I believe jesus also said elijah " shall" come which is future tense
Matthew 17:11
And Jesus answered and said to them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
1. Shall come is future tense
2. Did John restore all things?
Part 1 of Reply
Yes! Let's try this for those who disagree with Jon Anon.
Let me say at this moment in time, "The Lord Jesus is coming, but the Lord Jesus was here."
Now many will quickly discern that the sentence has two tenses. One is future, and one is past. The first part if the sentence ("The Lord Jesus is coming") is future tense, "but" the last part of the sentence ("the Lord Jesus was here") is past tense. The last half of the sentence does not negate or cancel out the first half of the sentence.
This is no different than the statement made by the Lord almost 2000 years ago when He said, "11 Jesus answered and said to them, Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands. 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist." (Matthew 17:11-13).
Some may discern that this passage has two tenses but some will reject it for it is not what they have been taught by their shepherds. One is future, and one is past. The first sentence in verse 11 ("Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.") is future tense, "but" the sentence in verse 12 ("But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished...) is past tense.
Now the disciples discerned that "John" was the first Elijah (in the spirit and power thereof).
John was rejected. Then the Lord Jesus was rejected. Now restoration is needed. This is why the following was said:
Acts 3:17-21 (NKJV) - "17 Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
So the Lord Jesus "must" sit at the right hand of the Father "until the times of restoration of all things" For this, a prophet is sent to "restore all things". For the Lord Himself said, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things."
Following verse 21 comes verse 22 which corroborates this by stating that a prophet like Moses will be sent. The Lord Jesus did not say He was that prophet though He could have fulfilled it if they had listened to Him. But prophecy made it clear that He was going to be rejected. His rejection had to happen in order to fulfill other prophecies.
Acts 3:22-23 (NKJV) - "For Moses truly said to the fathers, The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. "
A messenger/prophet named John came in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus but was rejected. Then the Lord Jesus was rejected. Restoration is now needed. Another messenger/prophet named "_____" will come in the spirit and power of Elijah to restore all things and lead the Second Exodus with another person thus making two witnesses. Then the Lord Jesus will return.
He is "hidden" away until called by the Lord just like John the Baptist was called out of the desert/wilderness. Luke 3:2-3 (NKJV) - "2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,"
Isaiah 49 speaks of this "hidden" prophet who comes to restore. This prophet will have a name that has been "mentioned" before.
THERE IS THE BIG HINT...A NAME THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE!
Isaiah 49:1-2 (NKJV) -
Listen, O coastlands, to Me,
And take heed, you peoples from afar!
The Lord has called Me from the womb;
From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword;
In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,
And made Me a polished shaft;
In His quiver He has hidden Me.
Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV) -
"6 Indeed He says,
It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;
I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,
That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.
One of the name of the two witnesses has been given though some may not accept or receive it. His birth nation is even given in prophecy.
HINT: "Is it to small a thing...". "For who has despised the day of small things?"
Zechariah 4:10 (NKJV) - "For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.
Zerubbabel did not fulfill all that was spoken of him. He is dead. So this means it is yet to be fulfilled. Let us look at the name of Zerubbabel. The name of Zerubbabel means "seed of Babylon" referring to a child born and conceived in Babylon. Therefore, the one who fulfills the prophecy concerning Zerubbabel will be the child born and conceived in end-time Babylon. He is that prophet and is given great authority to fulfill his commission as spoken in Haggai 2 and Revelation 11.
Here comes that prophet, the "seed":
Haggai 2:19-23 (NKJV) - "19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you. 20 And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:
I will shake heaven and earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;
I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.
I will overthrow the chariots
And those who ride in them;
The horses and their riders shall come down,
Every one by the sword of his brother.
23 In that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.
Revelation 11:3-6 (NKJV) - "3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire."
Jeremiah speaks of this prophet. He is the "chosen man" born in end-time Babylon (daughter of Babylon). He must deliver ("draw them out") the remnant (daughter of Zion) because she is to be utterly destroyed and be no more.
Jeremiah 50:44-46 (NKJV) -
"44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the floodplain of the Jordan
Against the dwelling place of the strong;
But I will make them suddenly run away from her.
And who is a chosen man that I may appoint over her?
For who is like Me?
Who will arraign Me?
And who is that shepherd
Who will withstand Me?
45 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD that He has taken against Babylon,
And His purposes that He has proposed against the land of the Chaldeans:
Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out;
Surely He will make their dwelling place desolate with them.
46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon
The earth trembles,
And the cry is heard among the nations."
This "chosen man" is a prophet like John the Baptist who came out of the wilderness/desert into the Jordan. Luke 3:2-3 (NKJV) - "2 while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,"
Some say that the chosen man appointed by the LORD refers to the king of Babylon, but I say it refers to a prophet, one that is born in end-time Babylon. One of the questions in verse 44 is For who is like Me?. We know that Me is referring to God. Therefore, we can rephrase it to say For who is like God?.
How was the prophet Moses referred when he stood before Pharaoh? Exodus 7:1 (NKJV) - "So the LORD said to Moses: See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet." Now Moses was not God but rather His appointed authority, His signet ring, His rod.
Also, what does the name of the archangel Michael mean? Michael is a Hebrew male name that is derived from the question Who is like God? or Who is like El?. And we know the book of Daniel speaks of Michael coming for his people at the end of days. Daniel 12:1 (NKJV) - At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book."
Continued...