Is John the Baptist Really Elijah the Prophet?

[ianb321red]

Robert Breaker thinks so:

 

[ianb321red]

Robert Breaker thinks so:

John1:19-23 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, p“Who are you?” qHe confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” rAre you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you sthe Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” tthe voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight7 the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

 

[Adam1983Irwin]

John the Baptist had the spirit of Elijah although he did not know it.

 

[1213]

John the Baptist had the spirit of Elijah although he did not know it.

That is good point. Bible tells that John comes in spirit of Elijah. John is not Elijah, but Elijah is in John, or John in Elijah.

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Luke 1:17

 

[Job8]

John the Baptist had the spirit of Elijah although he did not know it.

John the Baptist (Baptizer) did indeed have the spirit of Elijah and the ministry of Elijah (which will be manifested before the Day of Lord -- to bring Israel to repentance). Whether or not he knew it is something that is not disclosed, but we can be sure that John was very familiar with the OT and may have surmised that he was pre-figuring Elijah.

But to claim that he was in fact Elijah and that is the end of the matter is contrary to Scripture. Christ called him "Elijah" metaphorically, but the real Elijah met Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and talked with Him, and will appear on earth again during the reign of the Antichrist, along with Moses (as shown in Revelation 11).

 

[Adam1983Irwin]

John the Baptist (Baptizer) did indeed have the spirit of Elijah and the ministry of Elijah (which will be manifested before the Day of Lord -- to bring Israel to repentance). Whether or not he knew it is something that is not disclosed, but we can be sure that John was very familiar with the OT and may have surmised that he was pre-figuring Elijah.

But to claim that he was in fact Elijah and that is the end of the matter is contrary to Scripture. Christ called him "Elijah" metaphorically, but the real Elijah met Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and talked with Him, and will appear on earth again during the reign of the Antichrist, along with Moses (as shown in Revelation 11).

John the Baptist did not know he had the spirit of Elijah.

“And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.””
‭‭John‬ ‭1:21-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Jesus on the other hand answered the question,
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:12-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

 

[Lisa613]

John and Elijah were two completely different men who are filled with the Spirit of God. Elijah's spirit comes first to awaken the believer's senses, where John's role is to announce the arrival of the bridegroom for those willing to accept it.

 

[robycop3]

Was John actually, literally Elijah? No, of course not. But he had the same type of spirit Elijah had, and JESUS said no greater man had ever lived.

 

[DrBubbaLove]

Robert Breaker thinks so:

No, and isn't that the same guy that was supposedly saying the world would end yesterday?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Meaning the fulfillment of the prophet, in the context of the bible. To watch for a prophet to come back means to think he will be resurrected. To say he is the prophet literally would mean reincarnation .. which is culturally out of the picture for the culture that passage situated itself in.