When does Elijah come in relation to end-time events? What year could that be? How do we recognize him before accepting his command to move to Israel? Also is Israel today really biblical Israel and how will we deal with the Ministry of the Interior's history of rejecting believers or anyone not Jewish from immigrating?
I received an email with a bunch of questions from a long time reader of my book and articles. Some I have answered before by email but never wrote a post on, so I took the opportunity to finally correct that omission. Here are the questions:
"When is Elijah Coming?"
Hello Tim, Will Elijah come at the beginning of sorrows, at the beginning of the great tribulation, when? Some say it will be during feast of Pentecost? Why and when please?
Elijah's coming is always an interesting topic. I already have my full-length article on the three Elijahs in prophecy. But there is more I can write that I have not shared in one place that I will now.
First, recall that Elijah's mission as given in Malachi 4:5-6 includes teaching repentance. He "turns people's hearts back to the wisdom of the just" (Lk 1:17=Mal 4:5-6) before Christ's Second Coming, just like John the Baptist did before Christ's First Coming. (This is true repentance that transforms you into someone who acts like Christ, not the fake repentance of Christianity that transforms you into another person merely admiring Christ.)
As such, his coming does no good if it happens at the Great Tribulation (last 3.5 years of the 70th Week). Even if he comes at the start of the "beginning of sorrows" that also does no good.
He has to come sooner... years before the sorrows (Wormwood).
I have never heard of Elijah coming on "Pentecost," but perhaps my correspondent above meant Passover. At the Jewish celebration of Passover, it's traditional for them to set a place at the table for Elijah. There may be some truth to this tradition when you consider that Elijah is probably one of the Two Witnesses and their ministry does begin in the same month as Passover, the first month of the Biblical year (Nissan-Aviv/March-April), ending exactly 3½ years later in the fall festival Day of Trumpets.
Elijah's First Ministry, Before the Two Witnesses' Ministry
However, we can connect Elijah to another ministry before that.
Because Joel and Malachi are the only places in the Bible using the same phrase, "before the great and dreadful day of the LORD" this connects them to the careful reader.
Malachi 4:5-6 — 5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."
Joel 2:31-32 — 31 "The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32"And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
As you can see, Malachi 4:5-6 speaks of Elijah's "heart restoration"/repentance mission in the end time (and also by extension his intermediate fulfillment in John the Baptist, Elijah #2). Joel 2:31-32 speaks of faithful people "called" to gather to Judea to survive Wormwood (cause of the mentioned lunar and solar eclipses).
When God "calls" people to gather, he uses a human prophet as he did with Moses for the exodus. Because the passage about the end-time Elijah is linked to the passage about the call to safety in Judea from Wormwood through a distinct common phrase occurring nowhere else in the Bible, God is cluing us in that Elijah is the one who calls people to Judea for safety from the beginning of sorrows. See my article on how you will get to safety yourself.
That obviously requires he start his ministry some years before Wormwood and the sorrows come.
How To Recognize Elijah and Not Miss Him?
One question not asked here but comes up a lot when talking about Elijah is how to make sure you don't miss him? What I try to emphasize with people concerned about this is that there will be no way to miss him!
I say that because Matthew 24:14 says the good news of the kingdom message of repentance that John the Baptist (Mt 3:2) and Jesus (Mt 4:19) preached will come again, this time to the whole world (Mt 24:14). Remember, Christianity is not already preaching this gospel of kingdom repentance, and never has.
According to Jeremiah (Jer 51:46), there is a period of two years of rumors in the land before WWIII/the Fall of America which is part of the beginning of sorrows. I think these rumors are Elijah telling people to flee to Jerusalem/Judea area (Jer 51:50) just as Joel does (Joel 2:32).
This means that Elijah comes two years before the beginning of sorrows, to answer the question posed.
The End In 2026? It's Now Possible
Since learning in 2001 that Yeshua must return in a Sabbath year, I've had to rule out three Sabbath year cycle windows for the final 7 years (2003-2009, 2010-2016, 2017-2023). With the next window (2024-2030) less than 7 years away, I'm ready to share why I believe, based on the real end time sign of Mt 24:14, that this can be the one. If it is, the "birth pains" (WW3 + Wormwood, Lk 21:10-11) would hit near its middle in 2026 with Yeshua returning in 2030. Find out what's changed to convince me about 2026 and what you can do about it...
