And he will prepare the way for the Lord. He will have the same spirit and power that Elijah had. He will bring peace between parents and their children. He will teach people who don’t obey to be wise and do what is right. In this way, he will prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.”

他必有以利亚的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫为父的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转从义人的智慧，又为主预备合用的百姓。”

他将有以利亚的精神和能力，走在主的前面，叫父亲的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转向义人的智慧，又为主预备迎接他的百姓。”

他将有以利亚的精神和能力，走在主的前面，叫父亲的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转向义人的智慧，又为主预备迎接他的百姓。”

他将以先知以利亚的心志和能力做主的先锋，使父亲的心转向儿女，使叛逆的人回转、顺从义人的智慧，为主预备合用的子民。”

他必有以利亚的灵和能力，行在主的前面，叫父亲的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的转向义人的意念，为主安排那预备好了的人民。”

他将藉着以利亚的灵和能力，在主的面前先行，使父亲的心转向儿女，使悖逆的人转向义人的智慧，好为主准备一群预备好了的子民。”

他必有以利亞的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫為父的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的人轉從義人的智慧，又為主預備合用的百姓。」

他將有以利亞的精神和能力，走在主的前面，叫父親的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的人轉向義人的智慧，又為主預備迎接他的百姓。」

他將有以利亞的精神和能力，走在主的前面，叫父親的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的人轉向義人的智慧，又為主預備迎接他的百姓。」

他將以先知以利亞的心志和能力作主的先鋒，使父親的心轉向兒女，使叛逆的人回轉、順從義人的智慧，為主預備合用的子民。」

他必有以利亞的靈和能力，行在主的前面，叫父親的心轉向兒女，叫悖逆的轉向義人的意念，為主安排那預備好了的人民。”

他必行在主面前為先導，具有以利亞的精神和能力，使為父者的心回轉而向兒女，使悖逆的人回轉、到義人的明達中，為主豫備準備好了的子民。』

他將藉著以利亞的靈和能力，在主的面前先行，使父親的心轉向兒女，使悖逆的人轉向義人的智慧，好為主準備一群預備好了的子民。」

彼將以以利亞之性與能、行於主前、使為父者之心、轉向其子、逆者從義者之智、為主備適宜之民、

彼將為主前驅、以以利亞情性才能、使父慈其子、逆者慕義人之智慧、為主備作新之民

彼將以以利亞之神志才能、為主前驅、使為父者心慈其子、背逆者慕義人智慧、為主備歸誠之民、

以伊理藹之風度神力為主前驅、必使為父者之心歸向兒女、而頑強之子服膺長者之智、為主作育心悅誠服之新民。』

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous— to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah,‘ to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.

And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,‘ to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

“ I will send the prophet Elijah to you. He will come before the day of the Lord arrives. It will be a great and terrifying day.Elijah will bring peace between parents and their children. He will also bring peace between children and their parents. If that does not happen, I will come. And I will completely destroy the land.”

If you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was supposed to come.

“ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.

They would not be like their people who lived long ago. Those people were stubborn. They refused to obey God. They turned away from him. Their spirits were not faithful to him.

They asked him,“ Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said,“ I am not.”“ Are you the Prophet we’ve been expecting?” they asked.“ No,” he answered.They asked one last time,“ Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”John replied, using the words of Isaiah the prophet. John said,“ I’m the messenger who is calling out in the desert,‘ Make the way for the Lord straight.’ ”( Isaiah 40:3)The Pharisees who had been sentasked him,“ If you are not the Messiah, why are you baptizing people? Why are you doing that if you aren’t Elijah or the Prophet we’ve been expecting?”“ I baptize people with water,” John replied.“ But someone is standing among you whom you do not know.He is the one who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie his sandals.”This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. That was where John was baptizing.The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said,“ Look! The Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world!This is the one I was talking about. I said,‘ A man who comes after me is more important than I am. That’s because he existed before I was born.’

You yourselves are witnesses that I said,‘ I am not the Messiah. I was sent ahead of him.’

Jesus replied,“ That’s right. Elijah is supposed to come and make all things new again.But I tell you, Elijah has already come. People didn’t recognize him. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. In the same way, they are going to make the Son of Man suffer.”

I saw thrones. Those who had been given authority to judge were sitting on them. I also saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off. They had been killed because they had spoken what was true about Jesus. They had also been killed because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its statue. They had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and ruled with Christ for 1,000 years.

Then they asked Jesus,“ Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?”Jesus replied,“ That’s right. Elijah does come first. He makes all things new again. So why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and not be accepted?I tell you, Elijah has come. They have done to him everything they wanted to do. They did it just as it is written about him.”

