The Elijah Pattern (Part 1) Part One

The Elijah Pattern: Atonement as the Great Day of Decision Full 3-Hour Teaching PREFACE: THE ISRAELITE OBLIGATION TO KEEP THE FEASTS Before we dive into the prophetic pattern of Elijah, I need to establish something foundational that many of you may have never heard taught clearly. If you are part of Israel - if you have been grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel through faith in Yeshua - then the feast days are not optional suggestions. They are divine commandments with eternal consequences. The Divine Command to Gather Turn with me to Leviticus 23:2-4: "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'The LORD's appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations—My appointed times are these: For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings. These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.'" Notice carefully - these are called "holy convocations." The Hebrew word is "miqra," which means "a calling together, an assembly, a gathering." This is not about individual families doing their own thing in their own homes. This is about the sons of Israel being physically assembled together at the appointed times. The Warning for Those Who Refuse Now listen to what God says about those who refuse to keep His appointed times. Turn to Leviticus 23:29-30: "For if there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people." "Cut off from his people" and "destroyed from among his people." Church, do you understand what this means? This is about losing your identity as part of Israel! This is about being severed from the covenant community! Not Individual Choice - Covenant Authority Here's what most people don't understand: God never gave individual families the authority to decide how, when, or where to keep His feast days. From the very beginning, this was always about covenant authority and corporate gathering. In the wilderness, the feasts were kept where Moses declared them. In the Promised Land, they were kept where the priesthood established them. It was never a matter of "each man doing what was right in his own eyes." Look at Deuteronomy 16:16: "Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, in the Feast of Unleavened Bread and in the Feast of Weeks and in the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed." "In the place which He chooses." Not the place you choose. Not the place that's convenient for you. The place which HE chooses through His appointed authority. The Modern Application Now, in our day, God has raised up this ministry with apostolic authority to establish where and how the sons of Israel are to gather for His appointed times. This is not Pastor Jim's opinion or preference - this is covenant authority operating according to biblical pattern. When this ministry declares where the feast is to be kept, and how it is to be observed, you don't get to vote on it. You don't get to say, "Well, I think I'll just stay home with my family." You don't get to say, "I'll observe it my own way." If you want to maintain your identity as part of Israel, you MUST be where the authority says to be, when the authority says to be there. The Counting of the Assembly There's something else most Christians don't understand about the feast days. Turn to Numbers 1:2-3: "Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies." The sons of Israel were to be COUNTED. You can't be counted if you're not present! You can't be numbered among the army of the Lord if you're sitting at home doing your own thing! When we gather for the feast days, you are being counted among the assembly of Israel. Your presence matters. Your absence is noticed. This is about being numbered among God's people, not just having a nice religious experience. No Excuses Accepted I've heard all the excuses: "But Pastor, I can't afford to travel." "But Pastor, I have work commitments." "But Pastor, my family situation is complicated." "But Pastor, I don't agree with how the ministry does things." Do you think the Israelites in Moses' day didn't have work commitments? Do you think they didn't have family complications? Do you think they didn't sometimes disagree with leadership decisions? But they showed up anyway, because they understood that their covenant identity depended on it. The Choice Before You So before we even get into the prophetic pattern of Elijah, you need to settle this issue in your heart. Are you truly part of Israel, or are you just playing religious games? If you're part of Israel, then you WILL be at the feast where and when the authority declares it. You'll make whatever sacrifices are necessary. You'll adjust your schedule. You'll trust God to provide the resources. You'll be counted among the assembly. If you're not willing to do that, then you need to stop calling yourself part of Israel. You need to stop claiming covenant promises that you're not willing to fulfill covenant obligations to receive. The Authority Structure And let me be crystal clear about something else: When you come to the feast, you come under the authority of this ministry. You don't come to do your own thing. You don't come to create your own worship experience. You come to participate in what GOD has ordained through His appointed leadership. You submit to the order of service. You submit to the teaching that's given. You submit to the way things are done. You participate as a MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY, not as an independent operator. This is not about control or manipulation. This is about covenant order and divine authority. This is about understanding that God works through structure, not chaos. The Promise for Obedience But here's the promise: If you will honor God's appointed times in the way He has ordained, keeping them where and how the authority declares, you will experience the fullness of what God wants to do in your life. You will be counted among His people. You will receive the covenant blessings. You will be positioned for the great move of God that's coming. You will maintain your identity as part of Israel. The Final Word So as we go into this teaching about the Day of Atonement and the Elijah pattern, understand that this is not just interesting Bible study. This is about your covenant identity and your eternal destiny. The Day of Atonement is coming. It will be observed where and how this ministry declares it should be observed. You can either be counted among the assembly of Israel, or you can be cut off from the people. The choice is yours. But the consequences are eternal. Now, with that foundation established, let's look at the incredible prophetic pattern God has given us in the story of Elijah... OPENING: THE MYSTERY OF ELIJAH'S TIMING Good morning, church! Today we're diving into one of the most incredible prophetic patterns in all of Scripture - the story of Elijah. But here's what I want you to understand from