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.
Ask a Follow-up Question
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.
The uncertain sound
60-1218 §133
...er all these years, when they turned back again, God said, one day said, "Take him up on a mountain. Cut his throat." Oh, my! Genesis 22. He took this little baby up there, and took little Isaac... He wasn't a baby. He was about fourteen years old. Put his little curls back like that, and took out the knife. And that old trembling hand of that old father ... no doubt swallowing hard, choking back, you know, "My only son. I've waited all these years. My! I've never had a boy. Look at him. Look at him. Here he's my o...
Earnestly contending for the faith once delivered
56-0419 §30
Then, when they... This Man, standing there... he was, He said, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the tree, I saw you." Now, how's He going to see around, behind this mountain, several miles, about fifteen miles, how's He going to see around, behind this mountain, through this mountain, where that man was going to be, when He was standing right here, here at the platform, speaking to the people all the time? Said, "Before Philip, called you, I saw you." You know what he said; the man the miracle was pe...
The restoration of the Bride Tree
62-0422 §246
...her you're in this prayer line or not! If you are sick, or if you've got a loved one that's sick, if you've got something on your heart, you just reverently come before God and say, "God, I don't know about that man standing there; he's a little bald-headed man, he's nothing, but I believe that what he preached is the truth; and I believe that he said the right thing, that You are the high priest. Now, I want to touch You. And if he's told me the truth, then You use his lips to speak back and tell me, like You did...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
55-0806 §68
Number 8. All right. Number 9. Who has prayer card number 9? Prayer card number 9, would you raise your hand? Not here? Prayer card number 10, would you raise your hand? All right, lady, prayer card number 10. Prayer card 11, would you raise your hand? Prayer card 11? 12? Prayer card 12? All right. Now which one ... which was you lady? 12? Which was you, sister? Now, there can't be two 12's. Now, there's got to be something wrong. Eleven. All right. That's 11 and 12. All right. Prayer card 13? Prayer card 13? No. P...
Be not afraid
63-0607 §91
The boy brings these cards down now, and gives these out. He brings them up before the congregation, mixes them all up, and just gives you a prayer card. No matter where you're at or who you are, you get it. And then, one might get the number 1, the other one 15, the other one... And then, they don't know yet where we're going to call from, see. And so, I just come here and... What have we called? 5, 6, 7. 6? Hold up your hand if you got 6. Fine. 7, number 7? All right. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 14? Now wait a minu...