One wishes for a more satisfying answer than ignorance on Johns part, however. I wonder how this applies in the Fact that President Donald Trump only recognize the Holy City of Jerusalem as the Total Capital of the State of Israel while leaving the Poor Palestineans from East Jerusalem and the West Bank as None-Existants First Nations People that have been Oppress and Herded by the Occupational Military of Israel since the 1967 War and the Only Two State Solution for Israel is The Band of GAZA as the Palestinean State! But, since Elijah had died many centuries before, John must have been a reincarnation of Elijah. One will not understand the preparation that John the Baptist did and the restoration that Jesus did, if they dont take the blinders off. In anticipation, Gods words require faith; in hindsight, they deepen faith. I feel that World Religions today struggle to admit that they could be wrong. In other words, since he was preaching and doing certain things, they expected that he was Elijah. The Lord Himself buried Moses (Deuteronomy 34.5-8) and Satan disputed with Michael about Moses body (Jude 9). What the scribes believed was in question, not the truth regarding Malachi 4:5-6. That it simply states the mission along with a potential consequence if the mission is not realized? John restored all things necessary to the fulfilling of his mission, and his mission only, which was to prepare the way before the Messiah. I am not Elijah. @Chizeaan. The literal return of Eliljah is some what equivalent to believing in Santa Claus who returns on a sleigh on Dec.25th. New International Version They asked him, "Then who are you? St. John the Baptist, (born 1st decade bce, Judaea, Palestine, near Jerusalemdied 28-36 ce; feast day June 24), Jewish prophet of priestly origin who preached the imminence of God's Final Judgment and baptized those who repented in self-preparation for it; he is revered in the Christian church as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Notice Revelation 11:1: "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. This would seem to settle the matter and put an end to any controversy. - Christianity Stack Exchange Isn't reincarnation affirmed by the Bible? However if one believes in the spirit of giving and charity which circulates in the holiday season one can be satisfied, and in particular in the role of parents as representatives of the high spirit of Santa Claus. The Law was not equal to the gospel. The ones who will "prophesy again" are the Two Witnesses and at a much later time. He wants to turn our attention away from Elijah to John. If John were the actual Elijah, then Jesus would not have needed to add the statement,"if you are willing to accept it." So, John the Baptist would be the next Elijah-like prophet. Jesus Christ said that John the Baptist was Elijah but John the Baptist himself said that he was not Elijah.So,whos statement is true Jesus Christ or John the Baptist? You've got husbands or wives that put their spouses down. Is John the baptist Elijah? - Church is My Way Today the Jews still set a place at the table for Elijah and Moses on Passover. It will be a golden age and His rule will be characterized by peace and righteousnesssuch as the world has never experienced (Isaiah 11.1-10). 9-10, RSV)*. Reincarnation is not of the Bible and it is appointed once to man to die and then to face the judgement. Matt. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. These are the factors which made John the Baptist having "spirit and power" of Elijah. John the Baptist - World History Encyclopedia He also baptized in the Jordan River those who heeded his message and repented (Luke 3:2). John the Baptist (d. c. 30 CE) was a 1st-century CE itinerant preacher in Judea. Since Jesus' day, many have done similar restorative preaching, but not one of them was the Elijah of Malachi 4:5-6. They will preach again what has previously been preached. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for God.. Copyright 2023 Core Christianity. What does the Bible say about reincarnation? We know that the Two Witnesses will preach after the time of this verse. There are people that wear crosses, and they are convinced that they got a close walk with God. The Gospels, however, portray John in a way more in keeping with authentic Judean prophets, a preacher of the imminent new era of Gods reign. Prophesy here does not mean "to foretell" but "to speak under inspiration"of Godto preach! The 2 witnesses are not named or identified, regardless of their abilities, doesnt mean they are the (dare I say reincarnated) / resurrected Elijah/Moses/Enoch. If the second coming of Jesus is to be reincarnated just like Elijah reincarnated as John the Baptist, how can the Christians know who is the Jesus II to be the Messiah. Jesus reply (Matthew 11.1-19)forcedJohnto reflect on Jesus deeds. Those who wear soft clothing are in kings palaces! The kingdom of heaven was at hand, but hard hearts would not be able to receive without the spiritual groundwork laid. What is the Difference between the Sabbath and the Lords Day. The simple truth of it all is, John the Baptist new he was the for runner of Jesus Christ, crying in the wilderness, he was at awe the honor to Baptize Jesus Christ. Following this explanation, Jesus predicted His own demise with the words, so also the Son of Man is going to suffer attheir hands. ' The voice of one crying in the wilderness: " Make straight the way of the LORD,"' as the prophet Isaiah said.". Elijah wore "a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist . Since Israel rejected her Messiah, the prophesied Messianic Kingdom was delayed. Also, there were very few prophets during that time (if I am correct). John fulfilled Malachi's prophecy in a spiritual sense, rather than in a literal way. