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 Baptist
The phrase "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" tempts people to assume it means immediately before Christ's second coming, but the verse says only "before," not "immediately before." John, writing 2,000 years ago, declared the world was passing away and that it was already the last hour. Time must be considered as God does. The last days began with Jesus Christ's arrival. 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, preparing the way for the Messiah. Gabriel announced his coming to Zacharias. He certainly came before that day.