This makes sense because people will need a good amount of time to receive and process Elijah's warning to move. Because it is a big, scary move, everyone will want to verify if the person commanding it is really God's prophet and speaking right. I'm sure he'll do either predictions and miracles or signs that will help take care of that. Also, his clear inspired words from God will be something people can verify in their own Bible.
When will that be? No one knows. When could it be? Elijah's ministry cannot commence until the early 2020s at the earliest. This is based on the next window for the 70th week being 2024-2030 as discussed in my book. It may possibly go longer but it won't be sooner.
It's great to get all that out in one place for others.
Speaking of moving to Israel...next question:
"Is the State of Israel the Biblical Israel?"
"The nation of Israel we see today, is it the one that the Bible is talking about? is the government of Israel today legitimate according to prophecy: seeing that they reject Jesus, and [reject people for permanent residency who profess Christ and expel people who proselytize for Christ]"
It speaks of the time we live in of fake news and conspiracy theories that I even have to address the question: is Israel today really Jewish or not. I already did address this question in my recent article on the "blessing and cursing those who bless and curse Israel" article. As the article says, we can prove through Bible prophecy that Israel today is Judah (the Jews) and show the conspiracy theories as faulty, even based on Antisemitism.
Yes, Israel Rejects (Professing) Believers
Let me clarify upfront, Christianity is not rejected in Israel. It's just hindered from spread with restrictions against proselytizing. And Christians can visit the country easily.
The problem comes when a Christian wants to move or immigrate to Israel. That is where the rabbinic dislike for Christianity manifests in discrimination that has kept many from living in Israel.
I've talked to several believers who have had dreams of moving to Israel, also known as "making aliyah." Even those who were Jewish and could prove it (either through birth or conversion with a rabbi) so that they could take advantage of the "law of return" for people with Jewish heritage, discovered that they had a problem. You could be asked if you believe in Jesus. If you answer yes, you could probably be rejected. (Or they can even just google you and find out for themselves based on what you've posted on the Web.)
How can they discriminate like this? Years ago I heard that the Ministry of the Interior (which controls immigration to Israel) is controlled by the rabbinate. The Orthodox Jewish political party runs it. They don't want a Christian country of course.
Honestly, I don't know what an "illegitimate government" is how it makes any difference. Is there a government that accepts or "rejects Jesus" officially? I thought that was for individuals to do, not governments. Whether they are a legitimate government or not, they are running things. Paul in Romans 13 said some heavy and hard to take things on submitting to all authorities if that's what this question is alluding to: ignoring the laws of some illegitimate authority.
Moving to Israel As A Believer
But there's no need to go that route because if God wants you to be in Israel, nobody will stop you.
I know someone who was banned and expelled for a proselytizing infraction. Because travel to Israel was important to his ministry, he did not give up so easily. He "lost" his passport and got himself a new one. He then flew to the country some time later. Since it was a new passport, they asked him something like, "have you ever been to Israel before, such as under another passport?"
Gulp...what should he answer? He didn't want to lie. He may have prayed immediately for guidance. At that very moment, the door opens up behind the lady questioning him. A person greets her and starts a brief conversation with her. After the man departs, she turns back and continues on as if she never asked the question or already got a "no" answer. He was cleared to enter Israel! And with the entry stamp in his passport, no one would ask him that question again. Yes, he was legally already in Israel with no problem =).
I know other people who have done fake conversions with a sympathetic closet-believer rabbi in New York to move there. The rabbi will do the paperwork for you saying you converted to Judaism. Then when they likely ask you if you still believe in Christ, you probably have to lie. Personally, this sounds like "denying Christ" like Peter famously did three times. For me to go this route feels like kicking down the door that God can open for you later.
Moving to Israel When Elijah Says
Similarly, when the time comes for us all to be in Judea as Joel 2:32 says and Matthew 24:16 heavily implies, God will make our way. God must break down the current prohibitions and resistance in Israel against non-Jewish immigration.
