The Prophesied Eliyah Who Came
Yah'shuah's Testimony About Yahchanan
Mattityahu (Matthew) 11: 1-19 reads, "11:1It happened that when Yah'shuah had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed there to teach and preach in their cities. 11:2Now when Yahchanan heard in the prison the works of Messiah, he sent two of his disciples 11:3and said to him, 'Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?'
11:4
Yah'shuah answered them, 'Go and tell Yahchanan the things which you hear and see: 11:5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 11:6Blessed is he, whoever finds no occasion for stumbling in me.'11:7
As these went their way, Yah'shuah began to say to the multitudes concerning Yahchanan, 'What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 11:8But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses. 11:9But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 11:10This is he, of whom it is written, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you." 11:11Most assuredly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yahchanan the Baptizer. Yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 11:12From the days of Yahchanan the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 11:13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until Yahchanan. 11:14If you are willing to receive it, this is Eliyah, who is to come. 11:15He who has ears to hear, let him hear.11:16
But what will I compare this generation to? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to others 11:17and say, "We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We wailed, and you didn't mourn." 11:18For Yahchanan came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon." 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" But wisdom is justified by her children.'"It is in Malakhi 3: 1 that Yah'shuah quoted the words he spoke as recorded in Mattityahu 11: 10. Malakhi 3: 1 reads, "3:1Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Sovereign, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot."
Yah'shuah the Messiah was and is the Sovereign, the messenger of the covenant, whom Yahchanan, the Eliyah to come as shown in Malakhi 4: 5, was to prepare the way for.
Moshe and Eliyah Appear and Talk With Yah'shuah
Mattityahu 17: 1-13 reads, "17:1After six days, Yah'shuah took with him Kefa, Ya`akov, and Yahchanan, his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as the light. 17:3Behold, there appeared to them Moshe and Eliyah talking with him. 17:4Kefa answered, and said to Yah'shuah, 'Master, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let's make three tents here: one for you, one for Moshe, and one for Eliyah.'
17:5
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.'17:6
When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 17:7Yah'shuah came and touched them and said, 'Get up, and don't be afraid.' 17:8Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Yah'shuah alone. 17:9As they were coming down from the mountain, Yah'shuah commanded them, saying, 'Don't tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.'17:10
His disciples asked him, saying, 'Then why do the Sofrim say that Eliyah must come first?'17:11
Yah'shuah answered them, 'Eliyah indeed comes first, and will restore all things, 17:12but I tell you that Eliyah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so will the Son of Man also suffer by them.' 17:13Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of Yahchanan the Baptizer."Why Did Yah'shuah's Disciples So Question Him Concerning Eliyah?
What was the nature of the disciples' question to Yah'shuah in Mattityahu 17: 10? Was it that it already appeared to them that Yah'shuah had already come into his kingdom, yet they were not aware of the Eliyah who was to come before the Sovereign, the messenger of the covenant? And therefore sought for the meaning of Eliyah coming first, seeing that they had just seen him appear before them, together with Moshe, and both Moshe and Eliyah talking with the transfigured Yah'shuah?
In Mattityahu 17: 11 Yah'shuah confirmed to his disciples that indeed Eliyah was to come first, and was to restore all things. He then confirmed to them that Eliyah had come already. And seeing that Eliyah was to restore all things, and that he had come already, all things therefore had been restored!
What things were these that were restored? And how and when were they lost, so as to require their restoration?
Yahchanan Was Not Recognised as the Eliyah to Come
It should also be noted from Yah'shuah's comments in Mattityahu 17: 12 that Yahchanan was not recognised as the Eliyah to come. Instead, those he was sent to did to him as they pleased, not realising that he was indeed the Eliyah to come. It should therefore be noted that recognising a servant of Yahweh according to their scriptural prophetic role, for those so prophesied of, is not automatic for everyone. Even Yah'shuah's disciples did not know that Yahchanan was the Eliyah to come, until Yah'shuah revealed it to them. It should therefore be understood that unless the Father reveals to one the prophetic role of a servant of his one is not guaranteed to ascertain it.