the very beginning: Elijah's story isn't just history - it's prophecy! Turn with me to Malachi 4:5-6. This is where our journey begins: "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse." Now, most people read this and think, "Well, that was John the Baptist." And yes, Jesus did say John came in the spirit and power of Elijah. But here's the thing - John didn't restore the hearts of the fathers to the children. John didn't prevent the land from being smitten with a curse. In fact, Jerusalem was destroyed 40 years after John's ministry! So what's going on here? The answer is simple: there's a greater Elijah ministry coming! Not Elijah the person reincarnated, but an "Elijah company" - a group of people who will operate in the same spirit and power that Elijah did. And here's the key: God gave us Elijah's entire story as a prophetic roadmap showing us exactly how He's going to bring about the end times. Every place Elijah went, every miracle he performed, every confrontation he had - it's all a picture of God's timeline from Jesus' first coming to His second coming. And right at the center of it all is the Day of Atonement - the great day of decision that's coming to the Church. Are you ready to see how it all fits together? Let's dive in! PART 1: THE DIVINE ROADMAP - UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERN The Five Stops on God's Timeline Friends, when you understand what I'm about to show you, it will revolutionize how you read the Bible and understand where we are in God's plan. Elijah's story has five major events, and each one corresponds perfectly to one of God's feast days: 1. Brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:3-7) = PASSOVER 2. Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16) = PENTECOST 3. Widow's son raised (1 Kings 17:17-24) = FEAST OF TRUMPETS 4. Mount Carmel showdown (1 Kings 18:20-40) = DAY OF ATONEMENT 5. Rain after seven prayers (1 Kings 18:41-46) = FEAST OF TABERNACLES Now, I know some of you are thinking, "Pastor, how can you be so sure about this?" Well, let me tell you something that will blow your mind. The ancient historian Josephus, writing in the first century, quotes an even earlier historian named Menander who tells us that Elijah's drought occurred during the month of Hyperberetaeus - which is the Greek name for the Hebrew month of Tishri! What's so special about Tishri? That's the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar - the month when all the autumn feast days occur! The Feast of Trumpets starts on Tishri 1, the Day of Atonement is on Tishri 10, and the Feast of Tabernacles runs from Tishri 15-22. So we have historical evidence that these events in Elijah's life actually occurred during the very month when these feast days are celebrated. God was giving us a living demonstration of His prophetic calendar! Why This Matters See, here's what most Christians don't understand: God doesn't just do things randomly. Everything He does follows patterns. Everything He does has meaning. When God tells a story in the Bible, especially a story as dramatic as Elijah's, He's not just entertaining us - He's teaching us how He operates! But the autumn feast days are still waiting to be fulfilled! And Elijah's story shows us exactly how God is going to fulfill them. This means we can know where we are in God's timeline by understanding Elijah's pattern! Let me ask you this: If you were driving from New York to Los Angeles, wouldn't you want a roadmap? Wouldn't you want to know what cities you'd pass through, what landmarks to look for, how long each stretch would take? Well, that's exactly what God has given us in Elijah's story - a roadmap from the cross to the Kingdom! PART 2: THE FAMINE - UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUAL DROUGHT The Surface Story Let's start at the beginning. Turn to 1 Kings 17:1: "Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.'" Can you imagine? Elijah walks right up to the most powerful man in Israel and basically says, "Your Majesty, I'm shutting off the water supply for the entire nation!" Talk about bold! But this wasn't just Elijah being dramatic - this was God using Elijah to establish a prophetic pattern. For three and a half years, not a drop of rain fell in Israel. The brooks dried up. The crops failed. The livestock died. It was a national disaster of epic proportions. But here's what you need to understand: This physical famine was just a picture of a much greater spiritual famine that was coming. The Real Famine Turn with me to Amos 8:11-12. This is the key to understanding what God was really showing us: "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "When I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the LORD. And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, but they will not find it." Did you catch that? "Not a famine for bread... but for hearing the words of the LORD." God was telling us that there would come a time when people would be spiritually starving - not because there wasn't enough food on the table, but because there wasn't enough of God's Word being properly taught and understood! Why the Famine Happened Now, you might be wondering, "Pastor, why would God allow such a thing? Why would He allow people to be hungry for His Word?" The answer is found in what happened before Elijah's ministry. Turn back to 1 Kings 16:29-33. This describes King Ahab: "Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria. Ahab also made the Asherah. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him." Here's what happened: The leadership of Israel had completely turned away from God's Word and God's law. They had embraced foreign gods, foreign practices, foreign values. They had decided that God's ways were old-fashioned, irrelevant, maybe even harmful. Sound familiar? The Modern Application Church, let me tell you something that might make you uncomfortable, but it needs to be said: We are living in the days of this spiritual famine right now! For the last several decades, much of the Church has done exactly what Israel did in Ahab's day. We've decided that parts of God's Word are outdated. We've picked and chosen which parts of the Bible we want to hear and which parts we want to ignore. Specifically, the Church has largely rejected God's law. Now, I'm not talking about legalism - I'm talking about understanding that God's law is His instruction manual for righteous living! Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-18: "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished." But what have we been taught? "Oh, the law is done away with. We're under grace now. Don't worry about all that Old Testament stuff." The result? Spiritual famine! How many churches today never teach about: • The feast days and their prophetic significance? • The deeper patterns and types in the Old Testament? • The practical wisdom in God's law for daily living? • The prophetic calendar and God's timing? We've had churches full of people who are spiritually malnourished because they're only getting part of God's Word! They're starving in the midst of plenty! The Length of the Famine Notice that Elijah's famine lasted three and a half years. Luke 4:25 and James 5:17 both confirm this timeframe. But prophetically, this represents something much longer. The spiritual famine that Elijah's drought represented would last from the time of Jesus' first coming all the way until the fulfillment of the autumn feast days. That's nearly 2,000 years! Now, that doesn't mean there's been no Word of God at all during this time. Of course not! The gospel has gone forth. People have been saved. The Church has grown. But there has been a famine of complete understanding - a famine of the full counsel of God. The Church has survived during this famine period, but it hasn't thrived the way God intended. Think about it: If we had properly understood God's feast days and their prophetic significance, would we have been caught off guard by Jesus' first coming? If the Church had maintained a proper understanding of God's law as instruction for righteousness, would we have had the Crusades, the Inquisition, and other dark chapters in Church history? The famine has been real, and it has had real consequences. But here's the good news: Elijah's story shows us that the famine is about to end! PART 3: BROOK CHERITH - THE PASSOVER FOUNDATION The Command to Hide After Elijah delivered his message to King Ahab, God gave him some interesting instructions. Look at 1 Kings 17:2-4: "The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.'" Now, on the surface, this seems like a simple case of God protecting His prophet from the king's wrath. Ahab probably wasn't too happy about having his water supply cut off, and Elijah needed a safe place to hide. But remember, we're looking at this story as a prophetic pattern. Every detail has significance. The Meaning of Cherith The brook was named Cherith, which comes from the Hebrew word "karath." This word means "to cut," but it has a very specific meaning in biblical Hebrew. It's the word used for making a blood covenant. When God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, He told Abraham to cut animals in half and lay the pieces opposite each other. Then God Himself, represented by a smoking oven and a flaming torch, passed between the pieces. This was called "cutting a covenant." So when God sent Elijah to the brook Cherith - the brook of "cutting" - He was pointing us to the place where the ultimate covenant would be cut: the cross of Jesus Christ! This represents the Passover fulfillment. Everything in God's plan starts with the cross. Without Jesus' sacrificial death, none of the other feast days could be fulfilled. Fed by Ravens Now, here's where it gets really interesting. The text says that ravens fed Elijah at the brook. Ravens, in biblical symbolism, typically represent unclean birds. But the Hebrew word used here is "oreb," and some scholars believe this could also be translated as "Arabs." But here's the deeper prophetic meaning: After the cross and the early apostolic era, unclean teachings entered the Church. The pure Word of God became contaminated with pagan philosophies, Greek thinking, and man-made traditions. Yet even through these "unclean" sources, God's people were barely kept alive spiritually. Think about it: For centuries, the Church was fed by: • Roman Catholic traditions that mixed truth with error • Pagan holiday celebrations that replaced God's feast days • Greek philosophical concepts that corrupted Hebrew understanding • Man-made doctrines that obscured biblical truth These were the "ravens" - unclean sources that nonetheless carried just enough spiritual nutrition to keep God's people from completely starving during the famine years. It wasn't pure food. It wasn't the complete Word of God. But it was enough to sustain a remnant until the time of restoration came. Just like ravens bringing scraps of food to Elijah - not a feast, but enough to survive. The Eastern Direction Notice that God told Elijah to go eastward to the brook. In biblical symbolism, east often represents new beginnings and the dawning of a new day. When Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, they went eastward. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan to enter the Promised Land, they came from the east. The star that announced Jesus' birth appeared in the east. Elijah's journey eastward to Cherith represents the beginning of God's prophetic timeline - the foundation laid by Jesus' death and resurrection. But here's what many Christians miss: The cross is just the beginning, not the end! Elijah didn't stay at the brook Cherith forever. God had more for him to do, more places for him to go. In the same way, while we must never move away from the foundation of the cross, God has more for us to experience in His prophetic plan. The brook eventually dried up, and Elijah had to move on. Why? Because God's timeline was progressing, and it was time for the next phase. PART 4: ZAREPHATH - THE PENTECOST PATTERN The Next Assignment After the brook dried up, God gave Elijah new instructions. Look at 1 Kings 17:8-9: "Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 'Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.'" Now, this must have seemed strange to Elijah. Zarephath was in Gentile territory - the land of Sidon, outside of Israel. Why would God send His prophet there during Israel's time of judgment? But again, we need to look at this prophetically. This represents the transition from the Passover age (focused primarily on Israel) to the Pentecost age (where the gospel goes to all nations). The Meaning of Zarephath The name Zarephath comes from the Hebrew word "zaraph," which means "to smelt, to refine, to purify." This is exactly what Pentecost is supposed to do! Remember what happened at the original Pentecost? Acts 2:3 says there appeared "tongues as of fire" that sat upon each of the disciples. Fire is used throughout Scripture as a symbol of God's purifying presence. But here's what most Christians don't understand: The fire of Pentecost isn't just meant to bless you - it's meant to refine you! Think about what happens in a refinery. Raw ore goes in, but pure metal comes out. The fire burns away all the impurities, all the dross, all the things that don't belong. That's what the baptism of the Holy Spirit is supposed to do in our lives. The Widow Woman Elijah was sustained at Zarephath by a widow woman whose flour and oil never ran out. This is a beautiful picture of the Church during the Pentecost age. The widow represents the Church - we're like a woman whose husband (Jesus) has gone away but who is waiting for His return. During His absence, we're sustained by the flour (the Word of God) and the oil (the Holy Spirit) that never fail. The Problem with