astounding character of faith we have before us. And what a role of responsibility he had. Now we shouldn't be troubled with that. Because God on occasion chooses his servants to take on very, very esteemed roles in the courts of men.

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    We know of Joseph and David and Daniel and Esther and Nehemiah. They are all providentially placed. To influence the affairs of men. And we know the work of Daniel and Esther and Nehemiah. How they work for the hope of Israel. And here similarly Obadiah is working for the hope of Israel. But let's consider him very briefly now.

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    It says there in verse 3 that he feared God. He feared God. Now that's the word Yare. The Hebrew word Yare. And it speaks of a reverential fear. But it's a faith in action. It's a description, brethren and sisters, that is of a compelling nature. The love for his God compelled him to do something.

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    I just want to illustrate this to you. The same word is used to describe Abraham when he's about to offer his son. And the angel of God stays the hand of Abraham. And says to him in Genesis 22 and verse 12. Lay not thine hand upon the lad. Neither do thou anything unto him.

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    For now I know that thou Yare God. That thou fearest God. But this is the very same word that's used of Obadiah. And so with Abraham he feared his God. So he was prepared to offer his son. Because he was aware of the promises to his father. So similarly Obadiah was compelled to act.

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    Though his life was being the balanced. If he had been caught by Jezebel. We also see if we scroll our eyes right down to the end of verse 12. That when he's having a discussion here with Elijah. He says that he Yare'd. He feared his God from his youth. So what a special man we have before us.

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    He feared God above men. That's a very simple statement to make. The prophets of the Lord were being slaughtered by Jezebel at this time. Yet his reverential fear was towards his God. And brothers and sisters as a servant of the Lord. If we place ourselves in a similar situation. What would our relationship be with our God at that time?

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    It's a challenging question isn't it? What would we have done one for another? This man loved the brethren. And he risked his life for his brethren. How bad was the situation? Well we read in verse 4. For it was so when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord. That Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave.

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    And fed them with bread and water. I'm sure we all know that this is the first time that's recorded in the word of a God. That a civil authority persecutes the saints of God. And because it's the first time it is very fitting. And how appropriate it is brethren and sisters. That the civil authority that is persecuting the sons of God.

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    Is identified with this woman Jezebel. A woman that the religious systems would later be identified with. A system. A corrupt apostate system. That would persecute the saints. And we know as Bible students. That the first time that principles are mentioned in the word of God. That we should take notes. So let us take notes and look at Revelation chapter 2.

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    The apostle John. Would have had this in mind when he was being formed. Here the personal message of the Lord Jesus Christ. But in Revelation chapter 2. Here the beginning of this false religious apostate system. Goes right back to 1 Kings chapter 17. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee. Verse 20.

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    Because that sufferest. That woman Jezebel. Which calleth herself a prophetess. To teach and seduce my servants. To commit fornication. And to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication. And the Lord God did with Elijah. She had plenty of opportunity to repent. But she repented not.

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    Behold I will cast her into bed. And then that commit adultery with her into great tribulation. Except they repent of their plagues. Let's just go over a few pages to Revelation 17. We've already considered this this week. But this woman. This false prophetess within the ecclesia. She becomes now this false religious system.

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    And look how the apostle John describes her. In Revelation 17 and verse 5. And upon her forehead was a name. Written. Mystery. Babylon the Great. The mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. She becomes then a symbol of all the harlots of the earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints.

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    And with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her I wondered with great admiration. Jezebel was cutting off the prophets of the Lord. And here in vision the apostle John sees. A religious system. Drunken with the blood of the saints.

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    So it's very telling isn't it. That we find this religious system. Being traced back to the movements of Jezebel. In 1 Kings chapter 18. Yet amongst all this. Obadiah still feared God. And brethren and sisters. There is a very direct excitation for ourselves. Because we can so easily. Pay lip service to God.

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    And his worship. What happens when real trials and tribulations come our way. When we have to stand up for Christ. When we have to hazard our name for the Lord Jesus Christ. What do we do? What do we do? What would I do?

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    What would you have done at this time? Brothers and sisters. What would I have done? Let us not fail. To see the spiritual qualities of this man Obadiah. A man who would have lost his life. But the love that he had for his brethren. Was just too much. And he hid his brethren.

