Questions & Answers: The Purpose of Man, Relationship Division, and John the Baptist/Elijah Connection

Let me tell you what I believe the text of Scripture has to say on the subject. That way, folks will know from the outset that it is just “my interpretation,” and they can take it or leave it as they choose.

Understand the Creation Timeline in Genesis 1–2: How Adam’s Creation Differs From Traditional Interpretation

The Truth is, there appears to be a contradiction between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 regarding mankind’s creation—but that is only because Satan has most folks believing his lie. The Genesis Creation sequence clearly shows that Adam was created on the third “day” after dry ground appeared but before vegetation began to grow. This sequence is essential to an accurate understanding of the Creation Account, and the Truth is undeniable when you examine what Moses says about the formation of “Adam” in Genesis.

When you compare the accounts in Genesis 1 vs. Genesis 2, the timeline of “Adam’s” creation differs. So it is obvious the two “Adams” mentioned cannot be the same, but they can easily be reconciled.

• In Genesis 1, two key events occurred on the third “day”: dry ground emerged from the waters, and vegetation began to grow (Gen. 1:9–13).
• The account in Genesis 2:4–9 provides critical details that fit perfectly into this chronological framework. The text explicitly states that:
  • when God formed Adam from dust, there was “no shrub of the field” and “no plant of the field had yet sprouted.”
  • This indicates our forefather “Adam” was created between these two third-“day” events.

Those who prefer Satan’s lie will immediately object, falling back on the goofy be-everything-to-everyone response of “That’s your interpretation,” choosing to believe there is no objective Truth. They’ll argue Genesis 1:26–31 “proves” our forefather “Adam” was created on the sixth “day.”

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, {I have given} every green plant for food”; and it was so. And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
(Genesis 1:26–31) —NASB

The Truth is, that passage exposes their foolishness for what it is. Genesis 2:15–20 clearly shows God created the birds and animals after He created our forefather “Adam,” to “make a helper suitable for him.”

Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.”

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought {them} to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
(Genesis 2:15–20) —NASB

Genesis 1:20–23 explicitly states birds were created on the fifth “day,” and animals at the beginning of the sixth “day,” before He created our forefather “Adam”:

Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” And God created the great sea monsters, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
(Genesis 1:20–23) —NASB

Only a moron would continue believing our forefather “Adam” was created in God’s image on the sixth “day” given this evidence. The Truth is, God created our forefather “Adam” on the third “day,” then created birds and animals on the fifth and sixth “days” trying to find him a helper. When that proved unsuccessful, He created Eve on the sixth “day” from Adam’s rib.

God’s True Purpose for Creating Adam

Now you asked why God created mankind, but that’s not what He did.

• He created a man (Adam) and later a woman (Eve).
• The rest of us exist only because of Adam’s sin.

Adam wasn’t the result of evolution as most believe today, he was the first living creature that God created—the prototype for all other creatures. That’s why human DNA segments appear in every other species—God took their DNA from Adam, just as He did when He created Eve.

If you want to look at it in human terms, God was experimenting. Or as Moses humorously puts it to mock the ignorant, He was trying to find “a helper suitable for” Adam. When God created Eve, He wasn’t setting out to create another species; He was creating Adam’s female counterpart to be his helper. That speaks loudly to anyone who has ears to hear.

The text plainly tells us our forefather “Adam” was created to cultivate the Garden of Eden. That wasn’t his only purpose, but it was his sole purpose at the time of his creation. God gave him an opportunity to become “like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5, 22), but this could only happen through sin. Some will fault God for creating circumstances where Adam could be tempted, but as James states:

Let no one who is being tested say that “I am being tested by God.”
For the {living} God is not tested by awful things, so He does not test {anybody}.
(James 1:13) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

I’m not yet allowed to shoot anybody’s sacred cow in public—the most I can do is cut its tail off. My complete views will eventually be published for all to read. Then everyone can have a go at refuting my understanding of God’s ultimate plan for both men and women. Notice I did not say “mankind” or “the descendants of Adam.” God has never had an overall plan for mankind. His plan involves individual choice, just like Adam’s decision to sin.

The Teaching reveals crucial Truths about:

• salvation,
• God’s nature,
• human nature, and
• Jesus Christ.

It provides brutal insight into human reality that can be difficult to confront. The Apostle John addresses this reality when he writes:

But Jesus Himself was not entrusting Himself to them,

(1) because of Him knowing everyone, and
(2) because He did not have any need that anyone provide
testimony about the man; for He knew what was in the man.

(John 2:24–25) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

The Teaching exposes humanity’s despicable and self-centered nature, which is especially evident in marriage relationships. Many people claim to be “in love” when they are actually “in lust.” That inevitably leads to them seeking a divorce or being stuck in a bitter partnership. Either way, most remain trapped in wanting something their partner cannot or will not provide, lacking the understanding that would reveal the foolishness of this approach.

