The Pharisees asked John the Baptist if he was Elijah or the prophet. The prophet Malachi had prophesied, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. (Malachi 4:5). He also prophesied, “"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty” (Malachi 3:1).
John thought of himself simply as a voice crying in the wilderness (John 1:20-23). But did you know Jesus himself said John was Elijah? (Mathew 11:14). This does not mean the literal reincarnation of Elijah (Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:8) but he was sent with the same anointing as Elijah. Elijah was the picture of John the Baptist in the Old Testament.
John did not fully understand his significance in God’s order of things. We also do not have a full grasp of what God may be doing through us. Take courage. God is at work in you (Philippians 2:13).