Lord, you are the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever. Keep their hearts faithful to you.

We want you to give thanks with joy to the Father. He has made you fit to have what he will give to all his holy people. You will all receive a share in the kingdom of light.

If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. All those who follow his rules have good understanding. People should praise him forever.

So everything will be destroyed in this way. And what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives.Live like this as you look forward to the day of God. Living like this will make the day come more quickly. On that day fire will destroy the heavens. Its heat will melt everything in them.But we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. Godliness will live there. All this is in keeping with God’s promise.Dear friends, I know you are looking forward to this. So try your best to be found pure and without blame. Be at peace with God.

I will give understanding to you who find yourselves going astray. You who are always speaking against others will accept what I teach you.”

John spoke to the crowds coming to be baptized by him. He said,“ You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger?Live in a way that shows you have turned away from your sins. And don’t start saying to yourselves,‘ Abraham is our father.’ I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones.The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire.”“ Then what should we do?” the crowd asked.John answered,“ Anyone who has extra clothes should share with the one who has none. And anyone who has extra food should do the same.”Even tax collectors came to be baptized.“ Teacher,” they asked,“ what should we do?”“ Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” John told them.Then some soldiers asked him,“ And what should we do?” John replied,“ Don’t force people to give you money. Don’t bring false charges against people. Be happy with your pay.”

But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

“ So, people of Israel, I will judge you. Because I will do that to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God!”

“‘ I will not,’ the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went.“ Then the father went to the other son. He said the same thing. The son answered,‘ I will, sir.’ But he did not go.“ Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”“ The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them,“ What I’m about to tell you is true. Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You saw this. But even then you did not turn away from your sins and believe him.

The Lord says to Ahaziah,‘ You will never leave the bed you are lying on. You can be sure that you will die!’ ” So Elijah went to see the messengers.They returned to the king. He asked them,“ Why have you come back?”“ A man met us on our way there,” they replied.“ He said to us,‘ Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him,“ The Lord says,‘ You are sending messengers to ask Baal- Zebub for advice. He is the god of Ekron. Are you going there to pray to that god? Do you think there is no God in Israel? You will never leave the bed you are lying on. You can be sure that you will die!’ ” ’ ”

Ahab said to Elijah,“ My enemy! You have found me!”“ I have found you,” he answered.“ That’s because you gave yourself over to do evil things. You did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.

He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

I have seen it happen. I am a witness that this is God’s Chosen One.”

Elijah was from Tishbe in the land of Gilead. He said to Ahab,“ I serve the Lord. He is the God of Israel. You can be sure that he lives. And you can be just as sure that there won’t be any dew or rain on the whole land. There won’t be any during the next few years. It won’t come until I say so.”

Hezekiah and all the people were filled with joy. That’s because everything had been done so quickly. God had provided for his people in a wonderful way.

John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing. He said to them,“ You are like a nest of poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape the coming of God’s anger?Live in a way that shows you have turned away from your sins.Don’t think you can say to yourselves,‘ Abraham is our father.’ I tell you, God can raise up children for Abraham even from these stones.The ax is ready to cut the roots of the trees. All the trees that don’t produce good fruit will be cut down. They will be thrown into the fire.“ I baptize you with water, calling you to turn away from your sins. But after me, someone is coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.His pitchfork is in his hand to clear the straw from his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the storeroom. But he will burn up the husks with fire that can’t be put out.”

What if he put up with them to show the riches of his glory to other people? Those other people are the ones he shows his mercy to. He made them to receive his glory.

To be a child of God has nothing to do with human parents. Children of God are not born because of human choice or because a husband wants them to be born. They are born because of what God does.

John had been saying to Herod,“ It is against the Law for you to have her as your wife.”

So I sent for you right away. It was good of you to come. Now we are all here. And God is here with us. We are ready to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Lord, you hear the desires of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries.

Don’t you know that people who do wrong will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who sleep with other men.Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom.Some of you used to do those things. But your sins were washed away. You were made holy. You were made right with God. All of this was done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was also done by the Spirit of our God.

“ I haven’t made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied.“ But you and your father’s family have. You have turned away from the Lord’ s commands. You have followed gods that are named Baal.

John’s clothes were made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Elijah told the king,“ The Lord says,‘ You have sent messengers to ask Baal- Zebub for advice. He is the god of Ekron. Did you go there to pray to that god for advice? Do you think there is no God in Israel? You will never leave the bed you are lying on. You can be sure that you will die!’ ”

Then Samuel said,“ Gather all the Israelites together at Mizpah. I will pray to the Lord for you.”