Pentecost Now, here's where we need to be honest about something. The Pentecost age has been a mixed bag. On the positive side, the gospel has gone to every nation. Millions have been saved. The Church has grown from a small group of disciples to a worldwide movement. The gifts of the Spirit have been manifested. Lives have been transformed. But there have also been problems. Just like in Elijah's day at Zarephath, the refining process hasn't always gone smoothly. Think about what happened at the original Pentecost at Mount Sinai. When God came down in fire and offered to speak directly to the people, what did they do? They ran the other direction! They told Moses, "You go talk to God. We don't want to die!" The same thing has happened throughout the Church age. God has offered to refine His people, to write His law on their hearts, to bring them into deeper intimacy with Him. But many Christians have preferred to keep their distance. They want the blessings of Pentecost without the refining of Pentecost. They want the gifts without the transformation. They want the power without the purification. Some have even preferred prosperity messages over "die to self" messages. They've run from the very fire that God sent to purify them! The Incomplete Work This is why the Pentecost age, while necessary and wonderful, is not the end of God's plan. Pentecost was meant to prepare us for something greater. Just like Zarephath sustained Elijah during the famine, the Pentecost age has sustained the Church during the spiritual famine. But it was never meant to be our final destination. God has more feast days to fulfill, more of His plan to reveal. The refinery of Pentecost is preparing us for the greater works that are to come. PART 5: THE RESURRECTION - FEAST OF TRUMPETS When Death Interrupts the Plan Everything seemed to be going well at Zarephath. The widow's flour and oil were lasting. Elijah was safe and provided for. But then disaster struck. Look at 1 Kings 17:17: "Now it came about after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him." The widow's son died. Can you imagine the devastation? Here was this woman who had been faithful to provide for God's prophet, and now her only son was dead. To make matters worse, she blamed Elijah! Verse 18 says: "So she said to Elijah, 'What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!'" But Elijah didn't panic. He knew that God had a purpose even in this tragedy. The Power of Resurrection Look at what happened next in verses 19-22: "He said to her, 'Give me your son.' Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed. He called to the LORD and said, 'O LORD my God, have You also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?' Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and called to the LORD and said, 'O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child's life return to him.' The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived." This is the first recorded resurrection in the Bible! And it's not an accident that it happens at this point in Elijah's prophetic timeline. The Feast of Trumpets Connection The Feast of Trumpets, which occurs on the first day of the seventh month (Tishri), is prophetically connected to the resurrection of the dead. Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52: "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." The "last trumpet" is referring to the Feast of Trumpets! So when Elijah raised the widow's son from the dead, he was establishing a prophetic pattern for what would happen at the Feast of Trumpets - the resurrection of God's overcomers. Who Is the Dead Son? Now, who does the widow's son represent prophetically? He represents the company of overcomers who must be "raised up" before the final outpouring can come. These are the believers who have been willing to go through the refining fire of Pentecost. They've allowed God to write His law on their hearts. They've died to self and been made alive to God. But before they can fulfill their ultimate purpose, they must experience a literal resurrection. This isn't talking about all believers throughout history. This is talking about a specific group - those who will be raised in what Revelation 20:6 calls "the first resurrection." The Proof That Convinces Notice what happened after the resurrection. Verse 24 says: "Then the woman said to Elijah, 'Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.'" The resurrection proved to the widow that Elijah really was God's messenger! Prophetically, this tells us that when God raises up His overcomer company, it will prove to the Church that these people really are from God. Up until that point, the Church might be skeptical. They might think the overcomers are just another group with strange ideas. But when the resurrection happens, when the miraculous is demonstrated, when the power of God is displayed in an unprecedented way, the Church will finally recognize that God is truly working through these people. This will be the catalyst for the Church's repentance and the beginning of the great revival that's to come. Why Resurrection Must Come First You see, God's order is always resurrection before glorification. You can't have the fullness of the Kingdom without first having the company of people who have been raised up to administer it. The widow's son had to be raised before the story could continue. In the same way, the overcomer company must be raised before the final acts of God's prophetic drama can unfold. This resurrection will mark the transition from the Pentecost age to the Tabernacles age. It's the signal that God is ready to move to the next phase of His plan. PART 6: MOUNT CARMEL - THE DAY OF ATONEMENT SHOWDOWN The Return to Israel After the widow's son was raised from the dead, God gave Elijah a new assignment. Look at 1 Kings 18:1-2: "Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, 'Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.' So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab." It was time to go back to Israel. It was time for the confrontation that would end the famine. But first, there had to be a day of decision. The Blame Game When Ahab saw Elijah, he immediately went on the attack. Verse 17: "When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, 'Is this you, you troubler of Israel?'" Isn't this typical? The king who had led Israel into idolatry and rebellion was blaming the prophet for all the nation's problems! "You're the one causing all this trouble, Elijah!" But Elijah didn't back down. Verse 18: "He said, 'I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and you have followed the Baals.'" "No, Ahab. The problem isn't me. The problem is that you've forsaken God's commandments!" The Great Challenge Elijah proposed a test that would settle the matter once and for all. Verses 19-21: "Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people did not