Eliyah and Moshe Appear and Talk With Yah'shuah
Mark 9: 1-13 reads, "9:1He said to them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death, until they see the kingdom of the Mighty One come with power.'
9:2
After six days Yah'shuah took with him Kefa, Ya`akov, and Yahchanan, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 9:3His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 9:4Eliyah and Moshe appeared to them, and they were talking with Yah'shuah.9:5
Kefa answered Yah'shuah, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moshe, and one for Eliyah.' 9:6For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid.9:7
A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.'9:8
Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Yah'shuah only.9:9
As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen again from the dead. 9:10They kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean.9:11
They asked him, saying, 'Why do the Sofrim say that Eliyah must come first?'9:12
He said to them, 'Eliyah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised? 9:13But I tell you, that Eliyah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.'"Where in the Scriptures Was Yahchanan's Treatment Prophesied?
Where in the scriptures is it written about the Eliyah to come, that those he would be sent to would do to him whatever they wanted to?
Luke 1: 5-25 reads, "1:5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Yahudah, a certain Kohen named Zekharyah, of the priestly division of Aviyah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheva. 1:6They were both righteous before the Mighty One, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of Yahweh. 1:7But they had no child, because Elisheva was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 1:8Now it happened, while he executed the Kohen's office before the Mighty One in the order of his division, 1:9according to the custom of the Kohen's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of Yahweh and burn incense. 1:10The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
1:11
An angel of Yahweh appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 1:12Zekharyah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell on him. 1:13But the angel said to him, 'Don't be afraid, Zekharyah, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elisheva, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yahchanan. 1:14You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. 1:15For he will be great in the sight of Yahweh, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 1:16He will turn many of the children of Yisra'el to Yahweh, their Mighty One. 1:17He will go before his face in the spirit and power of Eliyah, 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 Yahweh.'1:18
Zekharyah said to the angel, 'How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.'1:19
The angel answered him, 'I am Gavri'el, who stands in the presence of the Mighty One. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 1:20Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.'1:21
The people were waiting for Zekharyah, and they marveled while he delayed in the temple. 1:22When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute. 1:23It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 1:24After these days Elisheva, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying, 1:25'Thus has Yahweh done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.'"Yahchanan's Prophesied Work Summarised
Luke 1: 16-17 shows that Yahchanan was to make ready a people prepared for Yahweh, even as was spoken concerning him in Malakhi 3: 1. The manner he was to make ready a people prepared for Yahweh was by: (a) turning many of the children of Yisrael to Yahweh their Mighty One, (b) turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and (c) turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. He was to do this in the spirit and power of Eliyah, even as was spoken concerning him in Malakhi 4: 5-6.
A Reason Why Yahchanan Was Unrecognised
Noting Yah'shuah's words in Mattityahu 17: 11-12, that those Eliyah was sent to did not recognise him, it is seen that a reason why they did not recognise him was he was not named "Eliyah", but was named "Yahchanan". Also, as seen from Gavriel's words in Luke 1: 17, even though he would not be named Eliyah, he would indeed go before Yahweh's face in the spirit and power of Eliyah. Therefore, it was the going before Yahweh's face in the spirit and power of Eliyah that made Yahchanan the Eliyah who was to come. Therefore, when it said in Malakhi 4: 5-6 that Yahweh would send the children of Yisrael Eliyah the prophet, what was meant was that the prophet who would be sent to fulfil what Yahweh said of him would be sent in the spirit and power of Eliyah! Thus the prophet who indeed would be sent in the spirit and power of Eliyah, and who would fulfil what was spoken of the Eliyah to come, would indeed be the Eliyah to come!
