Thanks for yesterday's post Tim. Just wanted to clarify a few things, if I may.  I wasnt "doubting that Elijah is the one spoken of  because it says he will 'restore all things'". I said his job description seemed a little overstated, if that was the case..."UNLESS", we haven't understood "the whole picture behind this person(s) we have all been waiting for"  Nor did I say that "Elijah" was not Elijah, but rather Jesus, or hint that he was Jesus. You assumed I was saying and "hinting" he was Jesus. I DID say that this "Elijah" of the "3rd" day would be someone walking in Christ, and would have Christ in him.  You are named "Tim" but you have the Spirit of Jesus Christ within you, and you walk in the Spirit of Christ... but you aren't Jesus and I will never call you Jesus.   Golly Tim...if you had only waited till my next post, Bro!  I was getting to that!:-)

    I'm not sure what you mean by "spiritualizing" the text.  If it was inspired by Spirit, surely we must interpret it in the same manner: in, by and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?   Or am I not understanding what you said? (very possible:-) 

    You are absolutely right about researching "face value meanings" and I am grateful to you for bringing the Peshitta Aramaic Interlinear to my attention.  I had no idea it was available on-line.  I'm not sure if there might be two editions though.  You said that in the Peshitta, Mt. 17:11 translates: "comes that everything might be fulfilled."  The Peshitta I found didnt include the word "everything"in that verse.  Nevertheless,  I must say, you once more have me thinking! 

   I found two interesting differences between the two accounts.  In the Mk.9:12(Peshitta) account...the disciples ask(concerning Elijah) : ".. first come must that Eliyah the scribes do say therefore why to PREPARE in order everything first has come Eliyah"(?)   In the Mt. 17:11(Peshitta) account...Jesus replies( to the question the disciples have asked of Elijah) "first come must to you I say might be FULFILLED things so that all first to him and they did they did know him and not has come Eliyah..." 

    In the book of Mark, it is the disciples who use the word "prepare" .  They are referring  to the two prophecies in Isaiah and Malachi, concerning Elijah.  In both prophecies...the words "prepare" and "turn" are interchangeable.  Isaiah 40:3 :a voice calling: in the wilderness PREPARE the way for the Lord... Malachi 4:6 "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their sons..". In the book of Matthew however, it is the Lord  this time, speaking in regards to  the "3rd day" Elijah, and in answering their question,He uses the word  fulfilled, rather than "prepare". Neither "prepare" or "turn" carry the meaning of fulfillment in the original text.  The fact that the Lord has chosen not to use the Hebrew words "prepare" and "turn" chosen by the Old Testament prophets to describe Elijah's ministry, or the Aramaic "prepare" used by the disciples, suggests to me that He might be describing yet another "expansion" of Elijah's  "3rd day"ministry, this time pointing, not to "preparation" or in "turning" but "fulfillment". If that's the case, it doesnt radically  change what I said in the last part of my previous post. (which will I will go into more detail in my next ) Regardless of how accurate this assumption is....the main concern, in my last post, was:  considering that the "Elijah" is the only one, with the exception of The Christ, whose role continues through to the "3rd day", I think it is of primary importance that we pay close attention to how the types of Elijah/John and Elisha/Jesus merge from the Old to the New Testament, as I believe it will provide revelation of the next stage, and possible "final" merger,  in the final move of redemption. Why do I persist in mentioning Elisha along with Elijah?  They shared one ministry.  Elisha finished what Elijah began; another, I believe,VERY important consideration. (now, I am going to have to fight back the urge to peek at the Dove site until I finish my next post.  It's just too tempting to answer those responses!:-) Hold off until I finish the next one, and then you can let me have it with both barrels. ha!)  Kathryn LeCorre