Chizuk Emunah (Pt 2) Under the Microscope: Chapter 41

John 1:21, "And they asked him. What then? Art thou Elias? and he said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? and he answered. No."

This verse completely contradicts the statement made in Matthew 11:13, 14, according to which John is included in the list of prophets, and is held to be the last of them. The words used in that book, which we have had occasion to adduce, run as follows: "All the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if ye will receive it, this is Elias [Elijah], which was for to come." In Matthew 17:12, 13, Jesus, in alluding to John, affirms that the forerunner of himself as a Messiah had come, although he had not been acknowledged as such. He says there, "Elias [Elijah], is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of Man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake of John the Baptist."

Once, on representing this contradiction to a Christian, he evaded a direct answer by the retort, that Samuel likewise denied his true mission, for he told Saul that he was on his way to offer up sacrifices, while his real object was to anoint David as king of Israel.

The cogency of this reply is not apparent, for Samuel made no secret of his mission to David to whom he had to communicate the Divine will, but observed the necessary caution with Saul, to whom he had not been sent. Different, however, was the case with the pretended Elias.

If he [John], had to bring the Jews the tidings of the advent of the Messiah, he very strangely performed his duty, by denying his character and concealing his message.

John the Baptist spent his career living in strange and impoverished circumstances, and calling people out to repentance. After centuries, the gift of prophecy had returned to the people of Israel. Malachi foretold that God would send Elijah the Prophet in that great and terrible Day of the Lord. Jesus explained that Elijah himself had not returned in person. The religion of Israel believed in resurrection, which is not compatible with reincarnation. Jesus said that Elijah has come, since John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah.

So what is the problem with John denying that he is Elijah the prophet? John probably did not see himself in the same glowing terms as Jesus saw him. John likely expected that the terrible Day of the Lord was the great apocalypse that would hail the end of the world, and he would have thought that Elijah would have been resurrected and come on that day. And maybe that's the case.

The prediction that Elijah would come is only found in Malachi, and the Day of the Lord is left vague. It could mean the coming of Messiah, or it could mean the end of the world. There is nothing in the Messianic prophecies that says that the coming of Messiah and the end of the world will both happen within one lifetime. There could be 10,000 years between the two, for all we know.