"But before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah.

and if you are willing to believe their message, John is Elijah, whose coming was predicted.

Then the disciples asked Jesus, "Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?"

But I tell you that Elijah has already come and people did not recognize him, but treated him just as they pleased. In the same way they will also mistreat the Son of Man."

He will go ahead of the Lord, strong and mighty like the prophet Elijah. He will bring fathers and children together again; he will turn disobedient people back to the way of thinking of the righteous; he will get the Lord's people ready for him."

then asked John, "If you are not the Messiah nor Elijah nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?"

Some of the people in the crowd heard him say this and said, "This man is really the Prophet!"

Instead, he will send you a prophet like me from among your own people, and you are to obey him.

So the LORD said to me, 'They have made a wise request.

Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.

I assure you that John the Baptist is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John.

"Some say John the Baptist," they answered. "Others say Elijah, while others say Jeremiah or some other prophet."