Our LORD went with Peter, James and John unto the mountain. There the supernatural took place as witnessed by the disciples: “And (He) was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was as white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him”. (Mt 17:2-3) Highly interesting what is recorded. Now the transformation of the bodies of those who will be raptured is very close.

There appeared Moses and Elijah and the question comes up, why the disciples afterwards never inquired about Moses, but were rather asking, “Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?” (v. 10).

If the concern is with Israel, then we already find in Zech. 4 the two prophets as two olive trees who stand near the candlestick. According to Rev. 1-3 the candlestick symbolises the Church. In Rev. 11 the ministry of the two prophets, the two witnesses, is described who will minister in Jerusalem for three and a half years. The characteristics of their ministry which will take place after the rapture reminds us on Moses and Elijah who were on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The answer our LORD gave that Elijah must first come and restore all things does interest us very much. This promise was confirmed after the ministry of John the Baptist. He was being asked, “Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not.” (Jn 1:21) He certainly knew his place in the Kingdom of God. The statement of our LORD is a very clear confirmation of the Malachi promise in chapter 4, “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt 17:11)

Mt. 17:12 refers to the already finished ministry of John the Baptist. That does not eliminate the part which still was in the future. In the contrary, the one is complementary to the other and completes the matter. The first part applied to John, as the angel confirmed to Zacharias that the hearts of the fathers would be turned to the children of the New Covenant. Then the “day of salvation” commenced (Is 49:6-8; 2Cor 6:2 a. o.), but the “day of the LORD” is still before us after the 2,000 years. The second part of the combined promise then remained unfulfilled.

The footnote concerning the Elijah-ministry in Mt. 17 found in the Scofield Bible is very enlightening.

1. (17:2) The transfiguration scene contains, in miniature, all the elements of the future kingdom in manifestation (2Pt 1:15-21): (1) the Lord Jesus, not in humiliation but in glory (v. 2); (2) Moses, in glory, representative of the redeemed who have passed through death into the kingdom (Mt 13:43; cp. Lk 9:30-31); (3) Elijah, in glory, representative of the redeemed who have entered the kingdom by translation (1Cor.15:50-53; 1Th.4:13-17); (4) Peter, James, and John, not glorified, representatives, for the moment, of Israel in the flesh in the future kingdom (Ez 37:21-27); and (5) the multitude at the foot of the mountain (v. 14), representative of those who are to be brought into the kingdom after it is established over Israel (Is 11:10-12, etc.)
2. (17:10) Compare Mal 3:1; 4:5-6; Mt 11:14; Mk 9:11-13; Lk 1:17. All the passages must be taken together. (1) Christ confirms the specific and still unfulfilled prophecy of Mal 4:5-6: "Elijah shall truly first come and restore all things." Here, as in Malachi, the prediction fulfilled in John the Baptist, and that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah, are kept distinct. (2) But John the Baptist had come already, and with a ministry so completely in the spirit and power of Elijah's future ministry (Lk 1:17) that in a typical sense, it could be said: "Elijah is come already." Compare Mt 10:40; Phile 12,17, where the same thought of identification, although still preserving personal distinction, occurs (cp. Jn 1:21).

Throughout the Old Testament God spoke to the fathers (Heb 1:1 a. o). John showed them who waited for the Messiah the way and how the relationship for the children of the New Covenant was established in the Son of God. He directed their feet unto the way of peace with God (Lk 1:79). The second part is now being fulfilled, as the hearts of God's children are brought back to the faith of the apostolic fathers.

Thus we say by the Word of the LORD: What did not happen at the first coming of Christ must of necessity take place now. Everything must be fulfilled, whether written in the Old or the New Testament. God is very specific when He says in what way the restoration is taking place, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers…” (Mal 4:5-6). That is THUS SAITH THE LORD in His Word. Man can decide in their natural matters but not in the Kingdom of God. The message is given to a man sent from God, not to great evangelists – they have another ministry Some of them even build their own kingdoms within the Kingdom of God. Also not through renowned speakers of any movement or presidents of a chapter etc., but the way it is written.

