Yeah, I kinda thought that's where you were headed. So let me see if I have this straight. You don't believe Elijah was just an archetype of John the Baptist, you actually believe John the Baptist WAS Elijah returned to Earth.
Just to flesh this out a bit, John the Baptist is often credited as being Elizabeth's son. Was he?
I've taken the liberty of pinging a number of other Protestants to this conversation since I'd like to see if this interpretation is widespread among Protestants.
Why should I not? Jesus said it. That settles it. If you don't believe Christ, then what on earth are you doing even pretending to be Christian? Trying to sabotage Christianity as some others seem to be attempting? That is rhetorical. I just want you to think about it. However it was accomplished, Christ confirmed it to be so. And I didn't even quote all that is written on it in scripture. What is the rule of faith? "Now faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." If you're faith isn't in the scriptures, then you have some serious thinking to do about who and what you are. I don't have the luxury or the gaul to second guess my Lord - not that I'm perfect or better. I just know scripture and that's what it tells me.