Matthew 17:10-11
New International Version
10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
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This was said by Yeshua (Jesus) during his first appearance, when he came to take away the sins of the world. Jesus went on and hinted that John the Baptist was Elijah (in the spirit). John preached repentance. It's hard to say how successful his efforts were. He made some people mad, and they eventually killed him, like what happened to Jesus.
Before the end time, and before Yeshua (Jesus) returns, Elijah is supposed to return. The Old Testament (Bible) prophecies say this:
New International Version
5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”
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I read the message to be, repent and start loving, or else earth or the un-repentant will be destroyed.
I am reminded of cities in the Bible where the inhabitance did evil in the site of God. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, and the city of Nineveh was spared.
The story about Sodom and Gomorrah took place during the time of Abraham. Genesis 18-19 From what I gathered reading about it, the people were destroyed because they would not listen to anything that was said to them and did whatever they wanted. God found none to be righteous.
The story about Nineveh can be found in the book of Jonah. In this story Jonah goes to the city of Nineveh (all the people were also doing evil in the sight of God). He warns them that they would soon be destroyed. Every one of them heeded his warning and repented. God relented and spared them.
