What the Bible says about Malachi's Prophecy
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Twice in this four-verse section God says that, when the Israelites return to the Promised Land in the Millennium and finally begin to repent, then they will be able to put things together properly. Similar phraseology is also used in the prophecies of Joel, Zechariah, and Malachi. Sometimes it is "then you shall know that I am the Lord." Other times, it is "then you shall know that a prophet has been among you" or "then you shall know that the Lord has sent me." But it is always implies understanding after the fact, that is, after a prophecy has occurred. Only then do we really come to understand what exactly took place.
Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Two Witnesses (Part One)Related Topics: Israel's Return to the Promised Land | Joel's Prophecies | Malachi's Prophecy | Prophecies of Malachi | Prophecy | Zechariah's Prophecies
Here in verse 12, Jesus' disagreement with the scribes becomes clear. He agrees with them to a point, that "Elijah must come first." He signals His disagreement by using the word "but," an adversative conjunction, which joins two thoughts together while indicating a difference or exception. In this case, but means "on the other hand," "to the contrary," "except that," or "however."
Jesus' disagreement is with the scribes' interpretation. He is in no way saying that there will be a future Elijah beyond John the Baptist. He simply reiterates what Malachi 4:5 says, adds "and restore all things" to it, and then clearly states that this prophecy has already been fulfilled by John. He had already come, and they had missed him. They had rejected the message of the Elijah to come and did to him whatever they wanted. Here they had "the Elijah" right in front of them—the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy—and they killed him!
To take what Jesus said further, because He paraphrased the future tense of Malachi 4:5-6, is to twist and add to what He said. All He says is, "This is what the prophecy says, and this is My disagreement with the scribes' interpretation."
John the Baptist clearly came before "that great and dreadful day." The last biblical day—indeed the "last hour"—was already begun in the AD 90s, as I John 2:18 states. God does not perceive time as we do; we are the ones that must adjust our thinking.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Prophets and Prophecy (Part Three)