John the Baptist WAS/IS Elijah: The Angel, Quoting the Prophecy in Malachi said to John’s father concerning John:“And he shall 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“.Jesus further makes it clear that the wicked killed Elijah when they killed John:Mark 9:11 – 9:13“And they asked him[Jesus], saying, ‘Why say the scribes that Elijah must come first?’And he answered and told them, ‘Elijah verily comes first, and restores all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nothing.But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they wanted, as it is written of him.’”Matthew 11.11-15“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!Matthew 17.11-13“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 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.’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.”Also, John the Baptist and Elijah both wore a leather belt and a hairy shirt.Matthew 3:4 KJV – And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.2 Kings 1:8 ESV – They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.”Common rebuttal is, “John was Elijah metaphorically”.Answer: When Jesus says Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they wanted, it can’t be a metaphor. John was beheaded in reality, not metaphorically.That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they wanted, as it is written of him.
