Here's one that has me stumped..

John the Baptist claimed he was NOT Elijah (John 1:21), however, Jesus seems to clearly state that he was in Matthew11:14

Hmmm...

Brad,

I found your question intriguing and so I have done a little research that I hope is helpful.

Malachi 4:5 states that Elijah the Prophet will precede the coming of the Day of the Lord, which is commonly understood to mean the Day of Judgment. Malachi 3:1 seems to also refer to Elijah or a type of Elijah.

NKJ Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the Lord of hosts.

NKJ Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

The Jews expected to one day see Elijah (who never died, but was taken up to heaven by a whirlwind in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11) return to earth.

In John 1:21 when John was asked, "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No" , it is believed that he was answering the question in response to their question of Elijah (having never died) – as meaning no, I am not Elijah returned in the flesh. His response to the question regarding whether or not he was a prophet was not – no, I am not a prophet, but no, I am not THE prophet, either meaning again Elijah or the "prophet like unto Moses", who was Jesus.

Verse 22 They said then to him, 'Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those sending us? what dost thou say concerning thyself?' 23 He said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.' "

Jesus says in Matthew 11:10 "For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' " quoting Malachi 3:1.

So it does seem confusing. John is saying he is not Elijah reincarnated and Jesus is saying that John came in the spirit of Elijah in the sense that he preceded Him to prepare His way.

John comes in the spirit of Elijah and precedes the Messiah's first coming. Elijah will precede Jesus' second coming and in fact did appear with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration. Some believe Revelation indicates he may precede Him again before the Day of the Lord.

I hope this has been a help to you.

Blessings,

Chelki

Amen Chelki,

You have a gift in answering the biblical questions and I enjoy reading your responses

love and blessings in the Lord

Serenity