How Eve’s Curse Affects Modern Women

The Teaching makes a clear distinction between men and women, revealing that women face a unique burden. As Peter states, women should be treated “as a weaker vessel” and granted honor “as to joint heirs of {the} favor of life, so that your prayers are not hindered” (1 Pet. 3:7).

This weakness stems from God’s curse placed directly on Eve for sinning first and enticing Adam into sin. The curse God placed on Eve is invoked through sexual union, whether in marriage or outside it, and it affects women both psychologically and emotionally. This explains why Paul says it is better not to marry (1 Cor. 7:26–28).

Eve’s Curse Continues to Affect Marriages Today

The impact of Eve’s curse on marriage relationships is tremendous. But it has deleterious effects on any relationship where a woman joins herself to become “one flesh” with a man. The Bible’s meaning of becoming “one flesh” isn’t merely a parabolic image, it describes the fundamental challenge men and women must overcome to attain a satisfying relationship. Few couples achieve one because women cannot fully escape God’s curse except through knowledge of The Teaching. As Jesus stated to believing Jews:

Therefore, Jesus was saying to the Jews who believed Him, “If you continue on in the word that I have, you truly are My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
(John 8:31–32) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

True Believers who understand these Truths often appear peculiar to others because they, like Jesus, refuse to fully confide in those around them, recognizing that God alone deserves complete confidence. The Scriptures serve as a “witness” that testifies against human nature in graphic detail. The evidence is readily available to anyone who reads them with understanding; and the more True Believers comprehend this Truth about human nature, the more they emulate Jesus’ approach to relationships with others.

The Teaching ultimately reveals that a completely satisfying relationship between men and women is only possible through understanding these divine Truths about human nature, the impact of Eve’s curse, and the path to freedom through Truth.

The discussion of the Elijah/John the Baptist connection begins with what John the Baptist says in John 1:19–23, where he explicitly denies being the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet:

So this was John’s testimony when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem, so that they could ask him, “Who are you?”

Then he acknowledged the truth and did not deny {it}, and he acknowledged that “I am not the Anointed One.”

Then they asked him: “What therefore? Are you Elijah?”

And he said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

And he responded, “No!”

Therefore, they said to him: “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

He declared:

“I {am} {the} voice of one who is crying out in the desert,
‘Make the way of His Majesty straight!’

Just as the Prophet Isaiah said.”
(John 1:19–23) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

This denial perfectly aligns with prophecy, since the Elijah mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, according to Malachi 4:4–6, will appear “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord” to restore certain things to God’s Chosen People before God in His wrath destroys this entire civilization. The text is intentionally enigmatic in describing exactly what will be restored.

The understanding of the prophetic role of restoration deepens when one reads the account of the Transfiguration, as recorded in Matthew 17:1–13. During this extraordinary event, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain:

And He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun, and then His overgarments became as white as its light. Then guess what! Moses and Elijah was seen by them, conversing with Him. So, in response, Peter told Jesus: “Your Majesty, it is exceptionally good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tents here—one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Guess what! While he was still speaking, an illuminated cloud overshadowed them, and guess what! There was a voice out of the cloud saying, “This Individual is My Son—my beloved One, with Whom I am delighted; listen to Him!”
(Matthew 17:2–5) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

This experience prompted the disciples to ask about the scribes' teaching that Elijah must come first. Jesus' response was nuanced—He confirmed both that “Elijah is going to come; and he will restore everything” and that Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist, though people “did not recognize him, but they did as much as they wanted to with him.”

Understanding “Elijah” as a Parabolic Image

This apparent contradiction between the prophecy of Elijah and its connection to John the Baptist is resolved by understanding that:

• Malachi used Elijah as a parabolic image to speak about a minister to God’s Chosen People arriving before the End.
• That means that, while John the Baptist fulfilled the same parabolic role as the Prophet Elijah, Malachi was speaking of a minister to God’s Chosen People to come before the End.

Some people incorrectly assume this must mean the literal Prophet Elijah, who was taken up in a chariot of fire, would return to Earth. That is not true, Elijah serves as a parabolic image describing the activity of the one who heralds the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist fulfilled this parabolic role for the First Advent, but he wasn’t the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. These prophecies actually describe how the Last Days will be like the days of Elijah—when one man standing for Truth confronted false prophets while God “cut off from” Israel those who rejected Truth.

The work of restoration appears in both cases. The Angel of the Lord used this same parabolic imagery when speaking to John’s father about John’s ministry, saying he would come:

In {the} spirit and supernatural power of Elijah:

(1) to turn {the} hearts of {the} fathers back to {their} children, and
(2) {to turn} disobedience into {the} common sense of those who are blameless;
(3) to prepare a people that has been constructed for His Majesty.”