The Meaning of "Restore All Things"
Also, comparing Yah'shuah's words in Mattityahu 17: 11-12, that Eliyah was to restore all things, with Gavriel's words in Luke 1: 16-17, that Yahchanan was to turn many of the children of Yisrael to Yahweh their Mighty One, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, it appears that these works that Yahchanan was to do were the restoration of all things! In other words, the restoration of all things was to involve turning many of the children of Yisrael to Yahweh their Mighty One, turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Therefore, the one who was to come and do these things, coming in the spirit and power of Eliyah, would indeed be the prophet Eliyah who was to come.
Zekharyah's Testimony by the Spirit of Yahweh
Luke 1: 57-80 reads, "1:57Now the time that Elisheva should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son. 1:58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that Yahweh had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. 1:59It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zekharyah, after the name of the father. 1:60His mother answered, 'Not so; but he will be called Yahchanan.'
1:61
They said to her, 'There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.' 1:62They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.1:63
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, 'His name is Yahchanan.'They all marveled. 1:64His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing the Mighty One. 1:65Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Yahudah. 1:66All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, 'What then will this child be?' The hand of Yahweh was with him. 1:67His father, Zekharyah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
1:68
'Blessed be Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el,For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
1:69
Has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David1:70
(As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),1:71
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;1:72
To show mercy towards our fathers,To remember his holy covenant,
1:73
The oath which he spoke to Avraham, our father,1:74
To grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,1:75
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.1:76
Yes and you, child, will be called a prophet of HaElyon,For you will go before the face of Yahweh to make ready his ways,
1:77
To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,1:78
Because of the tender mercy of our Mighty One,Whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
1:79
To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;To guide our feet into the way of shalom.'
1:80
The child grew, and grew strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Yisra'el."Yahchanan to Impart Knowledge of Salvation
It should also be noted that Zekharyah said, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that Yahchanan would give knowledge of salvation to Yahweh's people Yisrael, salvation by the remission of their sins, because of the tender mercy of Yahweh, Yisrael's Mighty One. Yisrael's salvation would come by the dawn from on high visiting them, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide Yisrael's feet into the way of shalom.
Yahchanan's Work by the Spirit and Power of Eliyah
Yahchanan's work by the spirit and power of Eliyah can therefore be outlined as involving: (a) turning many of the children of Yisrael to Yahweh their Mighty One, (b) turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, (c) turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, (d) giving Yahweh's people the knowledge of salvation by the remission of their sins, (e) testifying to Yahweh's tender mercy, and (f) testifying about the dawn from on high to visit Yisrael, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide Yisrael's feet into the way of shalom.
Moshe and Eliyah Appear in Glory and Talk With Yah'shuah
Luke 9: 18-36 reads, "9:18It happened, as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him, and he asked them, 'Who do the multitudes say that I am?'
9:19
They answered, '"Yahchanan the Baptizer," but others say, "Eliyah," and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.'9:20
He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'Kefa answered, 'The Messiah of the Mighty One.'
9:21
But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one, 9:22saying, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the Zakenim, chief Kohanim, and Sofrim, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.' 9:23He said to all, 'If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 9:24For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it. 9:25For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self? 9:26For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of himself, of the Father, and of the holy angels. 9:27But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the kingdom of the Mighty One.'9:28
It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Kefa, Yahchanan, and Ya`akov, and went up onto the mountain to pray. 9:29As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling. 9:30Behold, two men talked with him, who were Moshe and Eliyah, 9:31who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Yerushalayim.9:32
Now Kefa and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. 9:33It happened, as they were parting from him, that Kefa said to Yah'shuah, 'Master, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, and one for Moshe, and one for Eliyah,' not knowing what he said. 9:34While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. 9:35A voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!' 9:36When the voice came, Yah'shuah was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen."Additional Details Provided by Luke
Luke, in Luke 9: 30-31, gives details about the event described above that Mattityahu and Mark do not. For Luke notes that both Moshe and Eliyah APPEARED IN GLORY, even as Yah'shuah himself had appeared in glory! Luke also informs us of what Yah'shuah, Moshe and Eliyah spoke about, speaking about Yah'shuah's departure that he was about to accomplish at Yerushalayim!