answer him a word." The Ultimate Day of Decision Here's where we need to understand what was really happening. This wasn't just a contest between prophets - this was Israel's Day of Atonement moment! Notice Elijah's question: "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" The Hebrew word for Day of Atonement includes "anah" - which means to humble oneself, to surrender completely. But before you can surrender, you have to decide who you're surrendering TO. This is exactly what Israel faced at Mount Carmel. Would they finally surrender completely to Yahweh, or would they keep trying to serve both God and Baal? Think about the progression we've seen in Elijah's story - it mirrors the journey of the Bride: PASSOVER (Brook Cherith) = The Betrothal • The covenant relationship established through the cross • We accepted Yeshua as our Bridegroom • We said "yes" to His proposal PENTECOST (Zarephath) = The Veiling and Vows • We received the Holy Spirit (like a bridal veil) • We made our vows to follow Him • We began the preparation and refining process FEAST OF TRUMPETS (Resurrection) = The Announcement • God's power demonstrated to prove His reality • The overcomer company raised up as witnesses DAY OF ATONEMENT (Mount Carmel) = The Final Decision Day • "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve" • Will we fully surrender as His Bride? • No more hesitation, no more double-mindedness • Complete "anah" - total surrender to the Bridegroom FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Coming Rain) = The Wedding Consummation • Full union with the Bridegroom • The Kingdom manifested through the Bride • Heaven and earth joined as one The people couldn't move forward to the blessing (Tabernacles rain) until they made their choice! The Shocking Reality: Israel's Own Sons as Baal's Prophets Now here's something that will shock you - and it makes this story even more relevant to our day. The 450 prophets of Baal weren't foreigners. They were sons of Israel! Think about it: King Ahab "sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel" (verse 20). These weren't Canaanite priests imported from other nations. These were Israelites who had been raised in covenant families, who knew the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - but who had chosen to serve Baal instead. They still considered themselves part of Israel! They still claimed the covenant identity. They still participated in Israel's national life. But their hearts had turned to other gods. The Modern Parallel Church, can you see how this mirrors what's happening today? We have people in our congregations, in our pulpits, who still call themselves Christians, who still claim to be part of God's people - but who are actually serving other gods. What are the modern "Baals"? • Cultural acceptance instead of biblical truth • Prosperity and comfort instead of the cross • Popular opinion instead of God's Word • Denominational tradition instead of complete Scripture • Political correctness instead of prophetic courage These modern "prophets of Baal" still: • Attend church regularly • Use Christian vocabulary • Claim to love God • Consider themselves part of Israel (the Church) • But they serve other masters when it comes to the hard choices The Devastating Question So when Elijah asked, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" - he wasn't talking to obvious pagans. He was talking to covenant people who were trying to serve both Yahweh AND Baal. They wanted to: • Keep their Israelite identity (for the benefits and belonging) • But also serve Baal (for the cultural acceptance and ease) Sound familiar? How many Christians today want to: • Keep their Christian identity (for eternal security and community) • But also serve cultural gods (for social acceptance and worldly success) The Day of Decision Reality This is why the Day of Atonement is so crucial. God isn't asking outsiders to make a choice - He's asking His own covenant people to decide who they really serve. The question isn't: "Will you become a Christian?" The question is: "Will you stop being a lukewarm, compromised, double-minded covenant person and finally surrender completely to your God?" This makes Elijah's challenge even more piercing: "If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." Translation: "Stop trying to have it both ways! Stop claiming to be My people while serving other gods! Make your choice!" "Then Elijah said to the people, 'I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.' And all the people answered and said, 'That is a good idea.'" This was the test: The God who answers by fire would prove who deserved Israel's complete surrender (anah). But notice something crucial: This day of decision came AFTER the resurrection (the widow's son) and BEFORE the rain (Tabernacles outpouring). The Day of Atonement is always the final choice before the blessing! Why the False Prophets Failed Now, look at what happened when the prophets of Baal tried to call down fire. Verses 26-29: "So they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, 'O Baal, answer us.' But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made. It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, 'Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.' So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention." Why did they fail? Because they had the wrong timing! They were trying to bring down the fire during the morning sacrifice time. But prophetically, the morning sacrifice represents the first coming of Christ and the spring feast days. That time had already passed! They were trying to force a Pentecostal experience at a Day of Atonement moment. They were trying to bring "Tabernacles rain" at "Atonement time." They didn't understand God's prophetic calendar! The Two Sacrifices Pattern You see, there were two sacrifices offered daily in the temple: the morning sacrifice and the evening sacrifice. The morning sacrifice prophetically represents: • The first coming of Christ • The spring feast days (Passover, Firstfruits, Pentecost) • The first outpouring of the Spirit The evening sacrifice prophetically represents: • The second coming of Christ • The autumn feast days (Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles) • The second outpouring of the Spirit Elijah waited until the time of the evening sacrifice to pray! He understood God's timing. He understood that this was an autumn feast day event, not a spring feast day event. The Application for Today How many Christians today are making the same mistake as the prophets of Baal? They're trying to force spiritual experiences that belong to a different season! They're trying to bring the fullness of the Kingdom before the Day of Atonement has been fulfilled. They're trying to manifest Tabernacles power without going through Atonement preparation. They're operating in the wrong timing, and then they wonder why their