2 Kings 1 verse 8 gives us a very good, clear, precise accurate about how Prophet Elijah looked like:” They replied: ” He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist”. The king said: “That was Elijah the Tishbite “”.
2 Kings 2 ,1-12 tells us about how Prophet Elijah was taken up to Heaven:
Elijah Taken Up to Heaven
2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”
But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So, they went down to Bethel.
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”
And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”
And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So, the two of them walked on.
7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
So, we learn that Prophet Elijah was taken up to Heaven near the eastern bank of the river Jordan- just east of Jericho. I.E: from the southern part of the river Jordan.
Another important thing that we have to remember in the category of Prophets – Elijah is the one and only prophet who didn’t die natural death. He is the one and only (again – category of prophets) who was taken up to heaven while he was still alive.
When we continue to the last book of the Old Covenant – the book of Malachi- at the end of this book: I.E : the very last verses of the Old Covenant – Malachi 4 , 5-6 :” See, i will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. or else i will come and strike the land with a curse”.
We learn from this that shortly before the coming of the Messiah, GOD will send Prophet Elijah back from Heaven to the world in order to announce, to bring the good news about the coming of the Messiah.
Since Prophet Elijah was taken up to Heaven from near the eastern bank of the river Jordan- just east of Jericho. I.E: from the southern part of the river Jordan- when he will come dawn back from Heaven, He will come near the eastern bank of the river Jordan east of Jericho ,southern part of the river .
After Malachi – we continue to the New Covenant. What is the first Gospel in the New Covenant? Matthew. Then Mark, Luke and John.
However: from a chronological point of view the first Gospel is Mark. Mark wrote his Gospel between the year 60A.D to 70 A.D. Matthew wrote his Gospel between 85A.D to 90A.D. Luke wrote his Gospel around the year 90 A.D. John wrote his Gospel between 90A.D to 100A.D.
When we start with the Gospel according to Mark: He begins his Gospel in the river Jordan when YESHUA (Jesus) is 30 years old. Mark doesn’t write about the annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the virgin Mary, Nativity etc. Again: He starts in the river Jordan when Jesus is 30 years old. He writes a lot about a man by the name of John who lived in the river Jordan, and describes him: Mark 1, 6:” John wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist”.
In Matthew 3: Matthew also writes about a man by the name of John who lived in the river Jordan, and describes him : Matthew 3, 4:” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair and he had a leather belt around his waist “
Who do they describe? The Prophet Elijah!! Mark and Matthew write about John the Baptist exactly what 2 Kings 2 1 writes about Prophet Elijah!! Mark and Matthew want us to understand that
John the Baptist is the new Elijah.
I.E: the ministry of John the Baptist is to proclaim and announce about the coming of the Messiah Jesus.
Since:
1) Since Prophet Elijah was taken up to Heaven from near the eastern bank of the river Jordan- just east of Jericho. I.E: from the southern part of the river Jordan- when he will come dawn back from Heaven, He will come near the eastern bank of the river Jordan east of Jericho ,southern part of the river .
2) John the Baptist is the new Elijah.
The one and ONLY conclusion is: that the only place in the world where John the Baptist can begin his ministry is ONLY near the eastern bank of the river Jordan- just east of Jericho. I.E: from the southern part of the river Jordan. The name of this site is Qasar El Yahud. I invite all of you to come to Israel to visit this place.
THE BAPTISM OF YESHUA (JESUS ):
Matthew 3 , 13-17 :
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Mark 1 , 9-11:
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3, 21-22:
The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Now let’s go deep into the scriptures: GOD is the one and only Father. The one and only SON, the most beloved one and only SON of God the Father is JESUS. Does JESUS know that he is the one and only most beloved SON of GOD the FATHER? Of course, that he knows!!
Then why GOD the FATHER has to tell his SON JESUS: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”, You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” while JESUS already knows this?
These words are not for the ears of JESUS- he already knows all of that. These words are for the ears of ALL the people in the world. This is a revelation to the world, a wakeup call for everyone. Everyone, from then on, MUST know and remember that GOD THE FATHER has ONE AND ONLY , MOST BELOVED SON AND HIS NAME IS JESUS !!I
I would like to invite all of you to come and visit Israel. when you will come here i will take you to this very important site: Qasar El YAhud to see the southern part of the river Jordan, from where Prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven 2800 years ago, where John the Baptist began his ministry 2000 years ago and the REAL baptismal site where Jesus was baptized 2000 years ago
