“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_.” 1 Kings 18:21. NOTE.—The result of the test by fire which followed on Mt. Carmel, can be read in the remainder of this wonderful chapter. There was a great turning to God, the people saying, “The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.” Verse 39. 10. What was the burden of the message of John the Baptist? “_Repent ye_: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “Bring forth therefore _fruits_ meet for repentance.” Matt. 3:2, 8. 11. What was the result of this message? “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and _were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins_.” Verses 5, 6. NOTE.—There was a genuine work of repentance and reform. John was not satisfied with a mere profession of religion. He told the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism, to “bring forth fruits” answerable to an “amendment of life.” He wished to see religion in the life, the heart, the home. Thus he prepared a people for Christ’s first advent. 12. But when, according to the prophecy, was Elijah to be sent? “Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Mal. 4:5. 13. How is this great and dreadful day described in this same prophecy? “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.” Verse 1. NOTE.—This day is yet future. It cannot be, therefore, that the work done by John the Baptist at Christ’s first advent is all that was contemplated in the prophecy concerning the sending of Elijah the prophet. It must be that there is to be another and greater fulfilment of it, to precede Christ’s _second advent_, and to prepare, or “make ready,” a people for that great event. 14. What is the burden of the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-10? “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.... Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.... If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Rev. 14:6-10.