Mark...I ask tha tsame question in the Assembly of God college and waszealously rebuked. But...for us simple minded people who read things for face value it does appear like that. However...they told me that would support reincarnation which Christianiyt does not support. Possibly one of these men on here can help us with that question. I'd like a good explanation as well. I've heard it explained but it sounded morelike a cop out excuse .
WE do know Moses and Elijah will be coming back as the 2 witnesses during the 7 years of the great tribulation so I don't see why John couldn't be Elijah..That is diffently a opinion..PLease don't stone me. I would never preach it anywhere.
Chuck7
I don't believe it literally means that John the Baptist was an "incarnation" of Elijah. John fulfilled all of the prophecies that Elijah had made centuries before. I believe that that is what the Scripture is meaning.
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πνεύμα γ*μισα
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
I don't believe it literally means that John the Baptist was an "incarnation" of Elijah. John fulfilled all of the prophecies that Elijah had made centuries before. I believe that that is what the Scripture is meaning. Fro.
That makes alot of sense to me Fro. However; Elijah never died. He was taken up in a chariot.This is one of those scriptures I have on the shelf...
C7
"Look, I will send to you Eliyahu (Elijah) the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of ADONAI." - - Malachi 3:23 or 4:5
You see, Malachi was not saying that Elijah himself would be reincarnated or resurrected. Instead, by implication it will be one who will minster in the "spirit and power of Elijah." According to Yeshua (Jesus) John the Bapist was the fulfillment of this prophecy (Matthew 17:10-13).
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
You're right Chuck. Elijah was taken up in a "chariot of fire." Sorry, I forgot to mention that in my post.
Dang, that is an amazing Bible story for ya.
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πνεύμα γ*μισα
"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
Jesus pointed to John the Baptist as a type of fulfillment of Elijah's coming but he was not a reincarnation.
This is proven in John 1:20 when the Jews sent out the priests and Levites to investigate John's ministry. They ask him if he is the Christ. He states emphatically "No!" They ask him again if he is Elijah, John answers "I am not." This is not a temporary memory loss for John that Jesus has to correct later. In verse 25, John the Baptist is asked, "Why do you baptize if you are not the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet?" In verses 25-27 John points to the Messiah who is coming after him. He states that it is he who is the forerunner of Malachi 3:1. In Luke 1:76, we see that John's father, Zecharias, is filled with the Holy spirit and says that his child will be called the prophet of the highest and will "go before the face of the Lord and prepare His ways again.' This relates John's ministry to Mal. 3:1, 4:5, and Luke 1:17. John labored in the same Spirit and power of the former prophet by calling people to repentance and he was preparing them for the salvation that Christ would later bring.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
You're right Chuck. Elijah was taken up in a "chariot of fire." Sorry, I forgot to mention that in my post.
Dang, that is an amazing Bible story for ya.
The prophet Elijah never died according to the Bible as he was taken by God into heaven. 2 Kings 2:1,11
And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
Matt 17
