"And you, child,will be calledthe prophetof the Most High;For you will goon BEFORETHE LORDTO PREPAREHIS WAYS;
"Behold,I am going to sendMy messenger,and he will clearthe waybeforeMe. And the Lord,whomyou seek,will suddenlycometo His temple;and the messengerof the covenant,in whomyou delight,behold,He is coming,"saysthe LORDof hosts.
He said,"I am A VOICEOF ONE CRYINGIN THE WILDERNESS,'MAKE STRAIGHTTHE WAYOF THE LORD,'as Isaiahthe prophetsaid."
Although Herod wantedto put him to death,he fearedthe crowd,becausethey regardedJohnas a prophet.
For thisis the one referredto by Isaiahthe prophetwhen he said,"THE VOICEOF ONE CRYINGIN THE WILDERNESS,MAKE READYTHE WAYOF THE LORD,MAKEHIS PATHSSTRAIGHT!'"
Following afterPauland us, she kept cryingout, saying,"Thesemenare bond-servantsof the Most HighGod,whoare proclaimingto you the wayof salvation."
The angelansweredand saidto her, "The HolySpiritwill comeupon you, and the powerof the Most Highwill overshadowyou; and for that reasonthe holyChildshall be calledthe Sonof God.
"He will be greatand will be calledthe Sonof the Most High;and the LordGodwill giveHim the throneof His fatherDavid;
"But shall we say,'From men?"--they were afraidof the people,for everyoneconsideredJohnto have beena realprophet.
"You yourselvesare my witnessesthat I said,I amnot the Christ,'but, 'I have beensentaheadof Him.'
"[It is] He who comesafterme, the thongof whosesandalI amnot worthyto untie."
"But loveyour enemies,and do good,and lend,expectingnothingin return;and your rewardwill be great,and you will be sonsof the Most High;for He Himselfis kindto ungratefuland evil[men].
"But ifwe say,'From men,'we fearthe people;for they allregardJohnas a prophet."
"As for me, I baptizeyou with waterfor repentance,but He who is comingafterme is mightierthan I, and I amnot fitto removeHis sandals;He will baptizeyou with the HolySpiritand fire.
"Behold,I am going to sendyou Elijahthe prophetbeforethe comingof the greatand terribledayof the LORD.
But of Zionit shall be said,"Thisoneand that onewere bornin her"; And the MostHighHimselfwill establishher.