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. But God endures forever! A non-profit, non-denominational resource of free in-depth Bible teachings. Also, something significant concerns Moses body according to Jude. In this Kingdom, Jesus will reign asKing from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14.9; Luke 1.32-33). May our consideration of Johns identity strengthen us to persevere to the end like he did. After all, what sets biblical Christianity apart from secular Christianity is its regard of the Bible as the authority when it comes to theology. As if in confirmation of this fact, the writer of the biblical books of the Kings records twice as many miracles performed by Elisha than by Elijah. Luke 1:5-25 NIV - The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold - Bible Gateway In the Spirit of Elisha Most Christians appreciate the prophetic ties which connect Jesus to both John the Baptist and Elijah. Earlier, Jesus had said much the same thing to his disciples. Elijah was a light in his day, and John too was a light in his time, but he was not the Light. Clearly, the common people considered him a prophet, and indeed, he was. Just a though and it satisfies all views in a general sense..? I wonder, though, whether you think its reasonable to believe that God could have, very well, placed the spirit of Elijah in the flesh of John? If this is what first-century Jews were expecting, John the Baptist could not have been Elijah. Elijah and John the Baptist - Bible Tools Second, Jesus comment, He who has ears to hear, let him hear, indicates that the disciples would have to ponder their Masters words carefully in order to interpret them correctly. This future appearance of Elijah will fulfill all the prophecies related to him regarding the nation. So Elijah could possibly be heaven and his spirit can be in John the Baptist. The "great and terrible day of the Lord" is a reference to the seven years of Tribulation. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands. (vv. Acts 1.6-7). At the endof seven years, Jesus will return to deliver Israel and establish the Messianic Kingdom. Malachi 4:5, Elijah will return before the dreadful day of the Lord. It was down the hills of Jordan that curious people from Judea came to hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Luke 3:4). Most likely Zacharias was deceased but surely other Essenes had relatives with whom they disagreed. Is John the Baptist "The Elijah?" - Biblical Christianity He was taken by God in awhirlwind (2 Kings 2.1-11). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Don Samdahl. In light of 1 Corinthians 6:911, is it true then that there is really no such thing as whats commonly referred to as a backslider? I saw some place and to me it was like I have lived here before. 7 But they were . Remember God took the spirit that was upon Moses and put it on the elders of lsrael to judge as Moses would judge. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Gods words do not contradict themselves. Accordingly, the wilderness was one of the few places where prophetic figures could safely draw crowds, but of course, it lacked the amenities of civilization. Jesus has left the building. This is why there is such a thing as Hermeneutics the art and science of proper Bible interpretation. First he describes John in terms ofMalachi 3:1s messenger prophecy (Matt 11:10; cf. In response to Layton, in the short term Elijah may have not necessarily succeeded in turning the hearts of the children to their fathers and the hearts of the fathers to their children, but the very fact that its in the best-selling and most translated book ever written (by far) means that there have been millennia of influence, just as the words Elijah spoke in ancient Israel have reached more than those who physically heard his voice and just as John prepared the way of the Lord not just for early 1st century Jews in the land of Israel but for all people across all time anywhere where the gospel is preached. (Just simply that only a couple people saw him!). The Bible does not give a clear answer, but there are some clues that suggest John the Baptist may have been Elijah. Herod had married the former wife of his brother, Philip. Instead he says that John will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. Similarly, after Johns birth Zechariah describes his son in terms of Malachi 3and 4 but never equates him with the Elijah of the OT historical books (Luke 1:76,78). 