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John the Baptist as Elijah

Introduction

In his ministry to the nation of Israel, Malachi prophesied that Elijah would come before the Messiah and before the “great and terrible day of the LORD” (Malachi 3.1, 4.5-6). Jewish families that celebrate the Passover seder provide an empty chair at the table. The empty chair is reserved for Elijah and serves as an invitation for him to return.

Matthew quoted Isaiah (Matthew 3.1-3; cf. Isaiah 40.3) and applied his prophesy to John the Baptizer. According to Luke’s account, the angel prophesied to Zacharias (Luke 1.13-17) of John’s birth that he would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Yet John himself declared he was not Elijah (John 1.19-23). Has Elijah come or is he still future?

The Once and Future Elijah

After Jesus revealed his glory to Peter, James, and John, (Matthew 17.1-9) His disciples asked Him this very question. His answer was most interesting. Here is Matthew’s account:

10 “And His disciples asked Him, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ 11 And He answered and said, ‘Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 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.’ 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist” (Matthew 17.10-13 cf. Mark 9.11-13).

Jesus told his disciples two things–that Elijah is coming, a future occurrence, and that Elijah had come already–a past occurrence. He went on to explain that Elijah’s past coming had been fulfilled by John the Baptizer but that the nation had refused to listen to him. Instead, they put him in prison and Herod beheaded him. Following this explanation, Jesus predicted His own demise with the words, “so also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands”. Who is “their?” It was the Jewish leadership led by the Sanhedrin and the Roman power personified by Pilate (Psalm 2.2). The disciples failed to comprehend any of this (Luke 18.31-34).

Earlier, Jesus had said much the same thing to his disciples.

7 As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 “But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! 9 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 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.’ 11“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”  (Matthew 11.7-15).

Jesus’ disciples were not the only ones who did not understand what was going on. John the Baptist himself was puzzled (Matthew 11.1-3). He knew he was the herald of the Messiah. But if Jesus was the Messiah and he was the prophesied forerunner (a.k.a., Elijah) why was he in Herod’s jail? That seemed the last place he should be if he was the King’s messenger and Jesus was about to establish his Kingdom. Jesus’ reply (Matthew 11.1-19) forced John to reflect on Jesus’ deeds. His deeds confirmed that he was the Messiah. But how or when the kingdom would be established was not revealed to John.

John had declared when asked that he was not Elijah. In the Gospel of John we read the following:

19 This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said” (John 1.19-23).

What did he mean in light of the Lord’s words? John meant that he was not Elijah, i.e., the Elijah who had ministered to Israel in the 9th century B.C. But according to the Lord, John would have fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy had Israel responded to his message.

What if Israel had accepted John’s message instead of rejecting it? We can only speculate what would have transpired. If the nation had accepted John’s message of repentance, John would have fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy and the Messianic Kingdom would have come following the day of the Lord (the Tribulation). Jesus would still have been crucified since his death had been prophesied (Psalm 22.1-17; 16.10; Isaiah 53.3-12). In such an event, the Romans would have probably been the chief instigators of Jesus’ crucifixion instead of the Jews since His kingship would have threatened Caesar. What we can know is that the Jewish people had a free choice. Pilate also had a free choice and God knew how they would choose: they would reject His Son. This rejection had been typified in the Old Testament (e.g. Joseph and Moses cf. Acts 7.12-13, 35, and Psalm 2.1-3).

Jesus’ message of repentance and offer of Himself to the nation of Israel was genuine. Had the Jews repented, the day of the Lord, i.e., tribulation or “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30.4-7) would have occurred and Jesus would have returned to deliver Israel. The Scriptures indicate that the apostles expected Jesus to return in their lifetime and establish His Kingdom. But Jesus intimated that such would not be the case (Luke 19.11-27 cf. Acts 1.6-7). Since Israel rejected her Messiah, the prophesied Messianic Kingdom was delayed. It has been delayed for almost 2,000 years. During this time God has created and brought into being the Church, the body of Christ.

