The angel declared to Zacharias before John's birth that he would go before the Lord 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. This spirit and power of Elijah signify that John resembled Elijah in revealing the true God through a ministry devoted to preaching repentance and the certainty of things contained in the Scriptures regarding Christ, accomplished with similar zeal, though without miracles. Jesus Himself affirmed on two occasions that John is the Elijah to come, emphasizing the importance of this recognition and indicating that John fulfilled the prophecy of Malachi. Despite expectations of a literal Elijah, John, in spirit and power, was not the Elijah in person but the one who restored right conceptions about the Messiah and preached repentance, leading to right relationships within human families and the Family of God. Jesus confirmed John's greatness and the fulfillment of his role as the Elijah, with no indication of another to follow in that office. John, as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, appeared as one epoch ended and the next began, preparing the way for the Messiah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

The concept of power, as reflected in the Spirit and Power of Elijah, aligns with the divine energy and ability bestowed by God. This power, known as dunamis, represents the talents and effectiveness given to individuals according to their capacity. Even with only a little power, as seen in the example of the Philadelphian, faithfulness in utilizing what has been granted is paramount. The Philadelphian, despite having lesser ability, keeps God's Word and does not deny His name, demonstrating that even small measures of power enable perseverance and overcoming challenges. God recognizes this faithfulness with a little power and rewards it with an open door, symbolizing access to the Kingdom itself, a door no one can shut. This reward reflects God's trust that those who are faithful with small amounts of power will also be faithful when entrusted with greater responsibility in the Kingdom. The Spirit and Power of Elijah thus emphasize that the measure of power given is less significant than the steadfast use of it to fulfill God's purpose, ensuring that even minimal strength, when used faithfully, garners divine approval and significant reward.

John the Baptist was prophesied by the angel Gabriel to work in the spirit and power of Elijah, turning many in Israel to the Lord and the hearts of the fathers to the children. Though John denied being Elijah, Jesus confirmed that he was the fulfillment of the prophecy, embodying the same devoted, zealous spirit as the original Elijah. Jesus praised John, declaring that no one born by natural means was greater, affirming that he fulfilled every aspect of the prophecies concerning him to a level satisfactory to God's judgment. This confirmation establishes that John, in the spirit and power of Elijah, accomplished the restoration foretold, preparing the way for the Messiah as a messenger with unparalleled dedication.