What Is the Difference Between Matthew 11:14 and 17:11-12?
1) Direct Answer
Matthew 11:14 identifies John the Baptist as the “Elijah” for that hour to forerun the Lord’s first coming. Matthew 17:11–12 shows both truths: Elijah “shall first come, and restore all things” (future), and “Elijah is come already” (present then, in John), whom they rejected.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Matthew 11:14: “If you will receive it, this is Elijah which was to come.” That’s Jesus unveiling John’s role to those with ears to hear (v.15).
- Luke 1:17 says John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” matching the first part of Malachi 4:5–6 and also Malachi 3:1, the messenger before the Lord’s face.
- Matthew 17:11: “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things”—that looks ahead to a work of restoration. Then 17:12: “But I say unto you, that Elijah is come already,” and the disciples understood He spoke of John (v.13). So Jesus points to a present fulfillment in John and a still-future restoration.
- John 1:21 shows John was not literally Elijah the Tishbite; he bore the anointing and ministry pattern.
- Acts 3:21 speaks of the “times of restitution of all things,” which matches “restore all things” in Matthew 17:11, pointing to the end-time phase before the Lord’s return.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- John prepared a people and pointed to the Lamb (John 1:29). He did not “restore all things.” Therefore, Matthew 17:11 cannot be exhausted by John. It promises a future Elijah-work of restoration.
- So Matthew 11:14 = John identified as Elijah for the first coming. Matthew 17:11–12 = both the recognition of John already come and the prophecy of an Elijah ministry yet to come to restore all things before Christ’s appearing.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” You see, the same God who sent Elijah’s spirit to forerun the first coming has promised a restoring work before the second. That’s the mystery held in those two passages.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 9:E-20
So we see a seventh age messenger coming, and he is a prophet. Not only do we see this messenger coming here in Revelation 10:7, but we find that the Word speaks of Elijah coming before Jesus returns. In Matthew 17:10, "And His disciples asked Him saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?" And Jesus said,Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things." Before the coming of our Lord, Elijah must come back for a work of restoration in the church. This is what Malachi 4:5 says, "Behold I will...
Church Ages, part 10: The Laodicean Church Age
60-1211E §36
Now, Jesus said, Matthew 17:10, speaking of this... All the Jews are looking for that coming Elijah. Now watch what Jesus said about it. Matthew 17:10. We'll begin at the 9th verse, Matthew 17:9: And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell no man the... ["Tell the vision to no man, see. Don't tell this. You know it, but keep it to yourself."] Tell no man the vision, until the Son of man be risen ... from the dead. [Don't tell it.] And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then said the...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
58-0312 §57
Look, it might... Some of you look at your neighbor's card. It might be... All right. You have your hand up, lady? Is yours H number 4? All right. Right here. Watch your numbers when they're called, because somebody might be deaf and dumb, can't speak or hear. Somebody might be so crippled they can't stand up. Just watch the card for people. Look... All right. Number, what was that, 4? 5, who has 5? All right, sister. Number 6? All right. Number 7? Prayer card number 7? Is it you, lady? 8? 9? Come right here, lady....
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 2:E-15
How we receive this rest, or continuing Sabbath, is at the invitation of Jesus. He said in Matthew 11:28,29, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me;... and ye shall find rest (or keeping of the Sabbath, not a day, but eternal life, Sabbath) unto your souls." No matter how long you have been laboring under your load of sin, whether it is ten years, thirty years or fifty years, or longer, come with your tired weary life and you will find...
And then Jesus came
57-1213 §5
The reason I wish to read His Word and speak on it: my words is the word of a man; it'll fail, because I'm just a man. But His blessed Word is the Word of God, which cannot fail. So, I wish to read from Saint John the 17th ... or, the... Pardon me, Saint John the 11th chapter, and the first four words of the 17th verse. And then ... Jesus came. You say, "Brother Branham, you have a very short text." It doesn't make any difference just how long or big the text is, it's what it is. It's the value. And sometimes we pl...