The ascended Lord revealed to Paul the “secret” (μυστήριον) of the body of Christ, the Church. When the body of Christ is complete God will remove it from the earth and focus His attention once again upon national Israel. During this period of time, God will fulfill the prophesied final seven years of Daniel’s 70th week. According to Daniel’s prophetic chronology (Daniel 9.24-27), 70 weeks or 490 years were allotted to Israel from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah. After 69 weeks or 483 years, the Messiah would be “cut off” and “have nothing.” This prophecy documented the nation’s rejection of the Messiah. The remaining time span is thus one week or seven years. These seven years are the final years of Israel’s history on earth prior to the Lord’s return to establish His Messianic Kingdom. During these seven years, the Antichrist will manifest himself as the false Messiah and God will pour out His wrath in judgment upon a Christ-rejecting, evil world.

Elijah will come, just as Jesus prophesied (Matthew 23.39). This future appearance of Elijah will fulfill all the prophecies related to him regarding the nation. National Israel will repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah (Zechariah 12.10, 13.6). In Revelation 11.3-13, John gave an account of two “witnesses.” These witnesses are not specifically identified but it is certain that one of them will be Elijah in light of Malachi’s prophecy. One of the interesting facts of Scripture is that Elijah never died. He was taken by God in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2.1-11). The two witnesses will reprise Elijah’s powers to call down fire and to prevent rain. The other witness will probably be Moses. The Lord Himself buried Moses (Deuteronomy 34.5-8) and Satan disputed with Michael about Moses’ body (Jude 9). There’s more to this than meets the eye and likely has to do with a future reappearance of Moses.

At the end of seven years, Jesus will return to deliver Israel and establish the Messianic Kingdom. In this Kingdom, Jesus will reign as King from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14.9; Luke 1.32-33). It will be a golden age and His rule will be characterized by peace and righteousness such as the world has never experienced (Isaiah 11.1-10). Israel will be preeminent among the nations of the world (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13) and God will fulfill all the covenants He made with them.

Conclusion

John the Baptist could have fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of Elijah if the nation of Israel would have repented. 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. Since all prophecy will be fulfilled (because the Scripture cannot be broken) a future day remains for Elijah. In his second appearance, national Israel will repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. As a result, as Paul wrote, “all Israel will be saved” (Romans 11.26).

©Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.

Updated, December 13, 2012

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18 thoughts on “John the Baptist as Elijah

  1. Jean-Raymond Audet

    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! with all Palestineans in the West Bank declared Israeli Arabs! WHY?

    1. doctrine Post author

      Jean-Raymond,
      Jerusalem became Israel’s capital in 3000 B.C. God promised the land from the Mediterranean to the Nile to the Euphrates to the Jews. This promise is known as the Abrahamic covenant. There is no doubt from the divine perspective about the land—it belongs to the Jews. The Palestinians have rejected a two-state solution repeatedly. When the modern state of Israel was first being formed the Arabs rejected a two-state solution. The Jewish government offered Arafat 95% of what he wanted when he was in power and he rejected it. The Palestinian leaders do not want peace. If it came they would lose their power and the billions of dollars the West keeps pouring into it in the “peace process.” Palestinians would fare far better under Jewish rule than under PLO rule. The PLO is a terrorist and criminal organization. If the “poor Palestinians” were wise, they would remove these tyrants and look to the Jews for peace and prosperity.

      1. Sheila

        the courts of Al-Ma’mun, the seventh Abbasid caliph, Ali al-Ridha, the great grandson of Muhammad and prominent scholar (Imam) of his era, was questioned by the High Jewish Rabbi to prove the prophethood of both Jesus and Muhammad through the Torah. Among his several proofs, the Imam references the Book of Isaiah , stating “Sha‘ya (Isaiah), the Prophet, said in the Torah concerning what you and your companions say: ‘I have seen two riders to whom (He) illuminated earth. One of them was on a donkey and the other was on a camel.’ Who is the rider of the donkey, and who is the rider of the camel?” to which the Rabbi was unable to answer with certainty. Al-Ridha clarifies that “As for the rider of the donkey, he is ‘Isa (Jesus); and as for the rider of the camel, he is Muhammad, may Allah bless him and his family. Do you deny that this (statement) is in the Torah?” to which the Rabbi responds “No, I do not deny it.” [34]

        1. doctrine Post author

          Sheila,
          This is from Isaiah 21 but has nothing to do with Jesus or Muhammad. 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). Those who hold to Islam try to legitimize their religion through such statements but Islam is a false religious system just like Baal worship was for the ancient world. God will destroy Islam and all false world religions which are described as Babylon.

