Malachi 4:5 - Printer Friendly

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

NIV: See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.

NASB: Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

CSB: Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

NLT: Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives.

KJV: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

NKJV: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Malachi chapter 4 describes an impending judgment from God. This will occur on "the day" of ultimate reckoning. Malachi 3:1 has already promised a messenger who will prepare for the arrival of Messiah. That same verse has often been linked to the predicted return of Elijah from this verse. While Moses is representative of the Law, Elijah is representative of the prophets. John the Baptist would fulfill the "messenger" prophecy of Malachi 3:1 (Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23). Yet, he specifically denied that he was the prophesied "Elijah" of this verse in Malachi (John 1:21). The Gospels only refer to John the Baptist's ministry as "in the power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17), and only for those receptive to the message (Matthew 11:14). Jesus noted that Elijah was still to come (Matthew 17:11), a statement made after John the Baptist's death.

It's plausible to interpret this as a reference to John the Baptist, and his denial as nothing more than excessive humility. Or, that Malachi has in mind a separate, later reappearance of Elijah, as in Revelation 11:1–13. This moment in the end times might involve Elijah himself or someone, like John the Baptist, who comes "in his power." Both Christian and Jewish scholars frequently debate the specifics of this passage. Ultimately, we won't know exactly which is correct until all things have been revealed.

Malachi 4:4–6 is not only the conclusion of this book, but also the end of God's prophetic voice on earth for the next four centuries. Between the days of Malachi and John the Baptist, God will not send further messengers to Israel. Here, God issues a final call to Israel to follow His will, promises the return of Elijah, and offers one final warning of the judgment to come.

Malachi chapter 4 is very short, and serves only to finish off the thoughts begun in chapter 3. The impending judgment of God is described in vivid terms. Those who dishonor God will be consumed in a furnace of judgment. Those who respect Him will be healed and set free. Malachi appeals, on behalf of God, for Israel to be faithful to the covenant God made with Moses. After promising the return of Elijah, to once again appeal to the people, God will be silent for four hundred years. This silence will not be broken until the appearance of John the Baptist.

Malachi's structure is a series of back-and-forth waves. Fittingly, this short chapter brings the entire book of prophecy full circle. The opening verses described the utter destruction of Edom. Chapter 4 warns of a judgment coming in ''the day'' of the Lord, in the end times. This completes the various cycles contained in Malachi. It also marks the conclusion to the Old Testament. There will be no further words from God for four centuries, when John the Baptist announces the arrival of the Messiah.

Malachi is the last message of prophecy given to Israel prior to 400 years of silence. Israel has rebuilt the temple, following the invasions of Babylon, but they are still under foreign oppression. Israel's spiritual condition, however, is dire. Hosea depicted Israel as prone to failure, but repentant. Later, Ezekiel exposed Israel's blatant disobedience. By the time of Malachi, Israel has passed into numbness and apathy. Unlike other Old Testament prophets, Malachi takes the form of a dialogue, where Israel responds to accusations as if unaware that they've occurred. The next prophetic voice from God would not come until the ministry of John the Baptist.