And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
This is Elias who was to come means John the Baptist is the promised Elijah, sent to carry out a work of the same kind as Elijah's. He did not come as Elijah himself returned to earth in person, but came in Elijah's spirit and power to do what Elijah did. That Elijah work was to prepare the way of the Lord and to turn people to the wisdom of the just.
The identification is made conditional on willingness to receive it, so its fulfillment for the hearers depended on their receiving John and his message. Because the people rejected John, the promised Elijah mission was not fulfilled for them. In the same way, John's preparing work foreshadows the work of those in the last days who present sacred truths to prepare the way for Christ's second appearing.
This is Elias who was to come means John the Baptist is the promised Elijah, sent to carry out a work of the same kind as Elijah's. He did not come as Elijah himself returned to earth in person, but came in Elijah's spirit and power to do what Elijah did. That Elijah work was to prepare the way of the Lord and to turn people to the wisdom of the just.
The identification is made conditional on willingness to receive it, so its fulfillment for the hearers depended on their receiving John and his message. Because the people rejected John, the promised Elijah mission was not fulfilled for them. In the same way, John's preparing work foreshadows the work of those in the last days who present sacred truths to prepare the way for Christ's second appearing.