The dreadful day of the LORD

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven…

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

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

The last Book of the Old Testament promises the destruction of the world. But before the end, Elijah the prophet is predicted to return and introduce the Messiah. Some say that John the Baptist fulfilled this prophecy.

Two thousand years ago, the Jews were expecting the Messiah to come. They knew that Malachi prophesied a man with the spirit of Elijah would introduce the Messiah to them. But when John the Baptist came, he wasn’t what they expected Elijah to be. When they questioned Jesus about why Elijah had not come first, He clearly told them that John was the fulfillment of that prophecy: “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” (Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Elijah.)

It was only a small group of people that received this revelation. To most of the religious leaders, John was no more than an overzealous critic of their organizations. Not only did they not recognize the spirit of Elijah, but worse, they also missed the Coming of Christ.

So did John the Baptist fulfill Malachi’s prophecy? Not completely.

First of all, the world has not “burned as an oven” yet, so we know that at least part of Malachi 4 is yet to happen. Another part of the Scripture that was not fulfilled by John was, “turn the heart of the children to their fathers.” And, Jesus, Himself, prophesied that Elijah shall (future) come and restore all things. (Matt 17:11)

Therefore we should be looking for Elijah before the Second Coming of Christ.

Now, in this modern day, it is time for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. Again, we are promised that the spirit of Elijah will introduce Him to us according to Malachi 4. But what group of people will recognize Elijah when he comes? Only those who are looking for him.

These Words of our Lord and Saviour come to mind when we think of Malachi’s prophecy for these closing hours of time:

But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not…

What if we miss this coming of Elijah? Will we then miss the Second Coming of Christ, like the scribes and Pharisees missed His First Coming because they did not recognize John the Baptist?

Two fulfillments, one prophecy

Through every verse, one pattern. The spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha (II Kings 2:15). The same spirit went before the Lord in John the Baptist — Isaiah called him the voice in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3), Malachi called him the messenger (Malachi 3:1), Jesus called him Elias which was for to come (Matthew 11:14), Luke says he came in the spirit and power of Elias (Luke 1:17). And yet, after John had already lived and died, Jesus said again — future tense — Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things (Matthew 17:11). The prophecy carries two fulfillments. One before the First Coming. One before the Second.