(Luke 1:17b) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

This divine messenger also proclaimed that John would “turn a lot of the sons of Israel back to His Majesty, their God” and would go as a forerunner before Him “to prepare a people that has been constructed for His Majesty.”

The End-Times Role of “Elijah”

However, a fundamental difference exists between John the Baptist and the “Elijah” to come.

• John received direct revelation from God because the Scriptures were sealed in his time.
• The coming “Elijah” will work differently—he’ll have access to the Scriptures after they have been unsealed, so that anyone seeking the Truth will be able to understand.

His authority will be that of a Teacher, reading and explaining the unsealed Scriptures to those willing to listen. Though his work mirrors that of the Prophets, he won’t need direct revelation to complete his ministry.

Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes the importance of understanding the parabolic images Jesus used. This becomes particularly clear in Matthew 11:7–15, where Jesus addressed the multitudes about John, asking them what they had gone to the wilderness to see—“A reed shaken by {the} wind? ... A man attired in effeminate {clothing}?” He then made the following striking statement about John the Baptist:

“So if you want to accept {it}, he is Elijah, the one who is going to come.”
(Matthew 11:14) —Harper’s Standardized Study Bible

The conditional phrase “if you want to accept {it}” reinforces the fact that Elijah functions as a parabolic image—one that could apply to John the Baptist, but wasn't limited to him.

This understanding isn't new—the Early Church Fathers recognized this distinction. Justin Martyr, Irenæus, and Hippolytus all spoke of Elijah appearing shortly before the Second Coming. Their interpretation aligns with Jesus' statement that an “Elijah” would eventually come to “restore everything.”

The “Elijah” to come won't be a matter of “if you care to accept it.” Elijah's role in restoration before the Second Coming will fulfill exactly what God told the Prophets would happen through the one called “Elijah.” Unlike the role of John the Baptist, which served as a parabolic fulfillment, this future ministry will complete the prophecies regarding to the Second Coming. This individual will stand in the tradition of Elijah and John the Baptist, but with a crucial difference—his understanding will not come through direct revelation but through the unsealed Scriptures, making the Truth accessible to all who wish to understand it.

The parallel between these three figures—Elijah, John the Baptist, and the “Elijah” to come—centers on their role in restoring The Teaching that Israel lost. Each operates in different circumstances but serves the same fundamental purpose:

• preparing God’s People by turning them back to Truth,
• whether before God’s judgment on Israel in Elijah’s time,
• or Christ’s First Advent in John’s time,
• or the Second Coming in the coming “Elijah’s” time.

Over the past two and a half years, my routine has been disrupted significantly. Between surgery and a severe viral infection, I lost months of time. My usual five-day writing schedule has dwindled to around three days, severely impacting my output. However, things are improving thanks to the faithful contributions that have helped me gain control over the production of our educational materials.

My greatest daily challenge remains overcoming my own ignorance. The deeper I delve into the Truth, the more I struggle to connect specific details within the biblical message. Sometimes understanding comes quickly; other times, coherency remains elusive. This challenge extends beyond Scripture to every area of our work.

I’ve invested fifteen years in mastering biblical research in Hebrew and Greek. Financial constraints meant I couldn’t hire additional help, so I’ve spent:

• fifteen years learning computers and software,
• seven for desktop publishing,
• four for audio production, and
• two for video production.

Each field has its unique learning curve, and I haven’t mastered any of them completely. I attend technical seminars and train others once I know “just enough to be dangerous.”

In my experience, knowledge is often guarded by those who have it, while those lacking knowledge freely share misinformation. As I heard at a recent seminar: “Question: How can you tell when a salesman is lying? Answer: When his lips are moving.” This rings especially true in time-sensitive industries, particularly with start-up companies and new products. I’ve learned to favor established brands over cutting-edge technology, though this realization came only recently.

The past two years have been filled with frustrations, from tracking down product information to dealing with defective equipment. Satan’s opposition is evident in these challenges, though I recently realized he similarly opposed the Early Church leaders. The Apostle Paul faced far greater hardships, as he described: “Five times I received forty {lashes}, besides one, by Jews. I was beaten with a staff three times; I was stoned one time; I was shipwrecked three times (I have spent a night and a day in the deep) ...” continuing through his list of trials in 2 Corinthians 11:24–28.

My calling is fundamentally mental—reading, writing, and deciding what is true. I’ve worked to isolate myself from external distractions and uncontrollable forces. While challenging, I’m close to achieving the focus needed for my primary task: publishing my understanding of the Scriptures in an accessible form. This remains my sole desire and intention.