Elijah Who Is To Come

Malachi 4:5 ESV 

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

Matthew 11:13-14

For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

John came to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. He did for the first coming of the Lord what Elijah will do for His second coming. John is not Elijah, but acted in the spirit of the Elijah to come. This is the meaning if you are willing to accept it.