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    By a hundred. Two fifties in a cave. Now something else that I want to just develop. Rather quickly. We are in the book of Revelation. I want you to go back to Revelation chapter 11. Just worth making this point. As we consider this time of Elijah. We remember in James 5 and verse 17.

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    That there was no rain for three and a half years. And if you look at a Jewish calendar. The Jews have 30 days in a month. So 12 times 30. You get 360 days in any Jewish year. So three and a half years. And we don't want to get over complicated. Is a period of 1260 days.

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    So for 1260 days. Elijah. Through his prayer. Shut up heaven. Then we come to Revelation chapter 11. And verse 3. And it's the vision of the two witnesses. Verse 3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses. And they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days. The same time period.

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    1260 days. These are the two olive trees. And the two candlesticks or lampstands. Standing before the God of the earth. Verse 6. These have power to shut up heaven. That it rain not in the days of their prophecy. So these two witnesses here. A symbol of those that would try and preserve the truth.

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    It was related to a period of 1260 days. And I'm sure you know this. But let's just connect the verses. Let's go back to Daniel chapter 7. Brother Mark's already taken us here. But Daniel chapter 7. And it's the same time period. Daniel chapter 7 and verse 25. We read of the persecution of the saints.

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    The sons of God. Remember the sons of God were being persecuted. In 1 Kings chapter 18. And here Daniel says. That this time period relates to him. He shall speak great words. This little horn. Against the most high. And shall wear out the saints of the most high. And shall think to change times and laws.

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    And they shall be given unto his hand. Until the time times and the dividing of time. And we haven't got time to consider it. But that phrase time. Times and the dividing of time. Time is a Jewish year. 360. Times is a double portion of that time. 720. And dividing is half a time.

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    You get 1260 days. 1260 days. 1260 days. 1260 days. 1260 days. 1260 days. 1260 days of the two witnesses. 1260 days of Daniel chapter 7. Revelation 11. And Daniel chapter 7. Are speaking about the same time period. We know from Ezekiel chapter 4. For instance. That there is a day for a year principle.

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    In Ezekiel 4 verse 6. We have 1260 years of persecution. And you can start that persecution. From when Justinian was emperor of Constantinople. And it goes right up to the French Revolution. And the work of Napoleon. So what does that mean brothers and sisters? It's wonderful. Because what 1 Kings chapter 17 is saying.

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    Is that this is a little cameo. It's a little vision for the saints. Of something that's going to take place in the future. But far greater. Unlike a few servants of the Lord in Samaria. Being persecuted by Jezebel. For three and a half years. During a time of drought. A religious system would come to bear.

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    Upon the servants of God. During a time of extreme. Spiritual drought. And this harlot. Would wear out the saints. That's the power of the word of God. The consistency of the word. We marvel at it don't we?

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    Well let's bring out the exhortation now. This man Obadiah. He had a hundred prophets of God. In two sets of fifty. Now Elijah we said. Was a figure of the Lord Jesus Christ. And I believe brothers and sisters. That Obadiah was a figure of Christ. That was there. For Elijah's education. There was something in Obadiah.

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    That Elijah had to learn. He had to love his brethren. He thought he was alone. Let's prove this. Let's go to Matthew chapter twenty five.

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    Look at this. And consider then. Obadiah. A man who fed and water. And hid his brethren. And here the Lord Jesus Christ. Is speaking about those. That will receive the kingdom of God. And what they have done in their lives. Let's see what Jesus says. Matthew chapter twenty five. And verse thirty four.

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    Then shall the king say. Unto them on his right hand. Come ye blessed of my father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you. From the foundation of the world. For I was a hunger. And you gave me meat. I was thirsty. And you gave me drink. I was a stranger. And you took me in.

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    I was naked. And you clothed me. I was sick. And you visited me. I was a prison. And you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer. And say. Lord. When saw we thee. A hungered and fed thee. Or thirsting gave thee drink. When saw thee. A stranger. And took thee in. Or naked and clothed thee.

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    Or when saw thee. When we were sick. Or in prison. And came unto thee. And the king answered. And said. Verily I say unto you. In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of my brethren. You have done it unto me. And the wonder of that passage brethren and sisters.

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    That Obadiah lived so many years before the Lord Jesus Christ. But he did it for the least of his brethren. And he did it for Christ. He did it for Christ. And this is the spirit of Christ. In total contrast. At this time with Elijah. The state of Elijah's mind was not with his brethren.