I believe the coming Psalm 83/Damascus destruction war and resulting great loss of life (even though Israel wins) will set this up. Perhaps they will accept us as aid workers. Perhaps they will realize with the impending Arab demographic majority problem in a democracy like Israel, they need to admit non-Muslims who want to live there (otherwise Muslims can take control of the government). Perhaps the economy will need the help of immigrants, too.
We can only speculate, but one way or another, God will fulfill the prophecy that says we will all be able to move to Israel.
Years ago, around the early 2000s, we had the same dream to live in Israel. Then God showed me what I wrote above, and I gave up that idea. We stayed in Costa Rica for 16 years, then to my surprise God called us to Germany. We're only a four-hour flight away now, so I'm getting excited. We hope to visit again, but not move. As for when I plan to move, I tell everyone who asks it's the same answer for me as for them: when Elijah comes!
If you have found a spelling error, please, notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
Receive Tim's Prophecy Updates By Email
Join 30,000 subscribers receiving Tim's new articles and updates by email. Understanding Bible prophecy better will dispel your end time fear and bless you (Rev 1:3).
Tim McHyde
Tim is the author of this site (since 1999) and the book Know the Future that explains Revelation literally at last--including the key event of Wormwood (Rev 6-8). To read more from Tim and not miss a single new article, sign up for his free newsletter above.
17comments
Hi Tim, I just read this article today, and like the person who sent you the email, I admit that I am very much confused. It is written that the 2 witnesses will be sent for 3.5 years, around the time that the antichrist will desecrate the temple when he begins his reign. If Elijah is supposedly one of the witnesses, how can you say that he will be sent twice? Will he be present during the full the 7 years of the 70th week? The timing that you mention just doesn’t make sense to me. Yes I understand that he must prepare the way to Christ’s second coming, but the witnesses will also be here to do that before Christ comes. So are you saying that maybe none of them are “really” Elijah and that they are probably all three different people? I have always considered one of the witnesses to be Elijah so that has been the way I’ve always explained it. I’m not quite sure about any of it now. How many years will Elijah remain during the 70th week and is there scripture to confirm it?
Reply
James, I am not clear on where your confusion lies or where you got the idea that the final Elijah comes “twice?” I think he shows up once early on at least two years before Wormwood as stated above and continues on after gathering people to safety in Judea and Jordan to act as one of the two witnesses. Note that the 2W do not “prepare the way for Christ’s coming” like Elijah alone does but only testify/witness against the Beast during his entire reign. They then witness and testify of the new crescent moon of Trumpets which is why they are called up to heaven first before everyone on the day of the first resurrection.
Reply I think my head is cleared up on this now. I really need to stop trying to fit everything into my own preconceived ideas. It will be great to have Elijah come prepare the way for us just in time. Thanks Tim.
Reply
Hi Tim
Bought your book many years ago. Been wanting to ask you this ever since. I am just curious if Elijah comes and we need to go back to Israel. How can Israel take in so many of God’s people emigrating there? Overpopulation considering its such a small country. For me being in Malaysia (our passports prohibit us from going to Israel as a pilgrimage where our passports are not stamped) will be difficult for us to leave with our family. I know of my friend who Aliyah there via Amsterdam. Pray she has arrived there by now. So for me the safest place when the time comes is as long as we are walking with JESUS he will lead and protect us till we are rapture( there went my belief on pretribulation where we are taken before all bad things happen ). I know before He comes He will let us know as we walk closely with Him. He will lead us.
Reply Hi Christie, Thank you for your past support. Your question has a common wrong assumption that “God’s people” considered at least in the many millions today would be the same people who respond to the call and leave. See my article on all the many psychological barriers that will whittle those millions down to probably less than 2M. See my other article on how God will help those who are still willing after getting past all those mental issues.
