Yes. I mean, no. I mean, yes. If you casually look at the scriptures on this subject, that’s the answer you’ll get. Allow me to demonstrate:
Luke 1:17 And he [John] shall go before him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elias …
So Gabriel says John is the Elijah.
John 1:21 And they asked him [John], What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. ..
John flatly states that he was NOT the Elijah. But Gabriel said he was! Who was wrong? Christ said that neither was! He asked the crowds following him about John, saying…
Matthew 11:7, 9 … What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? … But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
“What did you expect out of John? A wimp? A soft-speaking wuss? No, you expected a prophet. And you got one!”
Verse 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Jesus said that John was fulfilling the prophecy written in Malachi 3:1, which prophesied of the coming of Elijah (compare to Malachi 4:5-6). But he gets clearer in a moment…
Verses 14-15 And IF ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
So Jesus said that this WAS Elijah, John said he WASN’T, Gabriel said he WAS. Which is it? As I said, both. See, John was wrong. Sort of. Read the rest of this entry »