Are you sure you had the right translation when you read that confusing verse about Elijah [My El is Yah]? Jesus spoke in the present participle active, “is about“….
And if you are willing to take, he is Elijah, the one about to come. Matt. 11:14 literal
Jesus again breaks the linguistic boundaries of time. It’s almost as though Jesus is saying that John is both from the “past” and “future”. I suppose he is right to preface his bizarre, enigmatic statement with, “If you are willing to take it…