John the Baptist - part II

We were originally not God’s children. How, then, did we become His children? We became God’s children through promise just like Isaac and John the Baptist did. How do we prove that? By our faith. Galatians 3:14 says, “…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” The blessing of Abraham was tremendous! It included all the blessings in heaven and on earth. This blessing of Abraham will also come upon all those born through promise.

How are we born through promise? It is by receiving the promised Holy Spirit by faith. After we receive the promised Spirit, we are like Isaac who was born through promise. Therefore, by faith, we are the seeds of Abraham – God’s children who will receive all the promises of Abraham. So, we must treasure this promise – the status of an honorable son, the heir of God. Galatians 4:28 says, “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.” Here, it clearly says that we are not born according to the flesh, but through the promised Spirit, just like Isaac was. Therefore, we are blessed because we are children of promise who will inherit all the blessings.

John the Baptist was not only born through promise, his birth was also different from others. God made many prophecies to his father through an angel and they were all fulfilled later. John’s name was given by God. “John” means the gift of God. The birth of John was God’s gift to the Israelites in that generation. John’s very existence showed God’s mercy for that generation. When he came, he turned many children of Israel to the Lord their God. Therefore, the Lord called him Elijah and he was really the later Elijah.

“And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Why then do scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.’ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist” (Matt. 17:10-13). Here, the Lord Jesus spoke of John the Baptist saying that he was the latter Elijah who has to come. John came to restore all things and brought revival to that generation but they did not know him. They did to him whatever they wished and even killed him.

The preachers of the denominations say, “The latter Elijah was John the Baptist. How could someone come up with another latter Elijah?” They say this because they have no enlightenment or understanding. They only know the Bible literally. They do not know the principle of multiple fulfillments of the Bible, meaning that biblical prophesies could be fulfilled many times.

John the Baptist was the latter Elijah at the end of the Old Testament era, and also the last major prophet in the Old Testament. He came to end the Old Testament and brought in the New Testament. He ended the ministry of Moses and brought in the ministry of the Lord Jesus. He ended the ministration of the written code of the Jews and brought in the ministration of the Spirit of the New Testament. (He ended the law of the Old Testament and brought in the grace of the New Testament.)

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight’” (Matt. 3:1-3). The Bible says that John the Baptist was the pioneer who prepared the way as spoken by the prophet Isaiah. He prepared the way for the Messiah and introduced Him to that generation. John preached the gospel of heaven saying, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!” What is meant by the kingdom of heaven is at hand? This means that Jesus Christ is coming. When Jesus Christ comes, the kingdom of heaven comes. On many occasions, John testified of the Lord introduced Him to people, saying, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). John had become the pioneer who made ready a way and a people prepared for the Lord’s coming.

Preaching the complete salvation is preparing the way and the people for the Lord. Rebuilding the glorious church, destroying tyrants and tyrannies, crushing human kingdoms… are all preparing His way. When the Lord’s servant preaches the truth on crushing human kingdoms; overthrowing the thrones of the kingdoms; destroying the strength of the nations; uprooting false doctrine; demolishing denominations and crushing idols – he is dispelling the clouds to let people see the light of the Lord. When he is preaching all these, he is paving the way for the Lord’s return.