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    He thought he was alone. And brethren and sisters. There's such an excitation there. Because if he'd seen Obadiah. Later on. And realized that this was a friend of his. Maybe he wouldn't have gone down to Horeb. And questioned the father. And said only I am alone in Israel. Maybe he wouldn't have done that.

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    Well let's go back then to 1 Kings chapter 18. We want to now consider Ahab. We've looked at Obadiah. What about the king? So we see there in verse 5. And Ahab said unto Obadiah. Go into the land. And unto all the fountains of water. And unto all brooks. Peraventure. We may find grass.

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    To save the horses. And mules alive. That we lose. Not all the beasts. What a sorry picture we have before us. The king of Israel. Judgments were being poured upon the land. And all this man is concerned about. Is finding green pasture. For his mules and horses. Oh yes he was. A shepherd of Israel.

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    But he wasn't shepherding the flock. The children of God. He was shepherding. The natural things of this life. The horses and the mules. Now he was the king. And contrast that with the true king to come. The Lord Jesus Christ. Who is the good shepherd of Psalm 23. That will lead his flock to green pastures.

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    But unlike this man. Jesus is described as one who would give his life for his sheep. This man wouldn't. We see later he was prepared for them to die upon Mount Carmel. He wouldn't die for his sheep. And so then we have stark contrasts of these two men. And so then in verse 6.

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    They divided the land between them to pass throughout. Ahab and Obadiah. It says there very tellingly. Ahab went one way by himself. And Obadiah went another way by himself. So naturally speaking. They wanted to find this green pasture. They divided up the territory. And they went their separate ways. But the spirit of life is not telling us that at all.

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    Really brothers and sisters. Because of the use of that phrase the way. And we know that that's a theme that runs throughout the scriptures of truth. The way.

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    And Amos chapter 3 and verse 3 says. Can two walk together except they be agreed. These two men could not be agreed. One man was leading to life eternal. He was in a straight and narrow way. And the other one. Was leading them to the way that leads to destruction. And they couldn't walk together.

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    There was no spiritual companionship at all with them. And again there's an excitation for ourselves. Because Obadiah. Though he lived in this terrible time. He chose the way of life.

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    And his name means a servant of Yahweh. And so brothers and sisters. It's worth asking ourselves that very telling question. Which way are we in? Are we like Obadiah. Who thinks about his brethren. Who's prepared to even risk our lives. For the upkeep and the well-being of one another. Or are we Ahab.

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    A man who can't even elevate his mind above the natural things of this life. Who just thought about self. Very practical excitations aren't they? And we choose. It was going to be a day of reckoning. For the children of Israel upon Mount Carmel. And it was a day of reckoning for Obadiah and Ahab.

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    And Obadiah went a very very different way. And so then. No doubt Obadiah was deep in prayer. And he doesn't come across green pasture. He comes across something far greater than that. Verse 7. And as Obadiah was in the way. There you have it. The way. Right back to the end of Genesis chapter 3.

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    The way to the tree of life. And who's he find in the way? None other than Elijah was in the way. Behold Elijah met him. Elijah was in the way also. They were being preserved in the way. God's cherubim. Was preserving the way of truth. And we will see that God willing later on in the week.

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    With the whirlwind. And the chariots. They were in the way. Behold Elijah met him. And he knew him. And fell on his face. And said art thou my lord Elijah. Now it says there that Obadiah knew Elijah immediately. And we don't read anywhere in the scripture narrative. That Obadiah met Elijah. But we saw yesterday that he was of very stark character and appearance.

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    With his leather girdle. And his mantle. And his long hair. Maybe just physically he recognized him immediately. Art thou my lord Elijah. Now if you glance down. Right down to verse 15. There's a verbal discourse that takes place between Obadiah and Elijah now. And you see here that Elijah. We could summarize it.

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    He's rather sharp and abrupt with Obadiah. He overlooks really the qualities of this man we would suggest. We see there in verse 13. That Obadiah pleads with him. And informs him that he was hiding a hundred prophets of God. But Elijah was having none of it. He looks at Obadiah and he says.

