tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509207392481380457.post328689235405539950..comments2023-12-11T06:02:28.864-05:00Comments on The Wise Fool: Elijah-OnTWFhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06016277303703254572noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509207392481380457.post-47117098741561292232011-08-27T10:37:44.015-04:002011-08-27T10:37:44.015-04:00Well, Mr. Wallflower, I can definitely understand ...Well, Mr. Wallflower, I can definitely understand the "if you are willing to accept it" and the Luke 1:17 perspective. Owing to the differences, I would not be surprised to find Jesus using such qualifying language. Plus, I can understand why others would have difficulty accepting it.<br /><br />However, I think the bigger issue which should be confronted is preparing the way for God. The prophesy did not stop with that vague notion. In the previous post "<a href="http://ponderingtruth.blogspot.com/2011/08/preparing-way-out-of-context.html" rel="nofollow">Preparing the Way Out of Context</a>" I examined the details of the prophesy of Malachi. When God appeared, somethings were supposed to happen... things which never did happen and now, precisely because of Christianity, never will.<br /><br />When you combine both of these aspects, I believe it makes a very strong case against the Gospel truth.TWFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06016277303703254572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5509207392481380457.post-45215328288781459542011-08-27T05:31:06.099-04:002011-08-27T05:31:06.099-04:00Many believe that before the Day of Judgment arriv...Many believe that before the Day of Judgment arrives, Israel will witness the appearance of the *real* Elijah, and his coming will fulfill to the letter the prophecy of Malachi 4.<br /><br />The "if you are willing to accept it" part indicates to me that Jesus acknowledged that they were expecting the real Elijah. He was giving an alternate fulfillment of the prophecy; namely (to quote Luke 1:17) "He [John the Baptist] will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah."<br /><br />You're correct that Elijah and John were nothing alike, *except* that their role was the same (again quoting Luke 1:17: "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord").<br /><br />You're also correct that the NIV takes great liberties in adding a definite article ("the") before "Elijah" in that verse. They should at the very least add a footnote to indicate what they've done.Ollie Wallflowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03300587872476075629noreply@blogger.com