Who can dare to contradict God? The same must permit to be asked whether the mind that was in Christ is also in him. Scripture cannot be broken. Today the same situation exists as with Elijah. Everything must be done according to the Word of the LORD. As Elijah took the twelve stones symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and re-built the altar of God, gathering the people and crying out, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1Ki 18:21), the same challenge is given now. Then God answered and the Carmel decision fell. The man sent from God ministering in the same power and spirit as Elijah had to re-establish the pure doctrines of the twelve apostles in which the early Church remained and practiced at the beginning (Acts 2:42). In that way God's altar is being re-built and true believers according to Rom. 12 lay their bodies in obedience and faith upon the same which is the reasonable service, as Paul writes. All things must find their original place. We do not go back to what church fathers said. We go back to the very beginning. Only those who in comparison with the Word of God realize that nominal Christendom has gone astray in doctrine and practice and did not remain in the original way but changed everything and made a totally different Gospel, preaching another Jesus and is guided by another Spirit (2Cor 11:3), will recognize the necessity of the restoration. Here we are dealing with a part of the Plan of Salvation for our time. The final decision is made by God Himself. HE will have the last word. For some God seems to be late, but in reality He is never late.

Now we have to become more specific and ask, has such a man already been who did not compromise on the true biblical teachings and was supernaturally vindicated like Elijah? Did the Word he proclaimed coincide with the ministry of the LORD and the apostles? If only scriptural criteria are the measuring rod, has there been a prophet sent by God in our time whose teachings agree with all the prophets and the apostles' doctrine? Of necessity it had to be someone outside the organized denominations to be able to call out and exercise correction – a man sent from God with the original message of God to the people of God.

Based upon the Word of the LORD we further ask: Does one of the world famous evangelists in reality agree with what the prophets and the apostles taught? Is there one among them who, for instance, restored the fundamental doctrines about the Godhead, water baptism, LORD's Supper etc. and placed them upon Bible foundation? Or is it not a fact that all remain in their inherited traditional church teachings? Some of them even rejected the proclamation of the true Word, saying it was false teaching because they compared it with their views, instead of asking themselves if their doctrines agree with God and God's Word.

Since the end of the forties and in the fifties hundreds of evangelists were inspired by the God-ordained ministry, were enthused and astonished about what God performed, but they did not even contemplate about the final goal of such a divinely confirmed ministry. All who are born of God will give ear to His Word, will recognize the day and the message. They receive the messenger sent from God and also the message, thereby testifying to be agreeing with God's decision and His doing. God has the right to fulfill His promised Word. Our right as His people is to participate therein. What now follows is not a legend, but is the truth.

Our LORD went with Peter, James and John unto the mountain. There the supernatural took place as witnessed by the disciples: “And (He) was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was as white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him”. (Mt 17:2-3) Highly interesting what is recorded. Now the transformation of the bodies of those who will be raptured is very close.

There appeared Moses and Elijah and the question comes up, why the disciples afterwards never inquired about Moses, but were rather asking, “Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?” (v. 10).

If the concern is with Israel, then we already find in Zech. 4 the two prophets as two olive trees who stand near the candlestick. According to Rev. 1-3 the candlestick symbolises the Church. In Rev. 11 the ministry of the two prophets, the two witnesses, is described who will minister in Jerusalem for three and a half years. The characteristics of their ministry which will take place after the rapture reminds us on Moses and Elijah who were on the Mount of Transfiguration.

The answer our LORD gave that Elijah must first come and restore all things does interest us very much. This promise was confirmed after the ministry of John the Baptist. He was being asked, “Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not.” (Jn 1:21) He certainly knew his place in the Kingdom of God. The statement of our LORD is a very clear confirmation of the Malachi promise in chapter 4, “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt 17:11)

Mt. 17:12 refers to the already finished ministry of John the Baptist. That does not eliminate the part which still was in the future. In the contrary, the one is complementary to the other and completes the matter. The first part applied to John, as the angel confirmed to Zacharias that the hearts of the fathers would be turned to the children of the New Covenant. Then the “day of salvation” commenced (Is 49:6-8; 2Cor 6:2 a. o.), but the “day of the LORD” is still before us after the 2,000 years. The second part of the combined promise then remained unfulfilled.

The footnote concerning the Elijah-ministry in Mt. 17 found in the Scofield Bible is very enlightening.

