Malachi 4

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Prophecies Concerning the Lord and Elijah

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Judgment and blessing are part of the coming day of the Lord.

  2. Elijah will appear before the coming day of the Lord.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let's pray for more Malachi 4:6 families.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is the last book in the Old Testament?

  2. Name the three post-exilic prophets.

  3. What is the approximate date of Malachi's writing?

  4. What happened, biblically, after the time of Malachi?

  5. What and when is the day of the Lord?

  6. What are the two aspects of the day of the Lord?

  7. What will characterize the coming kingdom of our Lord here on this earth?

ANSWERS

  1. Malachi

  2. Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

  3. About 430 B.C., about one hundred years after the return from captivity.

  4. There came the so-called 400 silent years, where no prophet of God spoke until the coming of John the Baptist.

  5. In general, the day of the Lord could be said to be anytime that the Lord intervenes in the affairs of nations. It could be for judgment or for blessing.

  6. There is an historical aspect to the day of the Lord. That is, some prophecies of the day of the Lord have already been partially fulfilled in history. There is also an eschatological or future aspect to the day of the Lord.

  7. Righteousness will reign.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The day of the Lord is a major theme in the Old Testament, and it is mentioned in the New Testament as well. Remember, the day of the Lord has two aspects: 1) the historical aspect, where some prophecies have already been partially fulfilled in history, and 2) the eschatological aspect, when prophecies will be fulfilled completely in a future day. The future day of the Lord includes both the coming tribulation period and the coming millennial kingdom of Christ here on this earth. Righteousness will characterize the coming kingdom of our Lord here on this earth. There will be universal restoration and healing for all that man has destroyed. there will be no terrorism, for the wicked will be judged and righteousness will reign. Think about this! Thank the Lord for His righteous judgment and His coming reign of righteousness.

  2. When the Jewish people celebrate the Passover today, at one point during the meal a child goes to the door to see if Elijah has arrived. This tradition stems from this Elijah prophecy here in Malachi 4:5. The Elijah prophecy was a contingent prophecy. IF Israel had received her Messiah and His kingdom when He came the first time, then John the Baptist would have completely fulfilled the Elijah prophecy. But because they rejected their Messiah, their king and His kingdom the complete fulfillment of the Elijah prophecy awaits the second coming of Christ. See Revelation 11. The two witnesses will precede the second coming of Christ to this earth. they will come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and indeed, one of them may be Elijah himself. Consider this prophecy.

CHALLENGE

  1. Read the last verse of the Old Testament, Malachi 4:6. God is looking for families where the hearts of the fathers are turned to the children and the hearts of the children are turned to their fathers. That is, families where the biblical faith of the fathers is maintained. These are families in which there is repentance from sin, and the authority structure in the home is honored and respected. God is looking for Malachi 4:6 families. Pray for your own family and for other families. Pray for more Malachi 4;6 families.

KEY VERSES

  • “Behold, the day is coming…all the proud and those who do wickedly will be stubble and burned up, says the Lord…” Malachi 4:1

  • “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Malachi 4:5



Malachi, Old Testament, TalksDeb HarmsMalachi 4