The Great Forerunner Part 1 “His Anticipated Life” February 2, 2011

Isaiah 40:3-5 (700 years before Christ) 1 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”       Says your God.        2 “ Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,       That her warfare is ended,       That her iniquity is pardoned;       For she has received from the LORD’s hand       Double for all her sins.”

Isaiah 40:3-5 (700 years before Christ)        3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness:       “Prepare the way of the LORD;       Make straight in the desert       A highway for our God.

Isaiah 40:3-5 (700 years before Christ)        4 Every valley shall be exalted       And every mountain and hill brought low;       The crooked places shall be made straight       And the rough places smooth;        5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,       And all flesh shall see it together;       For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Malachi 3:1 (400 years before Christ)         1 “Behold, I send My messenger,       And he will prepare the way before Me.       And the Lord, whom you seek,       Will suddenly come to His temple,       Even the Messenger of the covenant,       In whom you delight.       Behold, He is coming,”       Says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 4:5-6 (400 years before Christ) 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet       Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.       6 And he will turn       The hearts of the fathers to the children,       And the hearts of the children to their fathers,       Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Prefigured by Elijah almost 900 years before Christ 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)

Prefigured by Elijah almost 900 years before Christ 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 11:13-15)

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 1. Both Elijah and John lived in the wilderness in the area of the Jordan River (1 Kings 17:3-6; Matthew 3:4,5).

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 2. Both looked similar. So they answered him, “A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” (2 Kings 1:8)   Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist... (Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6)

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 3. Both had very important disciples: Elijah: sons of the prophets and Elisha John: had his disciples including some of the 12 apostles (Peter, Andrew, John).

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 4. Fiery personalities who preached repentance: “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21 )

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 4. Fiery personalities who preached repentance: Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…” Luke 3:7,8

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 5. Unusual men who stood alone and had very successful ministries. Elijah: defeated the 450 prophets of Baal and John: Crowds and multitudes came to be baptized by him.

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 6. Both confronted evil kings and dealt with the rage of their women Elijah with King Ahab and Jezebel John the Baptist with King Herod and Herodias

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist 7. Both are connected with baptism and fire “I indeed baptize you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11)

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist So… Was John Elijah? Read John 1:19-23

Birth of John the Baptist Luke Chapter 1