Richard,

I believe that reading Acts 3...the whole chapter...will explain what Michael is saying here. It tells that, Moses and the prophets fore-told of this "Prophet", who is Christ, should suffer, which he hath so fulfilled.

Especially, down in verse 21, "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of the restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. 22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you......." Verse 26 "Unto you first, God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities".

Jesus Christ, it is very clear, is referred to as a prophet. Also, it is He that had to come first to fulfill all things, whom the heaven must receive UNTIL the time of restitution of all things, which would be the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord comes.

It is no wonder that Jesus, when He was reading out of the Book of Isaiah in the Synagogue about fulfilling the prophecies only read the first part that spoke about his first coming and then sat down, leaving the Jews puzzled. This explains why the last part will be fulfill thus fulfilling the rest of the prophecy regarding the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord.

This is a revealing to me also, a great revealing. We sure can see how the modern day teachers/preachers have mis-represented this truth here by making us keep thinking we had to wait for Elijah.

PS I cannot find the scripture that Jesus was reading when he stopped mid-way and sat down but I am sure you and Michael both know of which I am speaking.

I thank you Michael and you Richard because this is bringing it all to light and clearing up so much confusion.

gerlinda

Thank you Richard, Perhaps, it would have been better to have said, "A cloud COULD signify a mass". Yes, Jesus was received into a cloud.

Concerning Elijah:

The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus' day were well aware of the 'return of Elijah' prophecy. At one time the rabbis had asked Jesus' disciples to explain how Jesus could possibly have been the Messiah when it was obvious that Elijah had not returned from heaven yet.

The Apostles couldn't answer this question, so they asked Jesus:

Jesus answered by first affirming that this question was valid and that this prophecy indeed was true. He said:

But then, to everyone's surprise, Jesus explained:
(LIVING BIBLE-CATHOLIC EDITION) (this account can also be found in: Mark 9:11-13)

Clearly, Jesus taught that this was a true prophecy. Jesus agreed that Elijah indeed "must return before the Messiah comes." But then, to the surprise to everyone there, Jesus claimed that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of this prophecy.

http://bci.org/prophecy-fulfilled/elijah.htm

And to this day, the Jews await Elijah, having missed him in the person of John the Baptist and also missing their "Salvation"

Here is the KJV of Matthew 17:10-13



gerlinda

Hello Gerlinda, yes those verses are speaking of John the Baptist being Elijah, at the first coming of Christ.

I see Mal_4 being about Jesus wrath.

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

I am a bit confused Richard, We know that Elijah the prophet came the first time in the Old Testament, then Jesus attests to the fact that he came again in the person of John the Baptist in the New Testament, so that makes two trips. Are you saying that Elijah is coming a third time?

I think maybe you are thinking that Elijah coming before the Wrath of God makes you put that coming right before.... when, in reality, there is no clear time line given here except 'BEFORE'.

Time to God is not the same as it is to us impatient people.

But, hey Richard, if you can give me scripture that he is to come three times, I can accept this correction.

Thanks,
gerlinda

You may be right Gerlinda,
it's just hard for me to believe that Elijah's coming before the great and dreadful day of the lord in Mal_4:5 is over two thousand years before.

There is argument that John the Baptist was in the Spirit of Elijah.
When asked if he was Elijah, John said no.

Joh_1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

There is also argument to the contary.

But we can disagree on this. I'm not certain on it.

G2243
Ἡλίας
Hēlias
hay-lee'-as
Of Hebrew origin [H452]; Helias (that is, Elijah), an Israelite: - Elias.

Richard,

Read Deuteronomy 18:15-18 and Acts 3:18-26. Moses is not one of them. Elijah is not one of them because Jesus was the prophet spoken of by Moses and Malachi 4:5!

Also read Isaiah 43. The house of Israel, the house of Jacob, (the Northern tribes) and (the Southern tribes) are clearly stated as being Gods witnesses. And Isaiah 44:8....ye are even my witnesses. There it is in black and white in the Holy Bible. To me, it is clear who the two witnesses are in revelation, these TWO (2) divided houses of Israel. Who is it that witnesses about Jehovah God Almighty and Jesus Christ his son, right now, and always has? The Jews (the Southern tribes) and the CHURCH of God, Christians, (the Northern tribes). They will be reunited in Holy Jerusalem, the Lambs wife, during the 1000 year millenium, Revelation 21:9 & 10. Ezekiel 37........the entire chapter tells of the WHOLE house of Israel being reunited from 2 sticks and made into one stick....verse 16.

The whole house of Israel represents all of physical Israel to be taught Gods TRUTHS by the 144,000 that will be brought forward during the tribulation, to be Gods witnesses, to COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!


Isaiah 43:10.......Ye are my witnesses, sayeth the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
YBIC
Michael

Richard and Gerlinda,

Also read John 6:14......Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come in to the world.

And John 7:40.......Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

Michael

Hi,
Mat_17:11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.


Verse 21 of acts 3 is about Jesus going to Heaven after His first coming, until the time of restoration at his second coming.

Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.