Reply
Hi Tim,
I stumbled on your site about 6 months ago and I order your book. You’ve confirmed and enlightened me to many things. I agree with almost everything you present, however your explanation of the 4 horses I had to shelve as it didn’t sit well with me. I’ve recently come across an explanation of the 1st horse that fits exactly with what you predict about Elijah. Have you seen that the 1st horse is actually the Elijah prophet not all the other stuff that gets theorized about that horse (anti-christ, etc) . Could you watch this guys video and tell me what you think. https://youtu.be/RhHRqlOe9HU I honestly think he makes a great case that the white horse is the coming Elijah. He’s quirky but I think he does it to get his point across. Thanks, Matt
Reply Matt, I listened and missed any direct Scriptural evidence to tie Elijah to the white horseman. He mostly spent his time ruling out and mocking other theories that I already disagree with. I’m not surprised my theory didn’t sit well with you; it’s hard to hear that Christianity is what Jesus warned about coming to deceive many in his name by saying He is Christ (Mt 24:4=Rev 6:1-2). The video claim that the color white must always symbolize good is ludicrous. If someone wears white to deceive and the Bible warns they deceive, then the white does not symbolize good in that case; it’s literally showing us the color that evil put on to seem good. Also he assumes in a circular argument that Mt 24 warning of deception can’t be parallel to the seals because it says “the end is not yet but the seals are close to the end”; an assertion with no proof. Yes, as you can hear in his video, he’s good at rhetoric but he doesn’t attack the topic objectively in an evidence-based approach without emotion to find the truth. If you will just compare the seals to Mt 24 AND (importantly) Luke 21, the seals from seal 1 to seal 6 are paralleled. It’s all there as I touch on many articles.
Reply
Blessed be the poor Israelites, as by their horrific tragedy, we might be saved.
The World is saved because of their failure.
“Is the State of Israel the Biblical Israel?”
Tim, you say “Only the House of Judah (the Jews) is identifiable today and has partially returned.” I can agree with the word “partially”
Many of us however know that the House of Israel (10 tribes) was scattered across the globe by God Himself. He has promised to gather them (as well as Judah) again in His own time! I therefore believe that all the outstanding blessings and prophecies owing to Israel definitely has to be shared by all the Israel nations related to the 10 tribes and cannot be merely claimed by a handful of Jews living in the State of Israel as a (single nation) pretending to be the whole of Judah. They are certainly not! Historically, only a portion of the original members of Judah that were taken captive into Babylon eventually returned to the land of Israel and called themselves Jews. The rest never returned and were also scattered and are living elsewhere in their present day lives. Those that have returned in 1948 are of mixed seeds. The return of the “JEWS” to the land in 1948, certainly does not confirm the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37, being the complete return of all of Israel. In other words, the current population of the state of Israel does not even represent the full house of Judah and neither could they represent Israel of old. Ezekiel 37 – 11 confirms that the reference to Israel consists of the whole of Israel – “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.”
It is therefore farfetched for the Jews born from many different seeds (other than that of Judah, Benjamin and Levi) to claim the identity of Judah or even to be recognized as representatives of the descendants of (true Israel/Jacob seed) of old.
Romans 9:6-8King James Version (KJV)
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham (through Ismael or Esau), are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Isaiah 11:11-12
11. And it shall come to pass on that day, that the Lord will set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, that shall remain from Assyria, and from Egypt and from Pathros and from Kush and from Eklam and from Shinar and from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.
12. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations and will assemble the dispersed of Israel and gather together the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the Earth.
The following facts are real and cannot be labelled as the “Israel vision or a false doctrine”.
The Nation-state of Israel – Understanding Its True Biblical Identity
https://realtruth.org/articles/110915-004.html
Hello Tim.
Not much has been said about black Africa; are we going to take part in moving to Israel? How will the hatred for blacks not work against them in the feature?.
Adeola, there are many problems people can cite for people of all walks and colors to go to Israel. If God’s escape plan is to take us there (Joel 2:31-22), it’s a lousy plan if it does not address all of them, yes? Consider the exodus and how he overcame every problem to get them out. It will be the same this time.