prayers aren't being answered! When Elijah's Turn Came Finally, it was Elijah's turn. Look at verses 30-32: "Then Elijah said to all the people, 'Come near to me.' So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, 'Israel shall be your name.' So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD." Notice what Elijah did first: He repaired the altar. The altar of the Lord had been torn down, abandoned, forgotten. But before the fire could fall, the altar had to be restored. He used twelve stones - representing the twelve tribes of Israel and prophetically representing the overcomers who would carry God's government in the earth. The Water on the Altar Then Elijah did something that seemed crazy. Verses 33-35: "Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, 'Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.' And he said, 'Do it a second time,' and they did it a second time. And he said, 'Do it a third time,' and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar, and he also filled the trench with water." Twelve pitchers of water in total (four pitchers, three times). Again, the number twelve - God's number for divine government. But why put water on the altar when you're trying to get it to burn? Because the water represents the Word of God! The sacrifice had to be saturated with God's Word before the fire could fall. This tells us that the coming Day of Atonement revival won't come to people who are ignoring God's Word. It will come to those who are saturated with the complete counsel of God - including the parts that many have forgotten or rejected. PART 7: THE FIRE FALLS - ATONEMENT REVIVAL The Simple Prayer After all the preparation was done, Elijah prayed one simple prayer. Look at verses 36-37: "At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, 'O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.'" Notice the purpose of Elijah's prayer: "that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again." This is the essence of the Elijah ministry! It's not about personal glory or vindication. It's about turning the hearts of God's people back to Him. This is exactly what Malachi 4:6 says the end-time Elijah ministry will do: "he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers." The Hebrew Word "Anah" - True Atonement Surrender Now I need to teach you something that most Christians have never understood about the Day of Atonement. Turn to Leviticus 23:27: "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD." Most English Bibles say "humble your souls" or "afflict your souls," and then people assume this means fasting. But that's not what the Hebrew says! The Hebrew word here is "anah" (עָנָה), which means "to humble, to surrender, to bow down, to yield, to submit oneself." Fasting is a completely different Hebrew word: "tsom" (צּוֹם). The Day of Atonement isn't primarily about going without food - it's about complete surrender to Yahweh! The Bride of the Word Here's the deeper revelation: The Day of Atonement is about the Bride fully surrendering to her Bridegroom, the Word. Think about what happened at Mount Carmel: • The prophets of Baal = Human religion trying to manufacture revival without true surrender • Elijah = One who fully surrendered (anah'ed) to Yahweh's timing, altar, and Word That's why the fire fell on Elijah's sacrifice and not on Baal's! It wasn't about "doing more" religious activity - it was about yielding more completely. The Pattern of Surrender In Elijah's prophetic pattern, we see this progression: 1. The Hesitation - "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" 2. The Surrender - Elijah completely submitted to God's timing and methods 3. The Fire - God's presence fell when true surrender happened 4. The Rain - After surrender at Atonement came the outpouring at Tabernacles The Church today is at the "hesitation" stage. We're trying to serve both God and our traditions. We're trying to have revival without complete surrender to His Word. What True Anah Looks Like True "anah" means: • Stop trying to serve both God and religious tradition • Fully surrender to the complete Word of God (including His law and feast days) • Submit to His timing rather than forcing our own agenda • Yield to His appointed authority rather than doing our own thing • Become the Bride of the Word - totally devoted to Him and His truth This is why the coming Day of Atonement will be a day of decision for the Bride. She must stop wavering and fully surrender to her Bridegroom. The People's Response Look at verse 39: "When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.'" When the fire of God falls, people can't help but fall on their faces in worship and repentance. This is what will happen when the Day of Atonement is fulfilled. There will be such an unprecedented manifestation of God's presence that even the skeptics, even the critics, even those who have been opposing the overcomer company will fall on their faces and acknowledge that God is God. The Heart Restoration Remember, the purpose of this whole event was heart restoration. The people had been sitting on the fence, not knowing whom to believe. But when they saw the fire fall, their hearts were turned back to the Lord. In the coming Day of Atonement fulfillment, we'll see massive repentance throughout the Church. People will realize that they've been wrong to reject parts of God's Word. They'll see that the overcomers really were hearing from God. They'll repent for causing the "famine of hearing the Word" through their selective obedience. The Fate of the False Prophets After God accepted Elijah's sacrifice, something dramatic happened. Verse 40: "Then Elijah said to them, 'Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.' So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there." Now, some people read this and think, "Oh no! Is God going to start killing people who disagree with Him?" But remember, what is death in the Old Testament becomes life in the New Testament. Think about the pattern at Mount Sinai vs. the Day of Pentecost: • At Sinai: 3,000 people died by the sword for worshipping the golden calf • At Pentecost: 3,000 people were saved through the sword of the Word The same pattern will hold true at the Day of Atonement. The "prophets of Baal" - those who have been leading people away from God's truth - won't be literally killed. They'll be converted! They'll "die" to their false teachings and be "born again" to the truth. Many of them will repent with more tears than anyone else when they realize how they've led people astray. The Purpose of Revival Remember, the purpose of the Day of Atonement isn't to end evangelism - it's to prepare for the greatest evangelistic effort in history! Just as Pentecost equipped the early Church to go into all the world and preach the gospel, the Day of Atonement revival will prepare the Church for the worldwide harvest that's coming in the Tabernacles age. The