Malachi Lesson 11 - Fairhaven Baptist Church

Minor Prophet

Malachi

Lesson 11

Text: Malachi 4:5&6

Intro, This I think is the smallest section of scripture that I have used during the entire study of the minor prophets. It will be our last lesson, apart from some reviews. This passage is of special importance tho. It contains a prophecy concerning the coming of the Lord, and we always like to look to the day of the coming of the Lord, most people would rather study revelation and the things to happen, than the things we should be doing, but I digress. But this is about the coming of Elijah before the coming great and dreadful day of the LORD.

And the question I want to ask tonight, is the same question that was asked of Jesus, and since the time of this prophecy, Was/ Is John the Baptist Elijah? So let us look at the passage and ask a few questions, and look at some statements by Jesus, John, and others.

I will send you Elijah,
1. John the Baptist,
  1. His Birth,
    1. John was the promised son to Zachariah and Elizabeth,
      - Luke 1:12-17 “And when Zachariah saw him (The angel of the Lord, Gabriel), he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zachariah: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
        
        So here is a question, Did Gabriel say this was Elijah? Look at vs 17, he shall go “in the spirit and power of Elias”
        
        If I say that ______ has the same spirit as _______, am I saying that it is him? No, simply stating that they are of the same spirit.
    2. There are those who try to build the idea of reincarnation around the idea that John the baptist is Elijah.
      - In fact, when Jesus ask the disciples who do men say that I am, even tho John was only dead for a short time, some still said that He was John the baptist back form he dead, (See Mark 8:28)
      - But, two points I want to make here, 1, Elijah did not die (II Kings 2:11), he was taken up in a chariot of fire.
      - Second, John was born an infant,
        
        the assumption that must be made to assume that John is physically Elijah is that Elijah died.
    3. But, John’s birth was fulfillment of prophecy,
      - Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
      - John 1:19-23 “And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”
        
        Notice that: First, he said, I am not the Christ, Second, I am not Elias, (Elijah) Third, He was the one prophesied by Esaias, (Isaiah)
    4. So, John testified that he was not Elijah, but His birth was prophesied.
  2. His Life,
    1. So if John was not Elijah reincarnated, who was he?
      - Jesus said: Matthew 11:7-15 “And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
        
        Jesus testifies that Jon was the fulfillment of Isaiah s (40:3) prophecy.
        
        Then He points to the greatness of John.
        
        But, then Jesus says vs.14, this is Elias, (Elijah)
        
        is he referring to the prophecy of Malachi?
        
        Lets also look at:
        
        Matthew 17:10-13 “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”
        
        so the question here makes sense, why do the scribes say Elijah must come first:
        
        What was Jesus response? Elias “Shall” first come, the scribes were confusing the prophecy of the “Great and dreadful day” with the coming of the Messiah.
        
        Is the coming of Jesus a dreadful thing? What is? The tribulation.
        
        But, then in vs 12, Jesus said Elijah has already come, but if we look at this in context, Jesus stated in Matthew 11, Jesus said, if you will receive it.
        
        What would happen when Elijah came? Malachi set it in order, the hearts of the Nation would be turned. Did this happen to the Nation as a whole? Did it happen to the disciples?
        
        If people were willing to accept it, John, in the spirit of Elijah was turning people to Christ, and changing their hearts.
        
        But during the tribulation period, the Jewish eyes will be open, and the two witness will turn the hearts of the Jewish people back to God.
        
        See Revelation 11:3
    2. So in fulfillment of Prophecy,
      - what is the “Great and dreadful day of the Lord”
        
        the coming of Messiah or the Tribulation period?
  3. His Death,
    1. John’s own testimony was to prepare the way for the Lord,
      - and John said “I must decrease” (John 3:30)
      - And John was beheaded, and his life on earth was over. So this is another difference between Elijah and John, Elijah did not die (he will) and John died.
        
        I firmly believe John is in Heaven now enjoying the fellowship with the Lord.
    2. In John did fulfill prophecy, But, it is not John that is referred to here in Malachi 4.
      - but we can rest assured that before the “Dreadful day of the LORD” Elijah will appear.
  4. The Law Ends with A CURSE,
    1. it is interesting to me that the Old Testament ends with the word curse. And the New Testament ends with
      - Revelation 22:3 “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: ”
      - this is a stark difference between the Old and New Testament,
        
        the Old concluded all under sin,
        
        the purpose of the Law was to point out we needed a savior,
        
        in fact Galatians put it this way :
        
        Galatians 3:21-26 “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
        
        so what did the law do? All under sin vs.22
        
        Romans 7:7 Paul explains this further.
    2. But where the Law ended In Curse, Grace ends with Blessings.
    3. Jesus did what the law could not,
      - Romans 8:1-5 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”