  2. David

    ..”The other witness will probably be Moses”

    Consider: Moses died…cannot die again?( these witnesses died and after few days were ressurrected)
    seems he does not qualify per Heb 9:27 scripture..”appointed once to die..”Elijah would qualify per this reference since he has not died?.
    Also in Matt 17..when Jesus taken Peter,James and John to show them the coming Kingdom
    Moses was there along with Elijah “talking with him”..then “Jesus charged them saying, Tell the
    vision to no man..”…there’s prohibition about divination from God against this in Deut 18:10 and others,
    ( unless Moses was in paradise along with Elijah?)
    Then also before Elijah was “raptured” God sent him to area where Moses’ body was buried..and also
    notice..”nobody knows(except God) where his body was buried..yet also Michael the archangel
    must have possession of it? else why would satan be disputing with him about moses’ body?….There is no evident
    scripture to say “it is written”…could it be that Michael took Moses’ body alive along with Elijah on that
    chariot of fire?…representing in rapture profile of righteous dead(Moses) and we that are alive(Elijah)

    I want to also express my appreciation for your coverage of scripture topics immensely.
    Thanks much.

    1. doctrine Post author

      David,
      Perhaps but God can make exceptions. For example, an entire generation of believers will not die because the Lord will come for us (them). There is clearly something important about Moses’ body/burial. All I can say is the Lord is full of surprises and it will be exciting to see how it all works out.

    2. loop

      You are making the classical error the Jews made [Matthew 3:9]

      And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”

      Is God limited?
      Be careful with assumptions. The 2 witnesses are not named or identified, regardless of their abilities, doesn’t mean they are the (dare I say – reincarnated) / resurrected Elijah/Moses/Enoch.
      For all you know, they could be Adam and Eve based on Matthew 20:16.
      “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

      1. doctrine Post author

        Loop,
        Given the powers of the two witnesses described in Revelation 13 the most likely candidates are Moses and Elijah. See the article, The Two Witnesses.

  3. Pam

    Dear Don, Your work is insightful, logical and easy to understand. This one was especially helpful to me in understanding what might have happened had National Israel accepted Jesus as Messiah, John the Baptist’s role, and what Jesus’ prophesies mean that otherwise could be confusing. Thank you so much.

  4. Raymond

    Dear Don
    I have enjoyed reading your article. I find it difficult to understand that Moses and Elijah will or need to be re-incarneted to fulfill the end time prophesies. I think Elijah and Moses of the end times are prophets with the same Spirit and Power of the two. John the Baptist was not Elijah re-incarnate, was he? Yet The Lord said that he was Elijah who was to come, that indeed he was Elijah who had come?

    1. doctrine Post author

      Raymond,
      Jesus was willing to accommodate John as Elijah if the nation had repented. But since Elijah never died he can return and fulfill Malachi’s prophecy. Also, something significant concerns Moses’ body according to Jude. The miracles worked by the two witnesses are the same as those performed by Moses and Elijah.

  5. Bahate

    I can see that despite the important role he had to perform, John the Baptist did not have the full view of how the Messiah would arise and show up. In other words, he was meant just to fulfill his assigned duty even though it had already been resolved that his mission would not succeed. It is painful to see what he was made to proclaim and undergo earnestly yet bound not to succeed, poor John.

    The mission would have been as easy as get the national Israel prepared and ready to welcome and receive the long awaited Messiah. But, it worked totally differently, even he didn’t doubtlessly encounter the Messiah as it had been revealed to him. God’s ways are unpredictable indeed, as well as not aligned to any man’s perceptions.

    1. doctrine Post author

      Bahate,
      John did his job, to announce the Messiah, and tell the nation what it needed to do. That is all each of us can do. We cannot control results. God judges us only in things under our control. Jesus said no prophet was greater than John. High praise.

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