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    There as the lord of hosts live. Surely whom I stand. I will surely show myself unto Ahab today. That was the conclusion of the matter concerning Elijah. But what I'd like to do is just to pick out a few things. From these verses here. To try and illustrate to you the mind of Elijah at this time.

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    We see clearly the mind of Obadiah. He says art thou my lord Elijah. That word lord is the Hebrew word Adon. And it's a mark of great respect. Remember in Genesis 18 and verse 12. Sarah called Abraham her husband lord Adon. So it's a mark of the greatest of respect. This was the mind of Obadiah.

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    He recognized that this was a great prophet of God. And he had at his disposal the power of God. But notice the emphasis there of the pronoun. Art thou my lord Elijah. So immediately Obadiah associates himself and his work with Elijah. Notice then how Elijah replies. Look at verse 8. If you remove the italics.

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    He simply says I. Not a word or a syllable is wasted there. Just I. And then in verse 11. Go tell. Notice the pronoun. Thy lord.

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    So he overlooks the qualities of Obadiah. He says simply to Obadiah. You're not. Related to me in any way. I'm not your lord. Ahab is your lord. God.

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    And Obadiah. As I said. As a servant of God. Who had faithfully administered to the children of Israel. Elijah had overlooked this. And we all have failings brethren sisters. And Elijah was a great man. He stands as a pillar of faith. But he was going to learn something at Horeb. He was going to learn.

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    That it required a still small voice. Not Yahweh of armies. And he had to think of his brethren. And he was being reminded there. That Obadiah was a servant of God. That he should have loved. And so then in verse 15. Maybe if Elijah had recognized. That Obadiah was a faithful servant. He may not have said that he was alone.

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    Maybe he wouldn't have gone down to Horeb. And challenged the Lord God. Down in Horeb. Maybe he would have changed his mind entirely. But he didn't. And so Elijah says. If Yahweh of armies liveth. Before whom I stand. I will surely show myself unto him today. And that's the mind. And that's the state.

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    Of Elijah. Elijah was desperate. For national conversion. And so he calls upon Yahweh of armies. To convert the nation of Israel. Not only to bring judgment. But to convert. And that's where his education was incomplete. If we may say that. God of armies. Can come at any time. And they can chasten. And they can judge.

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    But the God of armies can never convert. An individual believer has to be touched. Just as the widow. For two and a half years with Elijah. She was touched. As Elijah was that mediator. A representative man. As we considered yesterday. It would require the still small voice. Not Yahweh of armies. But then he says.

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    Let the army of armies. I will see Ahab this day. And so then we come to verse 17. Three and a half years had elapsed. Ahab. A figure of Baal. Elijah. A figure of Yahweh. The God of Israel. They come. Finally face to face. Verse 17. And it came to pass. When Ahab saw Elijah.

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    That they said. Unto him. Art thou he. That troubleth Israel. So just imagine that scene. Good versus evil. Error versus truth. In all its glory.

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    A representative man. Here. Elijah. As a servant of God. Now we see. That Ahab. And it's so. Familiar. With the nature of Ahab. He takes the initiative here. In a negative sense. He said. Thou. Elijah. You've caused all these troubles. Art thou he. That troubleth Israel. And that word troubleth. Is the Hebrew word.

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    Achar. Which means. To roil water. To confuse. To disorder. By agitation. It gives the idea. It's a metaphor. It gives the idea. Of shaking a glass of water. So that it's muddied. It's confused. So Ahab was saying to Elijah. Before you came along. The nation of Israel. They were quite happy. They were serving Baal.

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    But with all this Yahweh thing. Elijah. You've confused. The people of God. You've agitated the water. It's no longer clear. It's become opaque. And Elijah was having none of this. And he says there. Immediately in verse 18. I have not troubled Israel. But thou and thy father's house. In that she have forsaken.

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    The commandments of the Lord. And thou has followed. Balaam. Now I'm sure we know. Brothers and sisters. That that word troubled. Is a rather loaded. Expression. It's a Hebrew word. Akan. I want to develop. A short theme now. I want you to go to. One Chronicles. Chapter two.

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    And here. Is what was on the mind. Of Elijah. He wasn't the trouble. Of Israel. Ahab was. It says there. In one Chronicles. Chapter two. And verse seven. And the sons of Carmi. Achar. Or Akan. You'll notice in your margin. The troubler. Of Israel. So Akan. Was the troubler. Of Israel. That's the Hebrew.

