The Elijah Mantle
George Kirkpatrick  

Elijah means "My God, Jehovah"; Eli (My God) and Jah (Jehovah). The Bible speaks very little about Elijah. We do not know who his father or mother was, nor what his occupation was. All we know about Elijah is that he was a Tishbite from Gilead. Elijah is mentioned 30 times in the New Testament as Elias. James reveals, 

"Elias (Elijah) was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." *** James 5:17-18

The first mention of Elijah in the Old Testament is in *** I Kings 17:1 when he came to Ahab the king of Israel and said that it would not rain until he, Elijah, said so. And it did not rain for 3 1/2 years.

Elijah is a picture of the walk of those who have made God the Lord of their lives. When we come to this place in God, we lose our identity. When we are baptized, the old man (Adam nature) should be left behind and we should put on Christ. We are then identified by the Christ nature instead of the old, Adam nature. 

"And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan." *** I Kings 17:2-3 

Elijah's instructions were to go toward the east, or toward the New Day. We are coming into that New Day in Christ.

Elijah was to hide himself by the brook, Cherith. Cherith means "a cutting or separation". God has many in the same place today, so He may teach them of Himself. When we come to God, there must be a cutting or separation. We are separated from family, friends, old habits, old ideas and the world.

While Elijah was at the brook, Cherith, the place of separation, he was fed by the raven. The raven brought him flesh and bread in the morning and evening. When we are in the place of separation, God teaches us of Jesus. Jesus was God made flesh. He was the true bread that came down from heaven. The flesh and the bread represent God's teaching us of Himself and His ways in our place of separation.

Elijah stayed at Cherith until the water dried up. Water is the Word of God and brings separation in our lives. It renews the mind and eradicates the old, Adamic ways. 

The brook dried up. It became a dry morsel in Elijah's mouth. This has happened to many. They have set in the old denominational systems until the Word has completely dried up. Amos foretold that a famine would come. Not a famine of bread OR thirst of water, but a famine of hearing the Word of the Lord. That famine is in the church today.

When the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to Zarephath in Zidon. Zidon means "a hunting". Today, the Word has dried up in the churches and people are hunting for a place where the Word is coming forth. Jesus said, "My Word is Spirit and truth." 

Elijah was sent to Zarephath. Zarephath means "a place of refining". We all must come to Zarephath if we are to come into a spiritual walk in God. This is the cloven tongue baptism in our lives. It is when the Word becomes life to the marrow of our bones.

When Elijah got to Zarephath, he found a widow woman. A widow is one who has lost her husband. She has no head, no provider and no covering. This, again, is a picture of the church today. They have no head, which is Christ. They have no provider whom also is Christ. They have no covering. The covering is the Holy Spirit covering (Christ). As Adam and Eve in the garden were naked before God, the church also is naked before God because the church has no covering.

Another example is Israel in the wilderness when they built the golden calf. They found themselves naked before God and in the midst of their enemy. God's covering had departed. *** Exodus 32:25

The church system stands naked because they do not recognize their covering or their head. The Holy Spirit anointing has left. But the widow woman at Zarephath still had a son. The church still has the son, but they do not have the Father.

The widow's son is a picture of Jesus. This widow's possessions consisted of a handful of meal and a little oil in a vessel. Meal represents the pure Word of God, broken into little pieces that it may be easily understood and digested.

Two examples of meal being the true Word of God are found in the Word; one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.

"And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. 

And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not." *** II Kings 4:38-39

In the time of Elisha, there also was a drought, the same as the drought at the brook, Cherith. This same drought is also in the earth today. But one went out and gathered wild gourds. Gourds are a product of the world. They shredded the gourds into the pot that was going to be fed to the sons of the prophets. Wild gourds represent false doctrines of men. It was shredded so that it would not be noticed and made palatable to the people of God. When they poured it out before the prophets, those who knew their God cried, 

"...O thou man of God, there is death in the pot." *** II Kings 4:40

Elisha said,

"Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot." *** II Kings 4:41

Only the pure Word of God can overcome the death of false doctrines that men have brought into the church.

The second example of meal being the true Word of God is in *** Luke 13:21: 

"It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." 

The woman (the church) hid the leaven, the sin of false doctrines of men, in the pure Word of God so that it could not be seen. This is why there is no power in the church today.

The widow woman in Zarephath had a little of the pure Word of God and had some oil which was a little anointing in her life. Paul said, 

"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit..." *** Romans 8:23 

"Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;

Who hath also sealed us, and given thee earnest (down-payment) of the Spirit in our hearts." *** II Corinthians 1:21-22

"Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." *** Ephesians 1:14

Joel calls it the moderate outpouring of the early rain, *** Joel 2:23. This anointing came on the day of pentecost. Elijah told the widow that it would sustain her until the rains came.

