Prophet. Author: Paul S. Taylor.

What are the…
Prophecies of Malachi

Hebrew: סֵפֶר מַלְאָכִי

also known as: Book of Malachi

The core message of this book is God’s judgment on corruption, a call to repentance, and a promise of Israel’s future purification and restoration. It is the last book of the Old Testament.

Sections

The contents of the book consists of 4 chapters with 3 sections, preceded by an introduction (Mal. 1:1-5), in which the prophet reminds Israel of Jehovah's love for them.

The 1st section (1:6-2:9) contains a stern rebuke addressed to the priests who had despised the name of Jehovah, and been leaders in a departure from his worship and from the covenant, and for their partiality in administering the law.

In the 2nd section (2:9-16) the people are rebuked for their intermarriages with idolatrous heathens.

In the 3rd (2:17-4:6) he addresses the people as a whole, and warns them of the coming of the God of judgment, preceded by the advent of the Messiah.

This book is frequently referred to in the New Testament (Matthew 11:10; 17:12; Mark 1:2; 9:11-12; Luke 1:17; Romans 9:13).

Elijah

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land, devoting it to destruction.” —Malachi 4:5-6 LSB

This either refers to the actual prophet Elijah or an Elijah-like figure who will come as a forerunner to Christ’s Coming to bring reconciliation for Israel.

Some have supposed that this was fulfilled in the person of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14; Luke 1:17), who was Elijah-like and prepared the way for Jesus Christ’s 1st Coming with a call to repentance. However, it is much more likely that Malachi is referring to events preceding the 2nd Coming of Christ.

When John the Bapist was specifically asked if he is Elijah, he answered unequivocally.

And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” —John 1:21

Elijah (or an Elijah-like messenger) may possibly be one of Revelation's two witnesses sent to the world before the defeat of the Anti-Christ and the Beast. These events immediately precede the defeat and removal of Satan from the Earth and the beginning of Millennium of peace, the Kingdom of God on the Earth in which Christ will rule for 1,000 years.

Scripture says that 2 prophets will prophesy for 1,260 days (3½ years) in sackcloth during the Grerat Tribulation. It calls them “2 olive trees” and “2 lampstands” (Rev 11:4; cf. Zechariah 4). They are given Divine powers: fire from their mouths devours enemies; they shut the heavens (no rain); turn waters to blood; strike Earth with plagues (Rev. 11:5-6 echoes Elijah and Moses). At the end of their alloted time, the Beast kills them and their bodies lie unburied in Jerusalem for 3½ days while the world rejoices. God then resurrects them, and they triumphantly ascend to Heaven as God’s enemies watch (Rev 11:11-12).

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Article Version: February 13, 2026