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show that John, the son of Zacharias, was not the promised Elias. But on
the day of the transfiguration on Mount Tabor Christ said plainly that
John, the son of Zacharias, was the promised Elias.

In chapter 9, verses 11-13, of the Gospel of Mark, it is said: "And they
asked Him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And He
answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all
things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that He must suffer many
things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed
come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written
of him."

In chapter 17, verse 13, of Matthew, it is said: "Then the disciples
understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist."

They asked John the Baptist, "Are you Elias?" He answered, "No, I am not,"
although it is said in the Gospel that John was the promised Elias, and
Christ also said so clearly.(115) Then if John was Elias, why did he say,
"I am not"? And if he was not Elias, why did Christ say that he was?

The explanation is this: not the personality, but the reality of the
perfections, is meant--that is to say, the same perfections that were in
Elias existed in John the Baptist and were exactly realized in him.
Therefore, John the Baptist was the promised Elias. In this case not the
essence,(116) but the qualities, are regarded. For example, there was a
flower last year, and this year there is also a flower; I say the flower
of last year has returned. Now, I do not mean that same flower in its
exact individuality has come back; but as this flower has the same
qualities as that of last year--as it has the same perfume, delicacy, color
and form--I say the flower of last year has returned, and this flower is
the former flower. When spring comes, we say last year's spring has come
back because all that was found in last year's spring exists in this
spring. That is why Christ said, "You will see all that happened in the
days of the former Prophets."

We will give another illustration. The seed of last year is sown, branches
and leaves grow forth, blossoms and fruits appear, and all has again
returned to seed. When this second seed is planted, a tree will grow from
it, and once more those branches, leaves, blossoms and fruits will return,
and that tree will appear in perfection. As the beginning was a seed and
the end is a seed, we say that the seed has returned. When we look at t