We are looking for the early and latter rain that is soon to come upon the earth. This is when the Spirit will be given to His Body without measure; Jesus being our example.

ELIJAH'S FIRST APPEARANCE

"And he (Elijah) said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast Thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again." *** I Kings 17:19-21 

The widow's son had died. Elijah took the son from the widow's bosom and carried him to Elijah's loft; to the high place in God where Elijah dwelt, and stretched himself upon the son three times and the son revived. 

This represents the bringing forth of the Son three times in the earth. This reveals the three appearances of Elijah in the earth. Each time it was Elijah who brought the son. Elijah's first appearance, he brought forth the widows' son. The second appearance, John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Son of God, Jesus. The third appearance is in the earth today to proclaim the manifested sons of God which is the Elisha (double portion) ministry that is about to break forth upon the earth.

THE SECOND APPEARANCE OF ELIJAH - JOHN THE BAPTIST

Let us consider John the Baptist as the second appearance of Elijah. Luke spake of John:

"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." *** Luke 1:17 

The angel, Gabriel, appeared unto Zacharias, John's father, to reveal that his son would go before Jesus in the Spirit and power of Elijah and do three things:

1. He would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children

2. He would turn the disobedient to

the wisdom of the just

3. To make ready a people for the Lord

Jesus spoke of John being Elijah,

"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias (Elijah), which was for to come." *** Matthew 11:13-14 

THE THIRD APPEARANCE OF ELIJAH - THE REMNANT

Jesus spoke of the 3rd appearance of Elijah. When Jesus came down from the Mount of Transfiguration where he had met Moses and Elijah, His disciples asked about the coming of Elijah.

"And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias (Elijah) must first come? 

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias (Elijah) truly shall first come, and restore all things.

But I say unto you, That Elias (Elijah) is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them." *** Matthew 17:10-12

Jesus revealed that Elijah must come and restore all things. This statement, "must first come", was futuristic. Then He said, 

"Elijah has come already and they knew him not." *** Matthew 17:13 

The disciples understood He spoke of John the Baptist. 

Jesus foretold the third appearance of the Elijah ministry. When this ministry appears, it will restore all things. This third appearance of Elijah will be the Day of Restoration.

Isaiah spake of that day:

"But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore." *** Isaiah 42:22

The people are robbed and spoiled and hid in their prison houses. This is where the Word has dried up and none crieth, "Restore".

The Elijah ministry is crying, "Restore". The church system is proclaiming Rapture, and the world is proclaiming peace. But this is the day of Restoration. God has had His Elijah ministry in the place of refinement, feeding them with the pure Word of God by the anointing. The Restoration has begun, but we must recognize what needs to be restored.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." *** Hebrews 11:6 

The first thing that must be restored is knowing that God is God. We must let God be God. If God is not God of everything, then He is God of nothing. We must come to the place where we know that, without God, we can do nothing. *** John 15:5

True praise and worship must be restored. We need to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Faith must be restored because, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Trusting in God and each other must be restored. Love must be restored. We must let the world know who we are by our love for one another. We need to let God know who we are by our love for Him.

Elijah must come and restore all things. The Kingdom principles must be restored in our lives. We must stop trying to please God by the precepts and doctrines of men.

When do the scriptures reveal that the third appearance of Elijah will come?

"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, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." *** Malachi 4:5-6

The great and dreadful day of the Lord did not come with John the Baptist. God's creation has been waiting for this day since Jesus left the earth. That day of judgment is spoken of all through the Word and is the day of darkness; the day of wrath. It is the evening time just before the day of darkness; the great and terrible day of the Lord.

The Elijah ministry is in the earth now, and His voice is beginning to be heard. This is not one man, but a multi-faceted ministry who is crying, "Restore". They are also proclaiming the overcoming, manifested sons of God.

Elijah brought forth the widow's son. John the Baptist proclaimed the Son of God. The Elijah ministry, today, is proclaiming the manifested sons of God.

Elijah's ministry had no end. Elijah was translated off the earth, but his mantle fell on Elisha. John's ministry had no end. His ministry was to baptize unto repentance and proclaim the Son. We are still baptising unto repentance and proclaiming the Son. The Elijahs will have no end. It will bring forth the double portion, manifested sons of God who will rule and reign with Christ one thousand years, and after that, eternity.

The Elijah ministry has been in Zarephath, the place of refining. This is the cloven tongue baptism that came on the day of pentecost. It is doing its refining work in our lives. The old Adam man is dying and the new nature is being brought forth by the Spirit. This happens when we allow the Spirit to have control of our lives.

How will the people recognize the Elijah ministry?

