Not really, but that’s what someone claimed to my friend Earl.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD [Yahweh]:
The word dreadful there is from the Hebrew word yare' {yaw-ray'} and it does not necessarily mean what it usually connotes in English, of dread, horror, terror, etc. The more likely meaning there are those given in these definitions from my lexicons: “1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe 1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe.”
Is that not a perfect description of the reaction of the angels and heavenly hosts in Bethlehem at the Savior’s birth? And of the wise men who later visited the Redeemer? And of all of the people of Israel-Judah during the course of His ministry? When He healed thousands, when He fed the four thousand, and then the five thousand, and when He arose from the grave!” Absolutely!
And then recall the very words of Jesus Himself as He identified John the Baptist as the fulfillment of this verse.
Matthew 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this [John the Baptist] is Elias [that’s the Greek name for Elijah], which was for to come.
Jesus is telling us that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5. With all the above in mind, allow me to relate what happened in this office yesterday afternoon. I made notes immediately afterward.
A phone call came in to my office from a gentleman whom I will call Earl (not his real name) who lives in one of the eastern states. Earl has been on our mailing list for many years. I have never met him—that I recall—but have spoken to him on the phone on a number of occasions. He does not have internet or a mobile phone and is probably in his mid- to upper-80s.
He called to ask my advice. He began by asking if I had ever heard of so-and-so (I do not wish to reveal the name for legal purposes). He said he had been listening to a certain “minister” for about six years on shortwave radio.
(Incidentally, we at SKM stopped broadcasting on shortwave quite a few years ago, realizing that the listenership was continually dwindling because it is a dying medium of communication.)
“Okay, but what are you requesting my advice about, Earl?” I asked.
Earl then stated that he had “become convinced and was ready to take the next step” and what did I think about that.
“You are convinced about what?” I queried him.
“Convinced that he is who he says he is,” Earl replied.
“And who does he say that he is?” I continued.
“Well, he says that he is Elijah the prophet who has returned,” Earl responded.
“Oh?” I said, dumfounded for a couple seconds. “And what do you mean by ‘you’re ready to take the next step?’ ”
“Well, I have some property, quite a few acres, and I spoke to Elijah on the phone, and he said that I should do as Jesus commanded, and sell my property and all my possessions, and give all the proceeds to him [meaning, to the prophet “Elijah.”]”
“He said what?!” I asked in sheer astonishment. Before I could go on, Earl told me that his daughter and his niece had warned him that this is a scam. So I thought I would call you and get your advice, he said.
“My advice is that, number one, anybody that claims to be the personal return of Elijah the prophet is almost certainly a charlatan and a fraud. And if that were not enough, number two, when he asks you to sell your property and give him the proceeds, well, that seals it. He is without doubt a con artist.
“Your daughter and niece are absolutely correct. I would advise you to never listen to this con artist again, and of course, do not ever send him a nickel!
“Oh, and express your gratitude to your daughter and your niece for their warning advice to you.”
“Okay, I’ll do that,” he assured me.
“And number three,” I went on, “When this false prophet-fraudster said that Jesus commanded us to sell all our possessions, He was addressing a rich, young ruler, who had a love of money problem.”
I did not look it up while on the phone with Earl, but this is the passage I was referring to.
Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
“Jesus’ advice/suggestion/command was directed to that individual man, Earl. It was not to be taken as a commandment from God to be taken literally by every believer for two thousand years!
“Furthermore, notice this, Earl: The fake Elijah asked you to send all the money to him! Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler to sell everything and give it to Jesus. He said to give it to the poor. The fake Elijah is twisting the Scriptures to rob you! Do you see how that con works, Earl?”
Yes, I do, and I thank you, he said.
Well, I am glad you called and I thank you, Earl, for asking my advice, I said.
He thanked me and we signed off. I was grateful that I was there to take his call, because our phones had been “on the blink” again for the past three or four days, and they were just restored by yesterday morning. Thank you, Father! And please safeguard Earl from any and all con artists’ attempts henceforth. Amen.
~END~
