CHAPTER 3
THREE AND ONE-HALF YEARS
I first started believing that Elijah might be an allegory of the last days Church because he was in the wilderness for three and one-half years. Three and one-half years is also the amount of time the two witnesses and the beast contend in the book of Revelations:
Rev 11:3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
Three and one-half years also is the amount of time the beast will have authority over the earth:
Rev 13:4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
Rev 13:5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Rev 13:6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
I believe the main reason the Beast is given authority by Satan is so he can persecute the saints in every country on earth. The present world system will identify a common enemy, the true Church, and all the governments of the world will stop their squabbling and wars in order to wage war against the Saints of God. It is plain that the beast will have three and one-half years to wage war against the saints of God (the true Church). He will spend a great deal of his time, effort, and resources murdering Christians. God specifically teaches the saints how to deal with the attack from the beast system and how to escape God’s judgment.
Rev 12:6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
It is very clear in the Book of Revelation that the identity of the woman who fled into the wilderness is the Church, she is NOT the modern nation state of Israel. God prepares a place in the wilderness where he will feed the Church for three and one-half years…if she will listen to his voice and leave the world system.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people (the Church), that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Elijah gives the Church an example of how to handle persecution…HE FLED INTO THE WILDERNESS.
I read through all of Elijah’s story in 1 and 2 Kings but I could not find how long Elijah was in the wilderness but I knew it was three and one-half years. Finally I found the scripture I was looking for in the New Testament:
Luk 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
Luk 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Why did God send Elijah to a widow in Sidon and not to a widow in Israel?
Our Lord gives us the answer:
Luk 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
G3968
patris
pat-rece'
From G3962; a father land, that is, native town; (figuratively) heavenly home: - (own) country.
If you stay at the home town where you were raised or where you grew up, I believe you will not survive the great tribulation. Why? You may ask.
The most important quality Elijah and the widow had was they did not rely on their family, their friends, or their own resources. They both listened to God and they relied on God.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
God’s definition of humility is different from mankind’s definition of humility. Mankind defines humility as a low opinion of one’s own importance. God defines a humble person as someone who is completely reliant on God’s ability to provide for their every need because they understand how very much He cares for them!
GOD DOES TALK TO PEOPLE! GOD TALKS TO EVERYBODY! MOST PEOPLE DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM!
I will tell you a simple way to distinguish God’s voice. It will not be an audible voice but it will be very clear.
OUR FLESH ALWAYS RESISTS THE VOICE OF GOD!
Let me give you several examples:
Your flesh resists the voice of God but the Holy Spirit will resist the flesh. Your flesh will always be selfish, your flesh will always be lazy, your flesh will always seek comfort first and foremost and will always resist the Word of God.
Now some people claim they are hearing from God when really they are listening to their flesh. How can you be absolutely sure the voice you are listening to is the voice of God? It will always conform to the Bible and it will never contradict the Word of God in the Bible.
The Apostle Paul gives a clear list of differences between the flesh and the spirit in the book of Galations:
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
If someone tells me they have a word of God and they are encouraging violence or sexual immorality or they set a bad example by getting drunk, or they get in fights on a regular basis, I have strong doubts they are hearing from God. On the other hand, if somebody shows the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, etc., and tells me they have heard something from God…I always listen to them seriously. However, like I said, the written Word of God trumps every prophet or seer, and any governmental authority, whether of the world or of the Church.
Demonic influences always work from the flesh toward the spirit. They will always present you with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The Devil will attack a person with fleshy desires. He will attempt to control your thought life, continually giving you the desire to participate in progressively more and more destructive activities. Following the devil is truly a downward spiral to death and hell. ALWAYS REMEMBER! If you are in Christ, you are a new creature, you ARE the righteousness of God! Don’t let anyone tell you different. As you acknowledge who you are in Christ, you will be transformed into His image.