"And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the Word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth." *** I Kings 17:24

The Word of God in our mouth will be brought forth by the Spirit of truth. We come to the place as Jesus said, "I only do what I see my Father doing, and I only say what I hear my Father saying." The Father is the Holy Spirit, and as He speaks and as He does, we must speak and do. This all takes place in Zarephath; the place of refining. We must come to this place before God can use us in ministry.

But Elijah's work was not finished in Zarephath. It was necessary for him to go to Mt. Carmel. Carmel means "my vineyard". God's vineyard is His church (His Called Out Ones); those who have been called out to deal with the false prophets in their lives. 

There were 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel that day. Baal means "lord or god of plenty". Today, those who are called by His name, Christ or the InChristed Ones, have many gods before them. Whatever consumes our time and money has become our god. Our Baal could be our money, possessions, job, influence, alcohol, drugs, airplanes, boats, race cars, bowling, golf, television and so forth. What consumes our time and our money is our Baal (lord).

When Elijah got to Mt. Carmel, he asked Israel, 

"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him." *** I Kings 18:21

Jesus said, 

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other: or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." *** Matthew 6:24

We know Jesus' words, but the prosperity message still flourishes in the church. Many are taught to demand the things of the world from God, and that we are to receive them as blessings. Our Bible informs us these are the things God is trying to get out of our lives. 

Before Elijah could deal with the prophets of Baal in Israel's life, preparation had to be made.

"And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the Word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name." *** I Kings 18:30-31 

Elijah took twelve uncut stones. Those stones represent spiritual Israel. Then Elijah dug a trench around the altar and set the wood in order. Wood represents flesh. We, as spiritual Israel, the uncut stones, must get our flesh in order with the Spirit of God.

Elijah then cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. The ox was the only animal that was used for sacrifice or service. Paul stated, 

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." *** Romans 12:1

We are a living sacrifice. This is our reasonable service unto God. Whether God requires sacrifice or service, we should be that ox who is willing to pull the plow or to be laid on the altar.

When Elijah had the altar ready for the fire, he ordered 12 barrels of water to be poured on the sacrifice. Fire is always testing or purifying. Water represents the Word. The altar of sacrifice Elijah prepared is a picture of the true Body of Christ; the living stones, spiritual Israel with their flesh (wood) in order; the sacrifice (ox) laid before the Lord, drenched with the Word (water). But not all the Word (water) was used on the altar and filled the trench around the sacrifice. This is the Word that we have received but have not utilized in our walk with God as yet. But it is still part of our altar before God.

Elijah's sacrifice had become an island with water all around it, separated from the rest of the world by the Word, a picture of His Body in the earth today; the living stones with their flesh in order, their sacrifice before God and drenched by the Word.

When the sacrifice was in order, the fire of God fell and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the water and all the dust. *** I Kings 18:38

The sacrifice was the first to be consumed. Paul said our works would be tried by fire, *** I Corinthians 3:13. The fire consumed the wood (flesh). The flesh cannot stand before the Spirit. The stones (spiritual Israel) were consumed. All the Word (water) was consumed and also the dust. The dust is the old, Adam nature.

Where is this altar of sacrifice? God was the consuming fire. The altar of sacrifice and all that pertained to it was caught up into God. This is when the mortal and corruption becomes immortality and incorruption. *** I Corinthians 15:51-54

"And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, He is the God: the Lord, He is the God." *** I Kings 18:39

When the people fell on their faces, there was no further need for the prophets of Baal in their lives. So Elijah destroyed them. We also need to destroy Baal in our lives.

There had been no rain in Israel for 3 1/2 years. Nevertheless, Elijah told Ahab to eat and drink because he heard an abundance of much rain coming upon the earth, *** I Kings 18:41. Then Ahab went to eat and drink. He would not be part of what God was going to do in the earth.

*** Matthew 24 teaches us that the times coming are going to be as in the day of Noah. The people at that time, also, were eating and drinking until Noah entered into the ark. The ark was Noah's place in God. Elijah was not eating and drinking. He cast himself upon the earth. Elijah humbled himself before God to prepare himself for what was coming upon the earth. *** I Kings 18:42

"And said to his (Elijah's) servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand..." *** I Kings 18:43-44

We know the cloud is the glory of God rising out of the sea of humanity. The cloud was shaped as a hand. The hand reveals the ministry of giving and receiving; the five fold ministry of God; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

Many have claimed these are not for the church, that they ceased with the first church. Those who claim this are partially correct because these ministries have never been manifested in their full power. Today, we begin to recognize these ministries in the Body. But they are still a little hand ministry that is beginning to bring forth the glory of God to the Body. The storm that is coming from this ministry is not yet manifested in the earth.

