ELIJAH | THE CHURCH |
Elijah was persecuted for fidelity to truth and righteousness. | The Church was persecuted for fidelity to truth and righteousness. |
His principal persecutor was Jezebel, the wicked queen of Israel, who is mentioned by name as the type of the enemy of the saints. Rev. 2:20 | The principal persecutor was the apostate Church of Rome, which claims to be a “queen” and ruler over spiritual Israel. Rev. 18:7 |
Jezebel’s persecuting power was exercised through her husband, Ahab, the king. | Papacy’s persecuting power was exercised through the Roman Empire, to which she was joined. |
Elijah fled from Jezebel and Ahab, into the wilderness, to a place prepared of God, where he was miraculously nourished. 1 Kings 17:5-9 | The true Church fled into the symbolic wilderness—or condition of isolation—to her place, prepared of God, where she was sustained. Rev. 12:6,16 |
Elijah was “three years and six months” in the wilderness, and during that time there was no rain, and a great famine was in the land. James 5:17; 1 Kings 17:7; 18:2 | The Church was three and a half symbolic years (a day for a year—1260 literal years) in the wilderness condition, during which there was a spiritual famine because of the lack of truth—the living water. Comp. Rev. 12:6; 11:3; Amos 8:11. |
After the three and a half years, 1260 days, when Elijah returned from the wilderness, the errors of Jezebel’s priests were manifested, the true God was honored, and copious rains followed. 1 Kings 18:41-45 | At the end of 1260 years the power of the truth and its witnesses was manifested (A.D. 1799); and since then the truth has flowed at the rate of millions of Bibles every year, refreshing the world and bringing forth fruit. |
The king and the people at first rejoiced, and Elijah and his God were honored; but the spirit of Jezebel was unchanged. She still sought Elijah’s life, and he was again compelled to flee into the wilderness. 1 Kings 18:40,45,46; 19:1-4 | The Bible has brought such blessings that the empires of earth recognize the Lord’s hand; yet the principles of Papacy—Jezebel—in so-called Protestant sects compel the saints again to flee into the wilderness condition. |
Elijah’s career ended by his being taken from the earth. | The saints will be changed from earthly to heavenly conditions. |