A Present to His Royal Highness - The Prince of Wales — Page 13
13 for their disclosure and are disclosed only to those to whom God opens the gates of His knowledge. So Jesus told them that John was Elias and that they might accept him if they would. It is patent, therefore, that what was meant by Elias descending from heaven was that John should, as the angel had foretold before his birth, go before Jesus in the spirit and power of Elias. ∗ Then what has come to these people that in spite of this explanation by Jesus of the meaning of descent from heaven, they cannot see their error and insist that Jesus must descend from Heaven? Did not the angel tell Zacharias that the coming of Elias from heaven meant that a chosen one would come in his spirit and power? and did not Jesus say that the coming of Elias was fulfilled in John the Baptist who came in his spirit and power? and was it not written “Let him who hath ears hear?” But woe to these people that they hear not and have fallen into the same error into which the Scribes and Pharisees fell, and imagine that the Messiah will come down from Heaven! Have not these people pondered over the prophecies contained in the scriptures concerning the second advent of Jesus? Have they not read that which Jesus said: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. ”† If he was really to come down from Heaven, why did he give a warning that people should not be deceived by the fulfilment of a few signs and must wait till all be ∗ Luke i, 17. † Matthew xxiv: 4, 5.