Is it Possible That Jesus Christ Fulfilled the Role of the

“Elijah to Come”?

"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."   -- Malachi 4:5-6

Jesus Christ has become the ultimate fulfillment of the role of high priest.  He is the ultimate fulfillment of the Levitical sacrifices for sin.  He is our Passover lamb. He is the firstborn, the wave sheaf, the first fruits, etc.

As is true of these and other Scriptural types, Christ is also, in at least some aspects, the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy.  It is He, of course, who will restore the Law of God, the government of God, and the knowledge of God to the earth; Christ will turn the hearts of physical fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their physical fathers; and He will turn the hearts of the children of God to their spiritual Father, preparing the Kingdom for the time when He will turn it over to the Father at the coming of the New Jerusalem.

But could Jesus Christ Himself have been the Elijah prophesied to be sent “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD?”

The prophecy of the “Elijah to come” is found in Malachi, Chapter 4.  Here is the prophecy, including a few preceding verses for context:

"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."  "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.  "You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts. "Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.  "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.  "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."    Malachi 4:1-6 (Any underlining and bold emphases in Scripture is added.)

This prophesied Elijah will appear before the coming of the day of the Lord – which day, based on the description in this passage, is still a future occurrence.  This does not of itself prove that Christ is not the Elijah, since the passage does not explicitly say how long before the day of the Lord the Elijah will be sent.

However, the passage implies a proximity in time between the appearance of the prophesied Elijah and the day of the Lord, such that the appearance of the Elijah seems to suggest the imminence of the day of the Lord.  We see that very proximity in the appearance of John the Baptist, which came immediately prior to the ministry of Jesus Christ. 

John the Baptist

Christ Himself said that John was the Elijah for His first appearance:

"For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.  "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.  "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”    Matthew 11: 13-15

The story of John’s ministry indicates that John began preaching only a few months prior to the beginning of Christ’s ministry.

Notice now the prophecy in regard to John the Baptist, which the angel Gabriel delivered to Zacharias, John’s father:

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.  Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.  Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.  "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.  "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.  "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."    Luke 1:5-17

We see here that John was prophesied to go before the Lord, “to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children,” “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  By comparison, wouldn’t it seem unlikely that Christ as Elijah would go before Christ the Lord?

Here is John the Baptist’s testimony regarding himself, his mission, and the One who would follow him:

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said^, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"  He said, "I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said."  Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.  They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered them saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.  "It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."    John 1:19-27

“It is He who comes after me…”  John said that he preceded Christ. 

Based upon what we know of John the Baptist, who was the Elijah to Christ’s first appearance, should we not also expect that the Elijah who comes before the day of the Lord will again precede Christ, that he will precede Him by a short time, and that it will be a person other than Jesus Christ Himself?

Peter’s “Confession”

We should also turn to the passage that is sometimes called Peter’s “Confession”:

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.    Matthew 16:13-17     (See also the parallel accounts in Mark 8:27-29 and Luke 9:18-20.)

Christ said Peter was correct (in concluding that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God), and that the Father had revealed this to him.  Here Christ (and God) had a perfect opportunity to explain to Peter and to the other disciples that Jesus was also the prophesied Elijah, if that were the case.  Elijah’s name was even mentioned in the exchange!  Yet nothing at all is said about Christ as Elijah. 

The Transfiguration

Once again, during the discussions which surrounded the transfiguration, Jesus had a perfect opportunity to tell His disciples that He was the prophesied Elijah, if that were actually the case. Christ did not do so.  If He were the Elijah, telling them so would have been the answer to their question.  Instead, Jesus differentiated Himself from the Elijah; He identified John as the Elijah (of that time).  Christ also promised at this point, which was already well into His ministry, that Elijah “is coming” and “does first come [before the Kingdom].”

Here are the three Gospel accounts of the transfiguration:

Matthew:  Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.  And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.  Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"  When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.  And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead." And His disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"  And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things;  but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."  Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.    Matthew 17:1-13

Mark:  And Jesus was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."  Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.  Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.  Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."  For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.  Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.  They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.  They asked Him, saying, "Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" And He said to them, "Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?  "But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him."  Mark 9:1-13

Luke:  "But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."  Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,  who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not realizing what he was saying.  While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.  Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!" And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen. Luke 9:27-36

The voice out of the cloud identifies Jesus as “My beloved Son, My Chosen One,” saying nothing about any role as Elijah.  Christ promises the disciples (who, based upon their question, may have been confused by the presence of Elijah WITH Christ) that Elijah IS indeed coming (in the future) and that Elijah HAD already come (in the person of John the Baptist).  (See Matthew’s account in particular.)  If Elijah “has come,” and “already came,” and if Elijah “is coming,” and “does first come,” then it is impossible that Christ who said these words had fulfilled the role of either of the Elijahs of whom He spoke.

Summary

1.     Elijah is sent first, before the Day of the Lord, a yet future event.

2.     John the Baptist was the Elijah, who went before Christ at His first appearance.

3.     John appeared in close proximity to the beginning of Christ’s ministry.

4.     Christ promised a future Elijah.

5.     Despite opportunities, Jesus and the Father, never said – nor even hinted – that Jesus was the Elijah.

6.     Christ is always differentiated from, and differentiates Himself from, the Elijah.

7.     The Elijah prepares a people FOR the Lord – for Jesus Christ.

Conclusion 

By what we see in Scripture, Christ cannot be – and cannot have been – the Elijah who precedes the day of the Lord.  Thus, we anticipate joyously and with certainty, both the promised Elijah and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.