By John Thiel

Zephaniah 2:1 Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; 2 Before the decree bring forth, [before] the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. 3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. 

We are called upon to prepare for the Sabbath. We should be preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Once the Sabbath is come, you can’t prepare for it anymore. We are reminded during the week to prepare. We are getting near the end and sometimes along the way and people fall away because it gets too hard. We look with sorrow at that. Let us lift up our heart and voice in expression of gratitude. First with the word Ebenezer. It means herewith the Lord has helped us.

Psalm 117:1 O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

I look forward to that day when they crown him Lord of Lords. Their joy will be unsullied by negative experiences. We can already look forward to that time. However it is a preparation time.

Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts. 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

It says before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. How close do you feel that terrible day is? Can’t you already see the earth groaning under its inhabitants? The scientists tell us there are catastrophes coming up. They are going to get worse. This is none other than the groaning of the great and dreadful day of God’s wrath.

This day is often misunderstood. It is Gods grief. When Jesus was very wrath that day with the people he was angry being ‘grieved’. God’s wrath is not as we understand. It’s a grief because man has destroyed himself. Before God lets go, he wants to seal us. The angels are holding back the catastrophe that will envelop the earth. Before that happens, God sends us Elijah the prophet.

Amos 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end [is] it for you? the day of the LORD [is] darkness, and not light. 19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. 20 [Shall] not the day of the LORD [be] darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

In’t that a strange address? You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for. To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord. Even for Gods people it is called the day of Jacobs’s trouble. It is not a very pretty day. If we think we are just going to ride into heaven ever so joyfully we are mistaken. There is going to be a horrifying experience beforehand. If we are not prepared, we will not survive. There are people around us who need to hear the message of preparation. God sends the prophet Elijah before that terrible day. Who will be the person or the people? The Elijah people? Who will be doing the work?

Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Matthew 24:44. Be ye also ready for in such an hour as you think not, the son of man cometh. 45. who then will be a faithful and wise servant.

Watch, it will catch you by surprise. Who at that time is going to give this message of Elijah in the last days? Jesus gave a parable to describe what will happen.

The Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1 Then at that time shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto 10 virgins which took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 5 And while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. At midnight a cry was made, behold a cry was made.

Looking at that parable what do you see in these last days? This is just before Jesus comes. That picture describes the people of God who live just prior to the coming of Jesus. As you concentrate on this parable inadvertently all you think about are the 10 virgins isn’t it. Is there no one else involved in the parable? Is it appropriate at this time if we are the Elijah people to be asleep? At midnight there was a cry made. Who made the cry? Jesus was giving a parable of the practise of a marriage. In many parts of the east, weddings are made in the evening. The bridegroom goes forth to bring his bride. In a marriage of the East, the bridegroom comes to collect his bride.

By torchlight the bridal party proceed from her father’s house to his own, where a feast is provided for the invited guests. In the scene upon which Christ looks, a company are awaiting the appearance of the bridal party, intending to join the procession. {COL 405.1}

Lingering near the bride’s house are ten young women robed in white. Each carries a lighted lamp and a small flagon for oil. All are anxiously watching for the appearance of the bridegroom. But there is a delay. Hour after hour passes; the watchers become weary and fall asleep. At midnight the cry is heard, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The sleepers, suddenly awaking, spring to their feet. They see the procession moving on, bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. {COL 405.2}

Who is the bride? In bible symbolism it is Gods church. The bridegroom with his bride. Is it a procession? Jesus is always with his church. God’s church is never asleep. The church members may be asleep, different groups may be asleep but the bridal party is never asleep. As the bridal party goes to the bridegroom’s house, it gathers people along the way. That is what Jesus was talking about where you see a company of servants not asleep.

Matthew 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

According to Jesus when he says be careful it will catch you unaware. Watch. There are a company of servants giving food at the right time. Does that sound like Elijah? The title of our study tonight is preparing the way for the coming king. The bridal party is the ministry of Jesus Christ who is giving meat in due season. Go ye out to meet him, is the message for the last days. There always have been servants intimately connected with Jesus. His friends. You can’t put them to sleep. They are alive for Jesus.

John 15:13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Listen carefully and prepare your hearts. Who are Jesus’ friends? The people whom he has laid down his life for. He has done his utmost to please them. They are his friends. When you have a very special friend, you do anything to please them don’t you? Nothing is a burden. Whatever he says you’ll do, whatever she says, you’ll do. Jesus says, I have given my life because you have needed my life. Now he says, you are my friends, you’ll do whatever I command you to do.

John 15:15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

I have you called friends. I have jumped to your need. I am ready to share with you all that I and my father know. That is a very special friendship. Everything about God, Jesus wants to share with us. Are we really alert to this privilege? Those who are Christs friends, what do they occupy themselves with?

All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things. {SC 58.2}

Please who? Myself? No. Him, in all things. Ask yourself the question today. Does this include you? Or do you say, hang on I want to have a little bit of fun now and then I’ll come. Who was the real friend of Jesus that was in parallel with Elijah? The church, the servants of God, the bride as a collective is intimately combined with him. They are individually friends of the bridegroom. This is Jesus speaking.