difference is that this time, the Church will have the complete Word of God and will be operating in perfect unity under the leadership of the overcomer company. PART 8: THE RAIN - FEAST OF TABERNACLES OUTPOURING The Promise of Rain After the fire had fallen and the hearts had been turned, Elijah gave King Ahab some interesting news. Look at 1 Kings 18:41: "Now Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.'" Elijah could hear the rain coming before anyone else could! This is prophetic insight. The overcomer company will know that the Tabernacles outpouring is coming even before it's visible to everyone else. The Seven Prayers But then Elijah did something that teaches us a crucial lesson about the difference between the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Verses 42-44: "So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, 'Go up now, look toward the sea.' So he went up and looked and said, 'There is nothing.' And he said, 'Go back' seven times. It came about at the seventh time, that he said, 'Behold, a cloud as small as a man's hand is coming up from the sea.'" Why did Elijah have to pray seven times for the rain when he only had to pray once for the fire? Because fire represents the Day of Atonement, and rain represents the Feast of Tabernacles! The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven-day feast. Elijah's seven prayers represent those seven days. The rain didn't come until after the seventh prayer - representing the eighth day of Tabernacles, which is the great day of the feast! The Difference Between Fire and Rain This is crucial to understand: FIRE (Day of Atonement): • Comes quickly when conditions are right • Brings conviction, repentance, and heart change • Prepares people for what's coming • Is primarily about decision and purification RAIN (Feast of Tabernacles): • Takes time to develop • Brings growth, harvest, and multiplication • Produces lasting fruit • Is primarily about outpouring and manifestation You can't have the rain without first having the fire! The Day of Atonement must be fulfilled before the Feast of Tabernacles can begin. The Small Cloud Notice that the rain started with "a cloud as small as a man's hand." This tells us that the Tabernacles outpouring will begin small - with the overcomer company - but will quickly spread to become a worldwide phenomenon. Just like the cloud that started as a tiny speck on the horizon but soon covered the entire sky, the Kingdom manifestation will start with a few but will eventually encompass the earth. The Supernatural Strength Look at what happened to Elijah during the downpour. Verse 46: "Then the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel." Elijah supernaturally outran a chariot! This happened at the same time as the rain - representing the supernatural manifestations that will accompany the Tabernacles outpouring. The overcomer company will demonstrate supernatural abilities - not for show or personal glory, but to accomplish the work of the Kingdom that's coming. Running to Jezreel Jezreel has a double meaning: 1. "God scatters" - referring to how Israel was scattered among the nations 2. "God sows" - showing that the scattering was actually God sowing seed for a great harvest This is exactly what the prophet Hosea reveals in his book. Israel was scattered, but the scattering was actually sowing that would produce a worldwide harvest. The Tabernacles age will be the time of this great harvest as the "scattered seed" of Israel (and all nations) comes to life and produces fruit for the Kingdom. The Worldwide Revival The story of Elijah shows us that the Feast of Tabernacles will mark the beginning of the greatest revival in human history. This won't be the end of evangelism - it will be the beginning of the most effective evangelistic period ever! What was accomplished during the Pentecost age will seem small compared to what will be accomplished during the Tabernacles age. Isaiah 2:2-4 describes it this way: "Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.' For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." People from every nation will desire to learn about God and His ways. The love of God manifested through the overcomer company will be so compelling that nations will voluntarily submit to the Kingship of Jesus. PART 9: WHERE ARE WE NOW? - UNDERSTANDING OUR CURRENT SEASON The Prophetic Timeline Based on Elijah's pattern, we can identify where we are in God's prophetic timeline: ✅ Brook Cherith (Passover) - FULFILLED at Jesus' first coming ✅ Zarephath (Pentecost) - FULFILLED on the Day of Pentecost and continuing through the Church age  Widow's son raised (Feast of Trumpets) - CURRENTLY BEING FULFILLED as God raises up His overcomer company ⏳ Mount Carmel (Day of Atonement) - COMING SOON as the Church faces its day of decision ⏳ Rain (Feast of Tabernacles) - THE GREAT HARVEST that will follow We are living in the transition between the resurrection and the great showdown! Signs of the Current Season How do we know we're in the "raising of the widow's son" phase? Look for these signs: 1. Increasing revelation of God's feast days and prophetic patterns 2. Growing understanding of God's law as instruction for righteousness 3. Recognition that the Church has been in a "famine of hearing the Word" 4. Emergence of people who are willing to embrace the complete counsel of God 5. Supernatural manifestations beginning to appear among the overcomers The Mistake of Baal's Prophets Many Christians today are making the same mistake as the prophets of Baal. They're trying to force spiritual experiences that belong to a different season: • Trying to manifest Kingdom power without going through Atonement preparation • Attempting to bring Tabernacles revival without understanding God's timing • Focusing on prosperity and blessing while avoiding the refining fire • Wanting the rain without first experiencing the fire This is why many prayers seem to go unanswered and many spiritual efforts seem to fall flat. How to Position Ourselves Correctly Don't Be Like Baal's Prophets: • Don't try to force the wrong spiritual experience at the wrong time • Don't follow popular religious trends that ignore God's prophetic calendar • Don't attempt to bypass the necessary preparation phases • Don't operate in presumption instead of true faith Be Like Elijah: • Understand God's timing and seasons • Wait for the "evening sacrifice" moment (God's appointed time) • Be willing to stand alone with truth when others are following the crowd • Prepare for the coming day of decision by saturating yourself with God's Word • Recognize the "famine of hearing the Word" and seek the complete counsel of God PART 10: THE CHOICE BEFORE US - OUR MOUNT CARMEL MOMENT The Question That's Coming Church, we need to understand that our Mount Carmel moment is approaching. Just as Israel had to choose between Yahweh and Baal, the Church will soon face a