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.
Sirs, we would see Jesus
64-0318 §59
...f, or something. 8? All right? All right. Now you watch ... watch them ... watch them cards, there. 8? 9, 9, 10. You never know where they're at. They're just all mixed up, and give out everywhere, you see. 10? All right. 11? 11? Do you have 11? Prayer card 11? All right, over here. 11, 12? Prayer card 12? Do they speak French? [Brother Branham speaks off microphone.] Do you speak French? 12, 13. Watch. It might be somebody deaf, you see. They can't hear, and they're just sitting there holding the card. 13, 14, 14?...
Sirs, we would see Jesus
60-0109 §72
All right, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10. Move over here if you can, if you can walk. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14, where's it at? I didn't see it. 14, prayer card 14. Here, all right. 15. I want to get every one, because I don't want you to miss your turn. All right. 14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 20, 21, 20. How many you got? Now we got the hall full right now. We'll have to pray with these, then we'll get some more just in a minute. All right. Can you hear me all right with the microphone like that? Sometimes, if the...
Sirs, we would see Jesus
54-1205 §23
Number 8, who has 8, prayer card number 8? The lady there in blue, do you have it, sister? The lady here. Have you prayer card 8, lady? 8. 9? Raise up your hand so I can see where you are, number 9, prayer card number 9; raise up your hand, if you will; prayer card number 9. Am I over-looking...? All right. Number 9. Number 10, who has 10? 10? All right, 11, prayer card 11? Is that it there? 11? All right, prayer card 12, raise up your hand, prayer card number 12. Right, 12. Thirteen? Prayer card number 13. You, si...
The Queen of the South
60-1127E §83
Number 2? Who has prayer card 2? Would you raise your hand? A lady here. Number 3? (Help me, somebody. Brother Palmer, watch for their hand.) Raise up your hand if you can when I call your number. Number 3. This man here? Number 4, number 5. Just come right up, just take your place. Number 6, number 7, number 8, 9, 10. Usually if we're going to have a line of discernment, I always try to just go over and begin at 20 or 30 or somewhere like that. But, this way it doesn't make any difference because we're going to pr...
Who is this?
59-0510E §6
Now let us read tonight for a Scripture lesson out of Matthew the 21st chapter beginning at the 1st verse, and reading down in 11th inclusive. And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, there came ... and came to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them to me. And if any man say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord has need of them; and straight...