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    Word. Akan. Troubleth. And what did Akan do. Well he saw. And he coveted. And he took. And what did Akan do. He saw. He coveted. And he took. And took what. Jezebel. The daughter. Of Ethbaal. From Zidon. And by doing that. He had brought. False worship. Within the camp. What did Akan do.

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    He'd taken. Of that goodly. Babylonish garment. A symbol. Of false worship. And he'd brought that. In the camp. And so Elijah says. No. You're the one. That troubles Israel. You are Akan. And what happened. To Akan. He was destroyed. And his family. Was destroyed. And they were covered. In stones. In the valley.

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    Of Achor. Well there's more than that. So I want you to go now. To Joshua chapter six. Because the language here. Is very specific.

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    Joshua chapter six. Remember Akan. He took of the goodly. Babylonish garment. Where? In Jericho. And Jericho. After the falling of the walls. Went under a curse. We see here. In Joshua six. Verse twenty six. And Joshua. Dured them. At that time. Saying curse. Be the man. Before the Lord. That rises. Up and buildeth.

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    The city Jericho. He shall lay. The foundations. Thereof. In his firstborn. And in his youngest son. Shall he set up. The gates of it. So when the walls. Of Jericho fell down. Jericho was under a curse. And Akan. Had taken. Of the goodly. Babylonish garment. But it was all cursed. It was all.

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    To be utterly. Devoted to God. In destruction. That's the heart. The idea. Of the word curse. There. Devoted to God. In destruction. It was a form of worship. Now. When you come back. To 1 Kings chapter 16. What had happened. Under the patronage. Of Ahab. And I'm sure you know.

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    We see there. In verse 34. Of 1 Kings chapter 17. In his days. Did heal. Whose days? Ahab's days. In Ahab's days. Did heal. The Bethelite. Build. Jericho. And you see there. At the end of the verse. According to the word of the Lord. Which he spake by Joshua. The son of Nun.

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    So he was. The troubler of Israel. Jericho was cursed. Yet this man. Heal the Bethelite. Had rebuilt it. And Ahab. Supposedly. A representative God. Should never have allowed that to happen. I'm not the one. That troubles Israel. You are. Ahab.

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    You've taken. Of a goodly. Babylonish garment. And you have. Rebuilt. Jericho. And you now. Are under the curse. And he was. And Jezebel. And all his sons.

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    So then. In. 1 Kings. Chapter 18. Going back. Elijah then. With this inner confidence. The confidence. That God. Had sent him. He says there. In verse 19. Now therefore. Send. And gather to me. All Israel. Unto Mount Carmel. And the prophets. 450. And the prophets of Baal. The prophets of the groves. 400.

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    Which eat at Jezebel's table. And verse. 20. So. Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel. And gathered the prophets together. Unto Mount Carmel. So. There was going to be the challenge. Between Baal and Yahweh. And it was be. It was going to take place. At Mount Carmel. And what I'd like to do.

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    If you allow me. I want to develop a theme. For you. Because Elijah. Calls to Ahab. Gather to me. All Israel. And this is a work. That has yet. To take place. In its completion. If I ask you. Brothers and sisters. Where's the first time. That God. Speaks. Of a great gathering. That will take place.

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    When Jesus returns. Where would you say. What scriptural passages. Would come to mind. Well you might be surprised. That it's in Genesis. Let's go back to Genesis. And chapter 49. I'm sure we all know. That this relates. To the prophecy of Jacob. You might be surprised. That here. In this prophecy of Jacob.

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    Just prior to the death. Of this patriarch. He speaks of these. Wondered. Prophetical things. That will come upon the earth. Particularly in relation. To the tribes. He speaks of Shiloh. And he speaks of a gathering. Genesis 49. Then in verse 1. And Jacob called unto his sons. And said. Gather yourselves together. That I may tell you.

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    That which you shall before. In the last days. Gather yourselves together. And hear the sons of Jacob. And hearken unto Israel. Your father. Now look at verse 10. The scepter shall not depart. From Judah. Nor a lawgiver from. Between his feet. And Shiloh shall come. And unto him. Shall the gathering. Of the people be.