similar choice. The question will be the same: "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" But what will the specific choice look like? Based on Elijah's pattern, here are the options: Option 1: Recognize God's end-time plan • Acknowledge that there has been a "famine of hearing the Word" • Accept that the Church has been wrong to reject parts of God's law and prophetic calendar • Submit to the leadership of the overcomer company when they're revealed • Prepare for the Day of Atonement revival and the Tabernacles harvest Option 2: Continue in the current pattern • Maintain that the Church is fine as it is • Reject the idea that God's law has ongoing relevance • Oppose those who call for return to the complete Word of God • Try to force Pentecostal experiences instead of waiting for God's timing The Stakes Are High Malachi 4:6 warns what will happen if the hearts are not turned: "lest I come and smite the land with a curse." The choice we make will determine whether we experience blessing or cursing, revival or judgment, harvest or famine. The Heart Restoration Process Remember, the purpose of the Elijah ministry is heart restoration: The Children = People in our generation The Fathers = The prophets and apostles who gave us God's Word Ultimate Father = Our heavenly Father who is the source of all truth Heart restoration means: • Turning back to the complete Word of God (not just the comfortable parts) • Recognizing the prophetic patterns He's given us in Scripture • Submitting to His timing rather than trying to force our own agenda • Honoring those who have gone before us and the revelations they received Personal Application Let me ask you some searching questions: 1. Are you experiencing the "famine of hearing the Word"? Are there parts of Scripture you've been avoiding or ignoring? 2. How do you respond to teachings about God's law? Do you dismiss them as "legalism," or do you seek to understand their proper place in the believer's life? 3. What's your attitude toward the feast days and their prophetic significance? Do you see them as "Jewish stuff" that doesn't apply to Christians, or as God's prophetic calendar for all His people? 4. How do you react when someone calls the Church to repentance? Do you label them as "troublers of Israel," or do you examine whether they might be speaking God's truth? 5. Are you trying to force spiritual experiences at the wrong time? Are you seeking Tabernacles manifestations without going through Atonement preparation? The Promise for Those Who Choose Correctly If we make the right choice, if we allow our hearts to be restored, here's what God promises: 1. The fire will fall - We'll experience unprecedented revival and manifestation of God's presence 2. Hearts will be turned - There will be restoration between generations and unity in the Church 3. The rain will come - We'll see the greatest outpouring of God's Spirit and the most effective evangelism in history 4. Supernatural strength - We'll receive the power to accomplish what seems impossible 5. Worldwide harvest - We'll participate in bringing the knowledge of God to every nation The Warning for Those Who Choose Incorrectly But if we choose to reject God's end-time plan, if we continue to resist the complete Word of God, we'll experience: 1. Continued famine - Spiritual dryness and lack of genuine power 2. Missed opportunities - Being left out of God's greatest work 3. Judgment - The "curse" that comes from rejecting God's purposes 4. Irrelevance - Being bypassed as God works through others who are willing to embrace His plan CONCLUSION: THE CHOICE IS YOURS The Moment of Truth Friends, we're living in the most exciting time in human history. God is about to fulfill His autumn feast days. The Day of Atonement revival is coming. The Tabernacles harvest is approaching. The question is: Will you be part of it, or will you miss it? Will you be like Elijah, understanding God's timing and positioning yourself for His move? Or will you be like the prophets of Baal, trying to force the wrong thing at the wrong time? What God Is Looking For God is looking for people who: • Hunger for the complete Word of God, not just the comfortable parts • Recognize the famine that has existed in the Church and want to see it end • Understand prophetic timing and are willing to wait for God's seasons • Embrace the refining fire that prepares us for greater works • Are willing to stand with truth even when it's unpopular The Call to Decision Just as Elijah called Israel to make a choice, I'm calling you to make a choice today. If the LORD is God, follow Him! Don't try to serve both God and religious tradition. Don't try to have one foot in the Kingdom and one foot in the world. Make a choice! Choose to: • Study the complete Word of God, including His law and His feast days • Seek to understand His prophetic calendar and timing • Prepare your heart for the coming Day of Atonement revival • Position yourself to be part of the overcomer company that will lead in the Tabernacles age The Fire Is Coming The fire is coming, church. God is going to move in our generation in a way that has never been seen before. The question is: Will your altar be prepared? Will you be saturated with the Word of God? Will you be ready when the fire falls? Or will you be found among those who are trying to call down fire in their own strength and timing, wondering why nothing is happening? The Final Challenge I want to leave you with Elijah's words: "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?" Stop sitting on the fence. Stop trying to have it both ways. If the LORD is God, follow Him completely! The greatest revival in history is coming. The greatest harvest is approaching. Don't miss it because you weren't willing to make the hard choices that prepare you for God's move. Choose today. Choose completely. Choose to be part of what God is doing in the earth. The fire is coming. Are you ready? Let's pray. CLOSING PRAYER "Father, we thank You for the incredible prophetic pattern You've given us in Elijah's story. We see now that everything You do has purpose and meaning. We recognize that we've been living during the famine years, but we also see that the time of refreshing is coming. Lord, we choose today to turn our hearts back to You completely. We repent for any ways we've contributed to the famine of hearing Your Word. We ask You to help us embrace Your complete truth, including the parts that challenge us. Prepare our hearts for the coming Day of Atonement revival. Help us to be like Elijah - understanding Your timing, prepared for Your move, ready to stand with Your truth no matter what others may say. We position ourselves to be part of Your overcomer company. Use us in the great harvest that's coming. Let the fire fall on our lives, and let the rain come in its proper season. In Jesus' name, Amen." [End of Teaching - Total approximate time: 3 hours with discussion]