Commentaries:
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Malachi 4:5
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: This phrase lures people into interpreting this as occurring just before Christ's second coming. However, the verse does not say "immediately before"—that is an assumption—it only says "before." The apostle John writes that the world was passing away in his day 2,000 years ago (I John 2:17)! In terms of time, verse 18 is even more incredible because John says that by biblical reckoning it was already the last hour (Romans 13:11-12; I Peter 4:7)! It is imperative we learn to consider time as God does rather than men.
The last days began with the arrival of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, the prophesied Elijah, appeared as one epoch ended and the next began. He was the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, his preaching turned the hearts of the fathers to the children, and he prepared the way for the Messiah. He most certainly came before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Elijah and John the BaptistRelated Topics: Before the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord | Day of the Lord | Elijah | Elijah as Type of John the Baptist | Elijah of Malachi | Elijah, Types of | John the Baptist | John the Baptist as Messenger | John the Baptist, Greatness of | John the Baptist, Ministry of | Preparing the Way for Christ | Spirit and Power of Elijah | Time, God's Perspective of | Time, Man's Perspective of | Turning Hearts of Children to Fathers | Turning the Hearts of Fathers to ChildrenOther Forerunner Commentary entries containing Malachi 4:5:
Matthew 17:10-13
Matthew 17:10-13
Matthew 17:10-13
Matthew 17:10-13
Matthew 17:10-13
Matthew 17:10
Matthew 17:11
Matthew 17:11
Matthew 17:12
Matthew 17:12
Matthew 17:13
Matthew 17:13
Matthew 24:29-31
Luke 1:17
Luke 1:17
John 1:19-21
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What Does Malachi 4:5 Mean?
The phrase "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" lures people into assuming it means immediately before Christ's second coming, yet the verse says only "before," not "immediately before." The apostle John wrote that the world was passing away in his day, declaring it already the last hour. Time must be considered as God does rather than as men do. The last days began with the arrival of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist, the prophesied Elijah, appeared as one epoch ended and another began. As the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, his preaching turned the hearts of the fathers to the children, and he prepared the way for the Messiah, coming before that great and dreadful day.