It should be noted that the event the disciples Kefa, Yaakov and Yahchanan saw was "the kingdom of the Mighty One", even as Luke 9: 27 says, for they saw Yah'shuah, Moshe and Eliyah ALL IN GLORY! And this event took place before they died, even as Yah'shuah said in Luke 9: 27. Therefore, before Yah'shuah's death, Moshe and Eliyah appeared to him and spoke with him!
But weren't Moshe and Eliyah both dead and buried? How did they appear together and speak with Yah'shuah before Yah'shuah's death at Yerushalayim?
Yahchanan's Testimony About Yah'shuah
Yahchanan (John) 1: 1-40 reads, "1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the Mighty One, and the Word was the Mighty One. 1:2The same was in the beginning with the Mighty One. 1:3All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 1:4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 1:5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it.
1:6
There came a man, sent from the Mighty One, whose name was Yahchanan. 1:7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. 1:8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 1:9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him. 1:11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him. 1:12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become the Mighty One's children, to those who believe in his name: 1:13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of the Mighty One. 1:14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.1:15
Yahchanan testified about him. He cried out, saying, 'This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me."' 1:16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. 1:17For the law was given through Moshe. Grace and truth came through Yah'shuah the Messiah. 1:18No one has seen the Mighty One at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.1:19
This is Yahchanan's testimony, when the Yahudim sent Kohanim and Levites from Yerushalayim to ask him, 'Who are you?'1:20
He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, 'I am not the Messiah.'1:21
They asked him, 'What then? Are you Eliyah?'He said, 'I am not.'
'Are you the prophet?'
He answered, 'No.'
1:22
They said therefore to him, 'Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?'1:23
He said, 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of Yahweh," as Yesha`yahu the prophet said.'1:24
The ones who had been sent were from the Perushim. 1:25They asked him, 'Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Messiah, nor Eliyah, nor the Prophet?'1:26
Yahchanan answered them, 'I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know, 1:27he who comes after me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to untie.' 1:28These things were done in Beit-Anyah beyond the Yarden, where Yahchanan was baptizing.1:29
On the next day, he saw Yah'shuah coming to him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of the Mighty One, who takes away the sin of the world! 1:30This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me." 1:31I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Yisra'el.' 1:32Yahchanan testified, saying, 'I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of Heaven, and it remained on him. 1:33I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, "On whoever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit." 1:34I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of the Mighty One.'1:35
Again, on the next day, Yahchanan was standing with two of his disciples, 1:36and he looked at Yah'shuah as he walked, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of the Mighty One!' 1:37The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Yah'shuah. 1:38Yah'shuah turned, and saw them following, and said to them, 'What are you looking for?'They said to him, 'Rabbi' (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), 'where are you staying?'
1:39
He said to them, 'Come, and see.'They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. 1:40One of the two who heard Yahchanan, and followed him, was And'drai, Shim`on Kefa's brother."
The above account of Yahchanan, Yah'shuah's disciple, clearly shows that Yahchanan the Baptizer did indeed testify about Yah'shuah in the manner he was to so testify.
Yahchanan and Eliyah Were Separate Individuals
It should also be noted that when the Perushim asked Yahchanan whether he was Eliyah, Yahchanan responded by saying that he was not. It should therefore be clear that even though Yahchanan came in the spirit and power of Eliyah, even as was prophesied of him, he was a separate individual from Eliyah. Yahchanan was not Eliyah raised to life. No! He was a separate individual who came in the spirit and power of Eliyah.
Why Yahchanan Came Baptising in Water
Yahchanan 1: 31-34 clearly gives the reason why Yahchanan came baptising in water. It was for the revelation of Yah'shuah to Yisrael, for when Yahchanan would see the Spirit descend on Yah'shuah and remain on him, he would testify to Yisrael that Yah'shuah indeed was the Son of the Mighty One! Thus Yahchanan came baptising, for it was through his baptising that Yah'shuah would be revealed to Yisrael!
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