"And he (Elijah) said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not." *** I Kings 18:44

Elijah told Ahab he had better flee before this storm stopped him. Ahab had seen the miracles but did not repent. Those who see the coming miracles, but have not repented, will flee before this revealed glory of the little hand ministry when it breaks forth in all its power and authority upon the earth. Peter stated,

"Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." *** I Peter 3:8

The little hand ministry did not break forth in the first six days of creation, but will manifest itself the seventh day. It was the seventh time that the servant saw the little hand of ministry. Israel fell upon their faces before Ahab fled back to his sin. This is the day of total separation of the holy from the profane. *** Ezekiel 22:26

When will all this ministry break forth?

"And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds, and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel." *** I Kings 18:45

It was a day of darkness with the wind (the Holy Spirit) and rain (the anointing). The day of darkness is directly ahead. God is about to break forth with an anointing that the world has never seen. Those who will not fall on their faces and proclaim "He is God, He is God", will flee from it.

When the storm came, Elijah was so empowered by it that he girded up his loins and outran Ahab's horses and chariots. He was so empowered by the Spirit that he outran the best horses in the kingdom and beat Ahab to Jezreel.

*** Isaiah 40:31 states that we shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint. God is unfolding the Elijah ministry in all its power and glory in the earth today. This will be God's anointing, that even the early church did not receive.

The Elijah ministry is to bring forth the manifested Sons ministry; the double portion Elisha ministry. This is when the Spirit will be poured out without measure, as Jesus received, that we may do the greater works.

When Elijah was taken off the earth, the Elisha ministry began. There is not one miracle accredited to Elisha while the Elijah ministry existed. When the day came for Elijah to be translated, all the people of God knew it. Elijah and Elisha were at Gilgal and Elijah told Elisha to stay there; that he had to go to Bethel, *** II Kings 2:2. But Elisha said he would not leave Elijah.

In our walk with the Lord, there are many places where we can stop, but if we are to come to the place of Elisha, we must continue all the way. The sons of the prophets (God's people) knew Elijah would be taken that day. When Elijah and Elisha came to Bethel, the same offer was made to Elisha. But he continued on to the Jordan. The same offer was made at the Jordan. The sons of the prophets knew that the day of Elisha was at hand.

Elijah parted the waters and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground. God gives us a chance to turn back at every intersection. But if we are to cross that river of death on to dry ground, we must not turn back or even aside. We must keep our eyes on Elijah (my God, Jehovah).

When Elisha would not turn back or tarry, then Elijah asked Elisha what he desired. God tells us in the Old Testament He will give us the desires of our heart. *** Psalms 37:4

"And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: Nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so." *** II Kings 2:9-10

Elisha never took his eyes off Elijah. He did not take his eyes off God; Jehovah. He never turned aside, but continued to the end of Elijah's walk.

"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." *** II Kings 2:11-12

Elisha cried, "My Father, my Father." 

"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." *** I Corinthians 4:15

There are many instructors in Christ, but there are not many fathers. God has raised up few fathers with the Kingdom message. These are the Elijah ministries bringing forth the double portion Elisha ministry in the earth. Those, upon whom the early and latter rain will come upon, will go forth in power, reclaiming that which rightfully belongs in the Father's kingdom. It will be those who have the true Word of God in their mouths.

When the Elijah mantle falls upon them, they will be recognized. But before the Elijah mantle can be put on, the old cloth (the flesh) must be rent in two and shed. The Elijah mantle will not hide the flesh. The flesh must be gone. When Elisha parted the Jordan the second time, those same sons of the prophets saw a difference in Elisha.

"And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him." *** II Kings 2:15

Isaiah prophesied about the manifested sons of God.

"The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel." *** Isaiah 60:14

The sons of the prophets recognized the Elijah mantle, but there was a greater anointing. There is no record of the sons of the prophets bowing down to Elijah. But they did bow to the anointing that was upon Elisha, and they will bow to the anointing which is coming upon the manifested sons of God.

The Elijah ministry is proclaiming the coming of these sons, but before the Elijah mantle can rest upon anyone, the flesh must be subject to the Spirit. We must become that sacrifice Elijah built on Mt. Carmel. We must be consumed by God. Only that which He produced in the earth must be seen. All the prophets of Baal must be destroyed in our lives. Only then will the Elijah mantle fall into place.

There is a day, and that day is at hand. We are at the end of the sixth day. The seventh day of creation is about to break forth in all God's glory. It is the seventh day that the little hand ministry will come forth as a storm upon the earth. The Elijah mantle will rest upon those who have come to that place in God; those who are falling on their faces and proclaiming, "He is God! He is God!"

Today is the Day of Preparation, so get prepared while it is yet called, Today.

See also "Day of Preparation" by G. Kirkpatrick

"God's Anointed Voice" by G. Kirkpatrick

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