99. 35:00

    Now we know. That the word Shiloh. Should be a proper noun. It means the bringer of peace. Or the bringer of tranquility. And sure we all accept. That that speaks of the Lord. Jesus Christ. But I find it remarkable. Brethren and sisters. That though. The Lord Jesus Christ. Was preached. In Genesis 3 verse 15.

100. 35:15

     We have a gathering. Of the people there. In the mind of Jacob. Isn't that extraordinary. The gathering. And Elijah says. Gather to me all Israel. And there. In Genesis 49. At the time. When Shiloh shall come. The second advent. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. The gathering. Of the people. Shall take place. Well.

101. 35:37

     Let's go to Malachi chapter 4. So it's a work. That embraces. The entire scope. Of the word of God. From Genesis. Right through. To the book. Of Revelation. Malachi. Chapter 4 then. And we're familiar. With these verses. But let's just remind. Ourselves of them. Behold. I will send you. Verse 5. Elijah the prophet.

102. 36:00

     Before the coming. Of the great. And dreadful day. Of the Lord. And he shall turn. The heart of the fathers. To the children. The heart of the children. To their fathers. Lest I come. And smite the earth. With a curse. Now. John the Baptist. Came. In the spirit. And power of Elijah. Luke 1 verse 17.

103. 36:16

     And these words. Could be. Related to John the Baptist. A man. Who prepared. The way of the Lord. He was the forerunner. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he. Spoke. Of the great. And dreadful day. Of the Lord. Which was AD 70. But there's more than that. And shall we all know. There's more than that.

104. 36:32

     Let's go to the previous chapter. Malachi chapter 3. Here we have the heart. Of this subject. Verse 1. Behold I will send my messenger. And he shall prepare the way. Before me. And the Lord whom you seek. Shall suddenly come to his temple. Even the messenger of the covenant. Whom you delight in.

105. 36:52

     Behold he shall come. Sath the Lord of hosts. Or Yahweh of armies. So we have a messenger. And a messenger of the covenant. And the messenger comes. Before the messenger of the covenant. Now I'm sure we're all familiar. With this interpretation. But would you be able. To go to the references. Let's lock.

106. 37:08

     Let's lock down. This interpretation. Please turn with me. If you will. To Luke chapter 7. I want to try and prove to you. That it was John. As the forerunner. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. During his first advent. But there's something greater. To come. And I want to demonstrate. This to you. Luke chapter 7 then.

107. 37:25

     It's important to. To interlock. These references. So that we've got a robust. Argument. To this debate. Luke 7 then. And verse 26. Jesus said. Concerning John. But what went ye out. For to see a prophet. Yea I say unto you. And much more than a prophet. This is he. Of whom it is written.

108. 37:43

     Behold. I send my messenger. Before thy face. Which shall prepare. Thy way before them. That's the same language. As Malachi 3. For I say unto you. Among those that are born. Of women. There is not a greater prophet. Than John the Baptist. But he that is least. In the kingdom. Of God. Is greater than he.

109. 38:02

     So. You could conclude. From Luke chapter 7. That the messenger. Is John. And the messenger. Of the covenant. Is the Lord Jesus Christ. But there's more than that. I want you now. To go to Matthew chapter 17.

110. 38:16

     Matthew chapter 17. And we have the transfiguration. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fitting isn't it. That Elijah and Moses. Were there. Speaking to the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you read. Concerning the transfiguration. In Luke chapter 9. It says that they were speaking to him. Concerning his exodus.

111. 38:33

     Not his decease. Elijah had led an exodus. Jesus Christ was about to lead an exodus. From death to life. And we'll suggest to you. That Elijah needs to lead an exodus. In the future. Gather to me all Israel. Remember the thing we're trying to develop. Well Matthew chapter 17. I think he's relatively conclusive here.

112. 38:53

     Verse 9. And as they came down from the mountain. After the transfiguration. Jesus charged them saying. Tell the vision to no man. Until the son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him saying. What then say the scribes. That Elijah must first come. Elijah must first come. And restore all things.

113. 39:13

     He says in verse 11. But I say unto you. That Elijah is come already. And they knew him not. But have done unto him. Whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall they also. The son of man. Suffer of them. I think there's three key points there. Brothers and sisters. The first point. Is that Jesus said.

114. 39:33

     Elijah must first come. And restore all things. The second point there. Was that Elijah. Had already come. In the form of John the Baptist. But they did not accept him. And so Elijah would have to come. Again.