Matthew 11:10 For this is [he], of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive [it], this is Elias, which was for to come.

John the Baptist was according to the words of Jesus, Elijah. The one that was prophesied that should prepare the way for Jesus to come.

Matthew 17:10 For this is [he], of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Here is Jesus clearly identifying who John the Baptist was. The one who was to prepare the way for Jesus coming.

John 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I [must] decrease.

John the Baptist said I am the friend of the bridegroom and I rejoice greatly, here is my friend. Every individual in Gods church would say that. That Jesus is my friend. He is the bridegroom and my joy is great.

John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of Jesus the first time. Here we see the friend of Jesus. Who today is Elijah? Those that are the friends of Jesus, those that are awake to his every call, those who jump at every command and who are not asleep. There are the friends of Jesus who are not asleep. They are the ones we want to understand where they are and that I am one of them. Where I am in today’s Elijah message? The people who jump at every command of their friend. Here is the call, who is going to jump?

Isaiah 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh [is] grass, and all the goodliness thereof [is] as the flower of the field: 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people [is] grass. 40:8. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever. 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift [it] up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong [hand], and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him. 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

Did you pick up the people who are ready to jump at the command of the voice of Jesus. He says cry! What do we cry? Oh Zion that bringest good tidings.  Many people today have been afraid to lift up their voice as God commanded them. Was Elijah ridiculed? Was John the Baptist ridiculed? Go forth, do the work of Elijah. This is the work due for this time. Tell the people your life on this earth is like grass, your glory is like the flower of the glass. The day of the Lord is going to come and blow it all away. This is the call, this is message of the friends of Jesus. Who are the Elijah people that will respond? Will you? Are you going to be those friends that will jump at every command of Jesus now? I ask the question, what is involved here. What is involved to jump at your command? Exactly the same as it was for Elijah and John the Baptist.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

Wasn’t this the word of John the Baptist? A voice crying in the wilderness? Here is a message for a people just before the coming of Jesus. A voice in the wilderness. Let’s have a look at two factors that come forth;

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low.

What does this mean? It said previous, prepare ye the way of the Lord. When they build the freeways through the mountains when the valley is to low, they build it up. This is the work of Gods people.

Isaiah 58:12 And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

Show me thy way Lord. I have to restore it if I’m an Elijah person. We’ve got to make the paths straight. Restore the old ways. Repair the breach. These are the friends of Jesus who are making it right.

Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

These are the Elijah people that when the voice says cry, that go and make the way straight.

They are repairers of a breach that has been made in God’s law–the wall that He has placed around His chosen ones for their protection, and obedience to whose precepts of justice, truth, and purity is to be their perpetual safeguard. {PK 677.3}

God’s commandments have many facets. In clear and distinct lines they are to give this. They are the friends of Jesus.

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein]. 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

John the Baptist and Elijah declared messages and those messages were to go back into the old paths. Here is the message, ask for the old paths.

Deuteronomy 32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

In these last days the old paths are no longer practised. We’ve become modern. We are thinking like the modern world. If what was important in the old days and was given by God, is it any different today? Are we going to be modern Elijah and John the Baptists? Ask for the old paths and walk in them. People say we are living in modern times now and we have to keep up with the people. God says no. my ways are not your ways. Ask for the old paths if you want to be my friends.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

The same thing happens today. You tell people to make a choice and they sit there and glare at you. It happens many times. Make a choice. The message for today is, are we going to be the people who are going to make straight the paths of the Lord?

Isaiah 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

The glory of the Lord shall be revealed to all flesh. What is the glory of the Lord? There is Gods paths to dwell in, and there is his glory.

John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.

What is the glory that shall be revealed by the Elijah people? The love that we had between us is what I want my friends to have. Reformers are very austere, we have to do this and that, but where is the love? The glory of the Lord will be seen by all flesh. The Elijah people are strict Reformers with wonderful love. A love that is heavenly. The love and the glory that existed between father and son. That is part of the Elijah people. They will display the love of God in a loveless world. What is the message of Isaiah?

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

The world is in darkness, the old paths are not followed. People are stumbling around the rough paths of life. They don’t realise why they are getting sick and suffering relationship problems. They give reasons for this and that. Everyone here has problems and God is saying, reform, correct your paths, correct the practises that are creating your problems. How? Look upon my love. See what I have done for you and as your heart is melted by the amazing privilege of having the love of God expended up you and me, extend your love. Glorify the Lord. The people will see, oh that’s why I’m getting sick I’m not following health reform.  There are many reasons.

Listen carefully it’s your dress too. It’s all written by the Elijah messenger. We can learn it. Before the Elijah message was accepted by me, I looked at the food on the table of reformers, I knew they were right. The Elijah people will not keep standards all austere but with the love of Jesus. In our next message, we are going to see Gods way.

Amen.