1. (17:2) The transfiguration scene contains, in miniature, all the elements of the future kingdom in manifestation (2Pt 1:15-21): (1) the Lord Jesus, not in humiliation but in glory (v. 2); (2) Moses, in glory, representative of the redeemed who have passed through death into the kingdom (Mt 13:43; cp. Lk 9:30-31); (3) Elijah, in glory, representative of the redeemed who have entered the kingdom by translation (1Cor.15:50-53; 1Th.4:13-17); (4) Peter, James, and John, not glorified, representatives, for the moment, of Israel in the flesh in the future kingdom (Ez 37:21-27); and (5) the multitude at the foot of the mountain (v. 14), representative of those who are to be brought into the kingdom after it is established over Israel (Is 11:10-12, etc.)
2. (17:10) Compare Mal 3:1; 4:5-6; Mt 11:14; Mk 9:11-13; Lk 1:17. All the passages must be taken together. (1) Christ confirms the specific and still unfulfilled prophecy of Mal 4:5-6: "Elijah shall truly first come and restore all things." Here, as in Malachi, the prediction fulfilled in John the Baptist, and that yet to be fulfilled in Elijah, are kept distinct. (2) But John the Baptist had come already, and with a ministry so completely in the spirit and power of Elijah's future ministry (Lk 1:17) that in a typical sense, it could be said: "Elijah is come already." Compare Mt 10:40; Phile 12,17, where the same thought of identification, although still preserving personal distinction, occurs (cp. Jn 1:21).

Throughout the Old Testament God spoke to the fathers (Heb 1:1 a. o). John showed them who waited for the Messiah the way and how the relationship for the children of the New Covenant was established in the Son of God. He directed their feet unto the way of peace with God (Lk 1:79). The second part is now being fulfilled, as the hearts of God's children are brought back to the faith of the apostolic fathers.

Thus we say by the Word of the LORD: What did not happen at the first coming of Christ must of necessity take place now. Everything must be fulfilled, whether written in the Old or the New Testament. God is very specific when He says in what way the restoration is taking place, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers…” (Mal 4:5-6). That is THUS SAITH THE LORD in His Word. Man can decide in their natural matters but not in the Kingdom of God. The message is given to a man sent from God, not to great evangelists – they have another ministry Some of them even build their own kingdoms within the Kingdom of God. Also not through renowned speakers of any movement or presidents of a chapter etc., but the way it is written.

Who can dare to contradict God? The same must permit to be asked whether the mind that was in Christ is also in him. Scripture cannot be broken. Today the same situation exists as with Elijah. Everything must be done according to the Word of the LORD. As Elijah took the twelve stones symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and re-built the altar of God, gathering the people and crying out, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1Ki 18:21), the same challenge is given now. Then God answered and the Carmel decision fell. The man sent from God ministering in the same power and spirit as Elijah had to re-establish the pure doctrines of the twelve apostles in which the early Church remained and practiced at the beginning (Acts 2:42). In that way God's altar is being re-built and true believers according to Rom. 12 lay their bodies in obedience and faith upon the same which is the reasonable service, as Paul writes. All things must find their original place. We do not go back to what church fathers said. We go back to the very beginning. Only those who in comparison with the Word of God realize that nominal Christendom has gone astray in doctrine and practice and did not remain in the original way but changed everything and made a totally different Gospel, preaching another Jesus and is guided by another Spirit (2Cor 11:3), will recognize the necessity of the restoration. Here we are dealing with a part of the Plan of Salvation for our time. The final decision is made by God Himself. HE will have the last word. For some God seems to be late, but in reality He is never late.

Now we have to become more specific and ask, has such a man already been who did not compromise on the true biblical teachings and was supernaturally vindicated like Elijah? Did the Word he proclaimed coincide with the ministry of the LORD and the apostles? If only scriptural criteria are the measuring rod, has there been a prophet sent by God in our time whose teachings agree with all the prophets and the apostles' doctrine? Of necessity it had to be someone outside the organized denominations to be able to call out and exercise correction – a man sent from God with the original message of God to the people of God.

Based upon the Word of the LORD we further ask: Does one of the world famous evangelists in reality agree with what the prophets and the apostles taught? Is there one among them who, for instance, restored the fundamental doctrines about the Godhead, water baptism, LORD's Supper etc. and placed them upon Bible foundation? Or is it not a fact that all remain in their inherited traditional church teachings? Some of them even rejected the proclamation of the true Word, saying it was false teaching because they compared it with their views, instead of asking themselves if their doctrines agree with God and God's Word.

Since the end of the forties and in the fifties hundreds of evangelists were inspired by the God-ordained ministry, were enthused and astonished about what God performed, but they did not even contemplate about the final goal of such a divinely confirmed ministry. All who are born of God will give ear to His Word, will recognize the day and the message. They receive the messenger sent from God and also the message, thereby testifying to be agreeing with God's decision and His doing. God has the right to fulfill His promised Word. Our right as His people is to participate therein. What now follows is not a legend, but is the truth.