Reply Joe, I’m not saying it, the Bible is: Gen 15:6, a cornerstone passage quoted by Paul repeatedly in the NT about salvation by faith in God’s word. Paul also says in Romans 2:12-16 that Gentiles without any revelation at all (which includes revelation on Jesus) are saved by doing the right things and having a clear conscience.
The Jews still need Christ’s sinless blood regardless of how they feel. All I’m saying is you don’t get the blood to cover you by knowing about it and accepting it which is not possible for most of human history.
Think of all the people who believe in Jesus but don’t obey the word of God and compare that to the people who don’t know of (for 4000 years of human history BC, even today) or accept Christ but do what the word of God says. Now tell me, which ones is God going to let into the kingdom? I’ll let you Christ tell you: Mt 7:21,22-23
Reply
To illustrate the probability of a prosperous America at the time of her destruction; Here we are at 2017 having received “The Renaissance Man”, Trump . His business acumen and vision clearly puts America on a course of revitalization, growth and expanding commerce. A two term Businessman-President with any real success can easily fulfill a scenario of America with 100’s if not 1,000’s of ships moored offshore and lamenting at what they are witnessing, yes ? Incidentally, Trumps ” second term ” places America at that 2024 time slot. Very interesting times are ahead. Thanks Tim.
Reply Yes, Thomas, but America already had many ships coming and going to NYC enough to satisfy the prophecy under Obama. America is the powerhouse economy (and military) of the world regardless of who is president. America has fit the economic and military aspects of the prophecy since winning WWII. After this great influence was established to spread American culture, then the depravity in the culture also described in Rev 18 came to fulfill that. We’ve probably fit Rev 18 fully since the 1960s?
Reply Tim, thank you for another great article.
Please forgive me, If I’m asking a question you already answered, I didn’t understand it. My question: Will the 144.000 Israelites be called by Elijah to make the move to Israel at the same time as the “Woman” group, in other words, will both groups be moving to Israel simultaneously?
Or will there seperate calls/commands to move to each group at different times during the 2 year period before Beginning Of Sorrows?
Bless you Tim & Katrina
Reply
Dear Tim,
It’s great to see you holding firm to the faith in Jesus Christ and His 2d coming! I’m encouraged and very impressed that you are dispensing biblical truths which really matter, in our sorrowful world that surrounds us all Christians! I am happy to recommend all of your books of prophesy to the regular Bible reader, as a very valuable aid in understanding prophesy that is developing under our eyes in the Middle East, in Europe and the USA. I encourage all Bible readers to order Tim’s prophesy books and really give them a good reading! You will never regret it for learning the true meaning of those biblical prophesies, which elude the superficial readers of the Bible. Tim really put his heart into his books.
In other order of things, I’ll be in Romania this May-June, 2017. I wish to invite you to visit with us (close to Timisoara-less than 60 miles), if you happen to be in the near area! We will take care [free of charge] of lodging (in our estate for one week), free food (3 meals/day), and transport’n from airport and back to nearest Int’l airport in Timisoara. I’m sure that I can arrange for you to speak at a big Seven Day Adv’t church in that area. You can relax for one week in a beautiful, uncorrupted, leafy nature, drinking artesian water all you want, natural mineral water all you want, and eating uncorrupted veggies, potatoes, lamb, chicken, veal, beef meats; and fresh oyster-mushrooms, fresh cow milk, fresh chicken eggs; other traditional Romanian preparations (like the famous cabbage meat rolls, meat rolls, and hard famous “Sibiu” salami). We have a huge, brand new kitchen (all German-made style/tools), and a 75 people eating area with tables/chairs next to the kitchen. It is run by my nephew and my sister. We have a lady employed who is a food specialist (Cheff), who prepares food for our guests who visit us there from Germany and Austria. I speak fluently English & my nephew and brother-in-law both speak fluently German. Also, 10 miles away we have a huge hospital-if ever needed (I had not been there at their hosp. while visiting!)
Reply Hi Anthony, thank you for your kind words and all you do.
Thank you for considering me worthy for the invitation to speak. I don’t know what I’ll be doing then or speaking is what I’m supposed to be focusing on now (much still write and record and build up the website and improve my family’s income for some big bills coming up). But I will consider and pray about it.
Reply