11 will fail to effect any widespread restoration. I just wonder about integrating it with other prophecies. Christ however knew this, which was why he made the association, Elijah had returned, but they were expecting someone else, just like they were expecting someone else in regards to messiah. LUKE 9:19 KJV "They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say Have you ever asked why John started preaching in the wilderness? Why Did Jesus Say John the Baptist Was Elijah the Prophet? I met a Cherokee Chief and he too felt we knew each other. But how or when the kingdom wouldbe established was not revealed to John. Required fields are marked *. Yet John himself declared he was not Elijah (John 1.19-23). I believe in the truth. He does not say He agrees with them totally, nor is He indicating that another Elijah will come in the future. 1 Kings 18;Matt 3:7-12). 12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. Thank you so much. I think Elijah and Moses of the end times are prophets with the same Spirit and Power of the two. John W. Ritenbaugh Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1) He is the author of Coming Soon: Unlocking the Book of Revelation and Applying Its Lessons Today. Like Elijah, John the Baptist wore rough clothing (2 Kings 1:8; Mark 1:6; Luke 7:25) and ate what he could from the land. Noah succeeded in his faithful role in the 120 years plus 40 days of the flood judgement, but unfortunately his sons did not inherit his faith successfully. If they had repented the prophesy restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers (Malachi 4.5-6) would have been fulfilled. When John the Baptist was asked, "Are you Elijah?" he said "I am not". That seemed the last place he should be if he wasthe Kings messenger and Jesus was about to establish hisKingdom. According toLukes account, the angel prophesied to Zacharias (Luke 1.13-17) of Johns birth that he would come in the spirit and power ofElijah. I believe in the Bible. Yet he declared: " I have spoken openly to the world I spoke nothing in secret " ( John 18:20 ). And his words urge us all to patient meditation in order to arrive at his meaning. 9:18 Apart - From the multitude. Is this true? What we can know is that the Jewish people had a free choice. Was Jesus the son of David.. yes, but thats knowing Jesus after the flesh. Jesus would still have been crucified since his death had been prophesied (Psalm 22.1-17; 16.10; Isaiah 53.3-12). I find it difficult to understand that Moses and Elijah will or need to be re-incarneted to fulfill the end time prophesies. 4. John the Baptist ministered in the spirit and power of Elijah, for he was the Elijah-to-come spoken of by Malachi 450 years earlier (Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 11:2-15; 17:9-13). 10 This is the one about whom it is written,BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU. 11Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! There is no record of miracle performed by John the Baptist in New Testament. Hi all, what about the point that Elijah did actually come.he spoke with Jesus and Moses which would make both things true independent of each other ie; John came in the spirit of Elijah AND Elijah actually came?! John flatly denied that he was Elijah reincarnated ( John 1:21 John 1:25). He is saying they have correctly understood Malachi 4:5-6 to this pointthat "Elijah must come first." Israel will be preeminentamong the nations of the world (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13) and God willfulfill all the covenants He made with them. They also have something to do with the Two Witnesses. The Spirit and Power of Elias. - Bible Hub Ask Question Asked 10 years, 7 months ago Modified 5 years, 4 months ago Viewed 7k times 14 Malachi 4:5: I will send you the prophet Elijah. The two witnesses will reprise Elijahs powers tocall down fire and to prevent rain. Believers and non-believers alike have heard about John the Baptist. Jesus was confirming that John was a type of Elijah, though not the actual Elijah. Who was John the Baptist in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org He knew he was the herald of the Messiah. This seems to obfuscate more than clear anything up. He had already come, and they had missed him. I havent thought before about the interesting and important issues you raise. The question, asked by the disciples, is about what the scribes were saying: that the actual prophet Elijahnot the Elijahmust first come. He simply reiterates what Malachi 4:5 says, adds "and restore all things" to it, and then clearly states that this prophecy has already been fulfilled by John. But they don't do anything that's correct. I believe this was supposed to be taken in the ancient Jewish context, where a name wasn't what you were called, but who you were. Looks like the contemporary Jews understood the concept of reincarnations that John the Baptist was actually the reincarnation of Elijah, but they, including John the Baptist, were not willing to accept the existence of reincarnations. The Lord said unto my Lord sit at my right hand till make thy enemies thy footstool quoting psalm 110. Hadthe Jews repented, the day of the Lord, i.e., tribulation or time of Jacobs trouble (Jeremiah 30.4-7)would have occurred and Jesus would have returned to deliverIsrael. And that's exactly what John did. 1 Kings 18:36. This one was especially helpful to me in understanding what might have happened had National Israel accepted Jesus as Messiah, John the Baptists role, and what Jesus prophesies mean that otherwise could be confusing. And the angel stood, saying, 'Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.'". Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1). Yet it seems arguable (as some commentators note) that (a) John did not accomplish this restoration in view of Israels predominant rejection of Christ, and (b) the restoration is yet future and connected to the second advent (Acts 3:21, apokastasis). Loop, Given the powers of the two witnesses described in Revelation 13 the most likely candidates are Moses and Elijah. He is expanding on John the Baptist's responsibility. Your email address will not be published. Thanks for making this research avaliable to us. One of the interesting facts of Scripture is that Elijah never died. Anyone is free to reproduce this material anddistribute it, but it may not be sold. It is a prophecy concerning the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians and a later fulfillment of the fall of Babylon at the end of the age (Revelation 17-18). God works through real people in the flesh and blood to fulfill the unfinished business of our ancestors and predecessors, and to build on their goodness and restore their mistakes. Theoretically, its possible that John wasnt fully aware of his identity in Gods redemptive program. Your view seems feasible to me. John the Baptist was not Elijah re-incarnate, was he? Did he not instruct his disciples not to mention that he was " the Christ " ( Matthew 16:20 )? Now, this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then, are you Elijah? He said, I am not.. JTB had religious leaders and the ppl turning to him as if he was Elijah, because of the things he was doing and saying. He will come before the day of the Lord arrives. We could expand on our Lords words this way: John is Elijah, but not in the sense that Jewish tradition teaches.. It solves other theological issues involving the mission of Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven, Providential history, Biblical time periods of 3, 7, 12, 21, 40, 210, 400, their repetition and significance, the Second Coming, The Fall of Man, and etc. I truly have felt alone in believing that John was the Elijah to come, just as Jesus was the Greater Moses to come. In any case, what weve discovered about Malachis Elijah prophecy suggests that there may be a few more surprises as Gods kingdom program comes to its climax. John the Baptist as Elijah - doctrine.org "Are you Elijah?" "No," he replied. How did John the Baptist have the "spirit and power of Elijah"? Perhaps we should also see a correspondence in that both prophets boldly confronted the corruption of the rulers of Gods people, at great risk to themselves (e.g., Ahab in1 Kings 21:17-24; Herod Antipas inMatt 14:1-12). Theres more to this than meets the eye and likely has to do with a future reappearance of Moses. Systematic Theology, Second Edition: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. When asked, John the Baptist statedplainly that he was not Elijah returning: John the Baptist confessed that he was NOT the fulfillment of Malachi 4. In the other Gospels where Jesus doesnt say John is Elijah, Yahweh doesnt say this is My Son, listen to Him. He was expected as the forerunner of the Messiah ( Malachi 4:5 ). Answer: John the Baptist is believed to have the role of Elijah. Why does the angel refer to Malachi 4:6? ", John W. Ritenbaugh In response to Layton. What is the best interpretation of "all will know me" in the Jer. Another example of this would be Matthew 16:13-16. WasJohn the Baptist actually Elijah? Elijah and John the Baptist by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," January 2004 2004-01-01 Prophets and Prophecy (Part 1) What Is a False Prophet? Why do the scribes saythat first Elijah must come? (v. 10). We have this on the authority of Jesus Christ, who clearly said that John the Baptist was Elijah, and they killed him (Matthew 17:12). May the Lord continue to bless you. First, the angel that had spoken to his father, Zacharias, said that John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Was John the Baptist actually the return, or the reincarnation of Elijah? with all Palestineans in the West Bank declared Israeli Arabs! He was not the original prophet Elijah reappearing on earth. The Lords purpose in bringing Elijah back will be to restore the hearts of Israel, which means to bring Israel back to true obedience to the word of God, specifically their Law.

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