After leaving the Sea of Galilee, Jesus met His disciples on the Mount of Olives, located near Bethany, just a short distance east of Jerusalem. The disciples had plenty of questions, and began with this one:

“Lord, is it at this time that you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

Even though Jesus consistently rejected any plans for an earthly, physical kingdom, the disciples were undoubtedly thinking of a kingdom such as the one the nation had during the reigns of David and Solomon. So, let’s take a step back and look at an ancient prophecy given by God to the Prophet Malachi:

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers…” (Malachi 4:5-6).

First of all, why Elijah? As you recall, Elijah was “taken up” in a whirlwind. Some suggest that he was taken to heaven, but no one was going to heaven prior to Jesus going to prepare a place for us. Furthermore, whirlwinds don’t reach beyond our own atmosphere, let alone heaven. Throughout the Old Testament, the dead went to “Sheol” (Hebrew), or “Hades” (Greek), the abode of the dead, and waited there for the general resurrection at the return of Christ. And so, as in the case of Moses, God Himself buried their bodies at some undisclosed location.  

The second thing to be aware of regarding Malachi’s prophesied “return” of Elijah is found in a conversation that Jesus had with His disciples.

And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; But I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist (Matthew 17:10-12).

Jesus clarified the issue about Elijah by telling His disciples that it would not be a literal, physical Elijah who would show up to restore all things, but John the Baptist, who had already come in the same “spirit and power” of the Elijah.

A final thing to consider is that Elijah’s restoration would not be about bricks and walls, but about the restoration of hearts, turning them back to the Lord. That was John’s mission and ministry, to preach repentance and prepare the way for the Messiah.

Naturally, the disciples were curious about timing, and so Jesus addressed their concern by saying:

“It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7).

Jesus used two words that had to do with “time,” namely chronos (the time that we see on or watches) and kairos (seasons). Chronos has to do with a specific time, and kairos has to do with the “right,” or the “perfect” time. Jesus is telling them to not be concerned about time because there are other more pressings things to accomplish prior to His return.

Even today, some people get so caught up in trying to pinpoint the timetable for the return of Christ that they lose track of God’s plan for each of us which is to bring light into a dark world and to become all that He has called us to be and accomplish all that He has called us to do. Let’s take heed to Jesus’ words that we are not consumed with the future and neglect to pay attention to what He has for us today.

Next week, we will consider Jesus’ actual ascension into heaven. I hope you will join me for Part 2 of this final encounter. God bless you.