Postponement of Elijah
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.693.4814&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Jesus Teaching of Prophetic Postponement
"Jesus instructed His disciples concerning two phases of messianic advent (to accomplish redemption and restoration) following the preview of the Messianic Kingdom (Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:26-27) presented at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). The appearance of Elijah with Jesus (Matthew 17:4-5; Mark 9:4-5), coupled with Jesus’ statements concerning His rising from the dead (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9-10) had confused the disciples and provoked the question “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” (Matthew 17:10; Mark 9:11). Jesus’ reply was made with respect to the two phases when He answered: “Elijah is coming to restore all things (cf. Malachi 4:5); but I say to you, that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer” (Matthew 17:11-12; Mark 9:12-13). In other words, the response to the forerunner foreshadowed the response to the Messiah, and called for the postponement of the restoration specifically promised to national Israel. To explain, just as the coming of the messianic forerunner has two phases: one as John the Baptizer (for repentance), and one as Elijah the Prophet (for restoration), so the Messiah’s coming has two phases: one as Savior (to redeem) and one as Sovereign (to reign). Just as John the Baptizer’s rejection by Israel’s leadership ended his prophetic ministry without the fulfillment of national repentance, necessitating the future coming of the messianic forerunner (Elijah) to bring this about (Malachi 4:5-6), so Jesus’ rejection by Israel’s leadership ended His messianic ministry without the fulfillment of national redemption and restoration, necessitating the future return of the Messiah for its accomplishment."
—Prophetic Postponement (Randall Price)
Jesus Teaching of Prophetic Postponement
"Jesus instructed His disciples concerning two phases of messianic advent (to accomplish redemption and restoration) following the preview of the Messianic Kingdom (Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:26-27) presented at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). The appearance of Elijah with Jesus (Matthew 17:4-5; Mark 9:4-5), coupled with Jesus’ statements concerning His rising from the dead (Matthew 17:9; Mark 9:9-10) had confused the disciples and provoked the question “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” (Matthew 17:10; Mark 9:11). Jesus’ reply was made with respect to the two phases when He answered: “Elijah is coming to restore all things (cf. Malachi 4:5); but I say to you, that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer” (Matthew 17:11-12; Mark 9:12-13). In other words, the response to the forerunner foreshadowed the response to the Messiah, and called for the postponement of the restoration specifically promised to national Israel. To explain, just as the coming of the messianic forerunner has two phases: one as John the Baptizer (for repentance), and one as Elijah the Prophet (for restoration), so the Messiah’s coming has two phases: one as Savior (to redeem) and one as Sovereign (to reign). Just as John the Baptizer’s rejection by Israel’s leadership ended his prophetic ministry without the fulfillment of national repentance, necessitating the future coming of the messianic forerunner (Elijah) to bring this about (Malachi 4:5-6), so Jesus’ rejection by Israel’s leadership ended His messianic ministry without the fulfillment of national redemption and restoration, necessitating the future return of the Messiah for its accomplishment."
—Prophetic Postponement (Randall Price)